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  5. Policy & Procedure Manual
  6. Previous Policy - 7.4.7

7.4.7 Standard vs. Alternate Eligibility Criteria

Effective date: October 10, 2019 - October 31, 2019

As part of the ETPL eligibility procedure, DWD-DET distinguishes between Standard and Alternate institutions; different eligibility criteria apply depending on the institution's classification.

DWD-DET classifies an institution as "Standard" if it determines that the institution satisfies at least one of the following standard eligibility criteria:

  • is accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the Council for Higher Education Accrediting (CHEA);1
  • is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA);2
  • OR
  • is approved by Wisconsin's Educational Approval Program (EAP).3

The CHEA, NC-SARA, and Wisconsin EAP all have free online searchable databases. DWD-DET uses these databases to determine if the institution is a "Standard" institution.

DWD-DET classifies an institution as "Alternate" if it determines that the institution does not satisfy at least one of the standard eligibility criteria. For "Alternate" institutions, each training program must satisfy at least one of the following alternate eligibility criteria:

  • the training program is accredited by one of the accrediting organizations approved by the Council for Higher Education Accrediting (CHEA);4
  • the training program relates to barbering, cosmetology, real estate, substance abuse counselor, or certified nursing assistant training and is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)5 or Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS);6
  • the training program relates to Community Based Residential Facilities (CBRFs) and the instructor(s) is (are) approved by the Wisconsin DHS through UW-Green Bay;7
  • the training program is a pre-apprenticeship certified by the Wisconsin Apprenticeship Advisory Council (WI AAC);8
  • the training program is currently listed on another state's ETPL;
  • the training program is supported by a trade association, with a letter of support from that trade association;
  • or
  • the training program is supported by three employers, with a letter of support from each.
  • Note: Letters of support must: (1) identify the name and address of the trade association or employer, (2) include a statement from the trade association or employer supporting the training program, (3) clearly identify the name of the training program, (4) identify the position title of the individual signing the letter, and (5) contain a date that includes the year. DWD-DET does not allow employer letters of support from local WDBs or their service providers. Letters of support do not need to be updated annually; however, the letters are made available on the published ETPL website and must reflect the date of the letter.
  • 1CHEA is considered the largest national advocate for promoting academic quality through accreditation. It is an association with approximately 3,000 degree-granting colleges and universities and recognizes 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations, including the Higher Learning Commission.
  • 2NC-SARA is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs.
  • 3The Wisconsin EAP is a postsecondary education regulatory agency that evaluates and approves private trade, technical, career, distance learning, and degree-granting schools.
  • 4CHEA is considered the largest national advocate for promoting academic quality through accreditation. It is an association with approximately 3,000 degree-granting colleges and universities and recognizes 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations, including the Higher Learning Commission.
  • 5DHS, Division of Quality Assurance, approves nurse aide training programs that satisfy the standards outlined in Wis. Stat. ch. 146 and Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 129.
  • 6DSPS regulates cosmetology, barbering, real estate, and substance abuse counselor schools.
  • 7On January 1, 2017, DHS established an interagency agreement with the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and designated the UW Green Bay to develop the curriculum for CBRF training programs, coordinate the approval of qualified trainers, and maintain public directories for approved programs, instructors, and trainees.
  • 8DWD-DET verifies pre-apprenticeship programs certified by the WI AAC with the WI DET Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards.