The minimum standards a licensed vocational school in Florida, whether publicly or privately funded, must meet includes those set for administrative organization, faculty, admissions and recruitment, educational programs and curricula, completion rates and career placement, learning resources, student personnel services, and the school status with regard to professional certification and licensure. Some state and city student financial aid (such as WIA or RTP) can be awarded to students attending a state licensed or approved school.
Accreditation is a voluntary but important additional step for schools offering courses of study that meet established professional standards. An example is the Certified Medical Assistant career. In order to become a Certified Medical Assistant, a student must pass a national exam and be a graduate of a program of study that has been approved by a nationally approved accrediting agency such as the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission for Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The professional standards or competencies are set by a professional organization--in this case the American Association of Medical Assistants working in consultation with the American Medical Association. The U.S. Department of Education approves agencies to conduct the accreditation of schools and individual programs--a very in-depth process to ensure that the students will meet all the required standards of their profession. Schools that have achieved the accredited status must register their status with the Florida Department of Education.
Both federal and state funding for postsecondary education in Florida is administered through the Florida Department of Education. Title IV funding (federal student aid) is only available for students attending accredited schools. Title IV funding includes Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), the Federal Works Program and the Federal Stafford Loan Program. Apprenticeship programs are also an excellent opportunity for students to work and receive their education. Apprenticeship programs are approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and administered through the Florida Department of Education.