• Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
Higher Learning Commission

Higher Learning Commission
  • About HLC

      • About Us

        HLC accredits colleges and universities in a 19-state region of the United States.
        • Background
        • Strategic Plan
        • HLC Initiatives
        • Career and Service Opportunities

      • Who We Are

        President and Executive Leadership Team
        Board of Trustees
        Institutional Actions Council
        Staff Directory
        Staff Liaisons
        Peer Corps
  • Accreditation
      • Criteria for Accreditation
        Maintain Accreditation
        Become Accredited
        Decision Making

      • Standard Pathway

        • Overview
        • 10-Year Cycle
        • Assurance Review
        • Comprehensive Evaluation
        • Standard Pathway Resources

      • AQIP Pathway

        • Overview and Transition Details
        • Systems Portfolio and Appraisal
        • Comprehensive Quality Review
        • Comprehensive Evaluation

      • Open Pathway

        • Overview
        • 10-Year Cycle
        • Assurance Review
        • Quality Initiative
        • Comprehensive Evaluation

      • Maintenance & Monitoring

        • Institutional Change
        • Off-Campus Activities
        • Federal Compliance
        • Institutional Update
        • Non-financial and Financial Indicators
        • Interim Report
        • Focused Visit
        • Special Conditions
  • Policies

      • November 2018 Updates

        Adopted Policies
        Proposed Policies

      • Browse Policies

        Criteria and Requirements
        Criteria for Accreditation, Assumed Practices, Eligibility Requirements
        Read more
        Institutional Processes
        Affiliation, reaffirmation, decision making, sanctions, monitoring
        Read more
        Commitment to Peer Review
        Peer reviewer eligibility, terms of service, standards of conduct
        Read more
        Required by Federal Regulation
        Federal Compliance, fraud and abuse, teach-out arrangements
        Read more
        Commission Obligations
        Public notices, complaints, relationships with external agencies
        Read more
        Policy Adoption and Review
        Policy review and revision process requirements
        Read more
  • Publications
      • Download the HLC Resource Guide
      • Publications by Topic
      • The Leaflet
      • Team Visit Guidelines, Templates and Examples
  • Peer Review
      • About the Peer Corps
      • Peer Review Team Resources
      • Peer Reviewer Data Update System
      • Become a Peer Reviewer
      • Diversity Initiative
  • Programs and Events

      • Process Events

        Meetings of Decision-Making Bodies
        Peer Review Training

      • Elective Programs

        Standard Pathway Resources
        Seminars, webinars and HLC feedback
        Read more
        Academies
        Long-term programs on improvement
        Read more
        Workshops
        Intensive topic-based programs
        Read more
      • Annual Conference
        • Call for Proposals
        • Program
        • Registration
        • Hotels and Travel
        • Resources
        • Featured Speakers
        • Sponsors and Exhibitors
        • Art Contest
      • read the leaflet ad 01
  • Student Resources
      • Directory
        Upcoming Visits
        How Accreditation Works

      • Commentary on Institutions

        Third-Party Comment
        Submit comments about an institution with an upcoming comprehensive evaluation
        Read more
        Complaint Process
        File a complaint about an institution affiliated with HLC
        Read more

      • Public Information

        Recent Actions
        Documentation of institutional actions by HLC decision-making bodies
        Read more
        Public Disclosure Notices
        Public statements on issues and summaries of HLC decisions
        Read more
  • Home
  •  | 
  • Accreditation | 
  • Institutional Change | 
  • Changes Requiring Approval or Notification | 
  • Academic Programs | 
  • Certificate Program Application

Certificate Program Substantive Change Application

Before submitting this application, institutions should complete the Certificate Program Screening Form to determine if prior HLC approval is required. HLC-accredited and candidate institutions are required to seek prior approval for credit-bearing certificate or diploma programs that are Title IV eligible and in which 50 percent or more of the courses were developed for the program and not derived from courses in existing academic programs.

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.

Screening Confirmation


Selection required

Contact Information

First name required
Last name required
Valid email address required
Email address must match address provided above
Select your institution from the list provided
Field required
Field required

Certificate Program Information

Select the program's CIP code
Provide a course catalog name for the certificate program
Valid date required (DD/MM/YYYY)

Internal and External Approvals

Field required

Selection required
If the arrangement requires prior approval from HLC, submit the relevant application separately from the Certificate Program Application (follow the instructions provided on the Contractual or Consortial Arrangement Application). Indicate this related request at the end of this form.
Attach documentation as a single PDF file.

Curriculum Information

Credential level required

Academic term required


Please select where the certificate program will be offered
Total credit hours required
Course list required
Course list required

Academic Control

Provide brief answers to the following questions. Each response is limited to 150 words.

Response required
Response required
Response required
Response required

Related Change Requests


Selection required
Please specify the other requests you plan to submit to HLC in conjunction with this application.

Please complete the Certificate Program Screening Form before submitting this application.

Get in Touch With HLC

© Higher Learning Commission

230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

800.621.7440 / 312.263.0456

  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Home
  •  About HLC
  •  Contact Us
  •  Privacy Notice
  • FAQs
  • Glossary
Copyright © 2019

Save