Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 2.djvu/308

 100 STAT. 1410

PUBLIC LAW 99-498—OCT. 17, 1986 -a«

ited, for credit on the same basis as if transferred from an institution so accredited. Such term includes any school which provides not less than a 1-year program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation and which meets the provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5). If the Secretary determines that a particular category of such schools does not meet the requirements of paragraph (5) because there is no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association qualified to accredit schools in such category, the Secretary shall, pending the establishment of such an accrediting agency or association, appoint an advisory committee, composed of persons specially qualified to evaluate training provided by schools in such category, which shall (i) prescribe the standards of content, scope, and quality which must be met in order to qualify schools in such category to participate in the program pursuant to this part, and (ii) determine whether particular schools not meeting the requirements of paragraph (5) meet those standards. For the purpose of this subsection, the Secretary shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies or associations which the Secretary determines to be reliable authorities as to the quality of training offered. "(c) VOCATIONAL SCHOOL.—The term 'vocational school' means a business or trade school, or technical institution or other technical or vocational school, in any State, which— "(1) admits as regular students only persons who have completed or left elementary or secondary school and who have the ability to benefit (as determined by the institution under section 481(d)) from the training offered by such institution; "(2) is legally authorized to provide, and provides within that State, a program of postsecondary vocational or technical education designed to fit individuals for useful employment in recognized occupations; "(3) has been in existence for 2 years or has been specially accredited by the Secretary as an institution meeting the other requirements of this subsection; and (,^,, "(4) is accredited— "(A) by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or £ 3 association listed by the Secretary pursuant to this paragraph; "(B) if the Secretary determines that there is no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association qualified to accredit schools of a particular category, by a State agency listed by the Secretary pursuant to this paragraph; and "(C) if the Secretary determines there is no nationally recognized or State agency or association qualified to accredit schools of a particular category, by an advisory committee appointed by the Secretary and composed of persons specially qualified to evaluate training provided by schools of that category, which committee shall prescribe the standards of content, scope, and quality which must be met by those schools in order for loans to students attending them to be insurable under this part and shall also determine whether particular schools meet those standards. For the purpose of this subsection, the Secretary shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies or associations and

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