Modifications of Approval Requirements for Courses Designed To Prepare Individuals for Licensure or Certifications, 1087-1091 [2021-27942]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1087-1091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27942]



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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 21

RIN 2900-AQ91


Modifications of Approval Requirements for Courses Designed To 
Prepare Individuals for Licensure or Certifications

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend 
its regulations to implement the provisions of the Jeff Miller and 
Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 
2016. In this proposed rule, we would add new approval requirements as 
specified in the statutory provisions for accredited and nonaccredited 
programs designed to prepare an individual for licensure and 
certification in a State. We would also implement VA's new authority to 
waive the added approval requirements under certain circumstances and 
adjust the authority of a State approving agency to add new approval 
criteria. In addition, we would add a circumstance for disapproval of a 
program designed to prepare an individual for licensure and 
certification, as prescribed by the law we are implementing.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 11, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through www.Regulations.gov. 
Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 
2900-AQ91(P)--Modifications of Approval Requirements for Courses 
Designed to Prepare Individuals for Licensure or Certifications.'' 
Comments received will be available at regulations.gov for public 
viewing, inspection or copies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Amitay, Chief, Policy and 
Regulation Development Staff, (225C), Education Service, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 
461-9800. (This is not a toll-free telephone number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior to the passage of the Jeff Miller and 
Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 
2016 (Pub. L. 114-315), there were discrepancies among the States 
regarding the requirements for approval of programs of education 
designed to prepare someone for State licensure or certification or 
board certification. There were reports of GI Bill participants who 
were unable to secure employment following graduation because their 
program of education did not meet the standards required for licensure, 
certification, State board approval, or employment. There were also 
concerns that State approving agencies (SAAs) were exercising their 
authority to subject nonaccredited courses to additional approval 
criteria as they deemed necessary in a manner that treated private for-
profit educational institutions substantially and detrimentally 
differently than their public or private not-for-profit counterparts. 
Further, while SAAs had the authority to impose additional approval 
criteria for approval of nonaccredited courses under 38 U.S.C. 3676, 
they had no authority to deem additional approval criteria necessary 
with respect to accredited courses.
    To addresses these concerns, Public Law 114-315, sec. 409, amended 
38 U.S.C. 3676(c), further amended by the Johnny Isakson and David P. 
Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, 
Public Law 116-315, sec. 1016, to add the following approval 
requirements for educational programs that are designed to prepare 
individuals for licensure or certification in a State, regardless of 
whether the program is ``deemed approved'' (meaning it satisfies the 
requirements of 38 U.S.C. 3672(b)(2)(A)):
    [cir] If a course is designed to prepare an individual for 
licensure or certification in a State, the course must meet all 
instructional curriculum licensure or certification requirements of 
such State.
    [cir] If a course is designed to prepare an individual for 
employment pursuant to standards developed by a board or agency of a 
State in an occupation that requires approval, licensure, or 
certification, the course must meet such standards.
    [cir] If a course is designed to prepare an individual for 
licensure to practice law in a State, the course must be accredited by 
a specialized accrediting agency for programs of legal education or 
association recognized by the Secretary of Education under subpart 2 of 
part H of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1099b), from which recipients of law degrees from such accredited 
programs are eligible to sit for a bar examination in any State (at 
this time, the only organization that satisfies this criterion is the 
American Bar Association).
    Section 409 also added the provision in 38 U.S.C. 3676(f)(1) that 
allows the Secretary of VA to waive the additional approval 
requirements if he or she determines all of the following:
    [cir] The educational institution is not accredited by an agency or 
association recognized by the Secretary of Education.
    [cir] The course did not meet the additional requirements at any 
time during the 2-year period preceding the date of the waiver.
    [cir] The waiver furthers the purposes of the educational 
assistance programs administered by the Secretary or would further the 
education interests of individuals eligible for assistance under such 
programs.
    [cir] The educational institution does not provide any commission, 
bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on 
success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any persons or 
entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or 
in making decisions regarding the award of student financial 
assistance, except for the recruitment of foreign students residing in 
foreign countries who are not eligible to receive Federal student 
assistance.
    We would add the new requirements for approval of educational 
programs designed to prepare individuals for licensure or certification 
contained in the amended sec. 3676(c) to 38 CFR 21.4253(d)(9) and 38 
CFR 21.4254(c)(14). We would also specify in 38 CFR 21.4253(d)(9) and 
38 CFR 21.4254(c)(14) that the Secretary or designee may waive the 
added approval requirements if conditions specified in sec. 3676(f)(1) 
are met and indicate the process for applying for a waiver. The waiver 
decision will be made by the Education Service Director or other 
designated personnel. See 38 U.S.C. 512 (Secretary has broad authority 
to ``delegate, or authorize successive redelegation of, authority to 
act and to render decisions, with respect to all laws administered by 
the Department, to such officers and employees as the Secretary may 
find necessary''); 38 CFR 21.4001(a) (``authority is delegated to the 
Under Secretary for Benefits and to supervisory or adjudicative 
personnel within the jurisdiction of the Education Service, designated 
by him or her to make findings and decisions under 38 U.S.C. Chapters 
34 and 36 and the applicable regulations, precedents and instructions, 
as to programs authorized by these paragraphs.'')
    Section 409 also amended 38 U.S.C. 3679 to require VA or an SAA to 
disapprove a course of education designed to prepare an individual for 
licensure or certification unless the educational institution providing 
the course publicly discloses ``in a prominent manner'' any conditions 
or additional requirements, including

