For-profit education (also known as proprietary education) refers to schools operated as private, profit-seeking businesses. Proprietary schools that want to operate in West Virginia have to apply to the Council for Community and Technical College Education for a permit to operate in the state. To qualify for the permit, schools have to meet certain operating criteria, submit annual reports to the Council, and annually prove they are accredited institutions.
To offer an associate degree in the state of West Virginia, these private schools must be approved by the Council.