[[Page 1088]]

training, experience, or examinations, required to obtain the license, 
certification, or approval for which the course of education is 
designed to provide preparation. We would add a new paragraph (e) to 
Sec.  21.4259 to indicate that VA or an SAA would be required to 
disapprove a licensing or certification program if the institution 
fails to publicly and prominently disclose additional approval 
requirements. The disclosure would be considered to be sufficiently 
prominent if the educational institution publishes the conditions or 
requirements on a publicly facing website, in their catalog, and in any 
publication which explicitly mentions ``educational assistance benefits 
for servicemembers (and their dependents) or veterans (and their 
dependents)'' or which, in the view of the Secretary, is intended for 
VA educational assistance beneficiaries.
    Furthermore, under sec. 409(f), an individual enrolled in a program 
subject to disapproval under any of the amendments made by sec. 409 
must be allowed to complete any program if he or she remains 
continuously enrolled at the same educational institution (i.e., the 
student must be allowed to be ``grandfathered''). Thus, we would 
include a statement in Sec.  21.4259(e) that an individual may complete 
a program of education even if it is subject to disapproval under any 
of the amendments made by sec. 409 provided that the individual remains 
continuously enrolled at the same educational institution.
    Section 410 of Public Law 114-315 adjusted the SAAs' authority to 
add additional approval criteria for approving either accredited or 
nonaccredited programs by requiring SAAs to consult with VA before 
imposing such criteria and by requiring a VA determination about the 
criteria. VA must find the criteria both (1) necessary and (2) 
equitable in its treatment of public, private, and proprietary for-
profit educational institutions. Therefore, in proposed Sec. Sec.  
21.4253(d)(10) and 21.4254(c)(15), we would include a requirement that 
prior to an SAA being allowed to impose any additional criteria, the 
SAA must present a written proposal to the Secretary, or designee, 
justifying the need for the additional criteria. The proposal is 
necessary to ensure that any additional criteria imposed by an SAA are 
necessary and equitable regardless of whether the criteria are imposed 
on public, private, or for-profit institutions. The proposal would have 
to describe the problem and explain how the imposition of the 
additional criteria will correct the problem. It would also have to 
state whether State or Federal laws, regulations, or policies require 
the imposition of the additional criteria, and explain whether 
alternative means of correcting the problem were considered. In 
addition, the written proposal would have to contain an attestation 
that the additional criteria will be equitable regardless of whether 
they are imposed on public, private, or for-profit institutions. The 
Secretary, or designee, would determine whether the criteria are 
necessary and equitable and could change the determination if, after 
implementation, it becomes apparent that the criteria were unnecessary 
or treated schools inequitably in practice.

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, and other advantages; distributive impacts; 
and equity). Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. 
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has determined that 
this rule is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 
12866.
    The Regulatory Impact Analysis associated with this rulemaking can 
be found as a supporting document at www.regulations.gov.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Secretary hereby certifies that this proposed rule would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601-612). VA has determined that, although there may be a number 
of educational training facilities and SAAs considered small entities 
which may be affected by this proposed rule, they would not be not 
significantly impacted by this rule.
    Allowing waiver of the added approval requirements under certain 
circumstances, as well as requiring SAAs to present a written proposal 
to VA justifying the need for adding additional approval criteria for 
approving either accredited or nonaccredited programs, would likely 
have some impact on both educational training institutions and SAAs. 
However, the impact would be minimal. VA estimates that five 
educational facilities will request a waiver per year and that the 
estimated cost for any educational institution seeking a waiver will be 
less than $300. Also, VA estimates that approximately eleven requests 
per year from SAAs will be received to add additional approval criteria 
and the estimated cost for SAAs making these requests will also be less 
than $300. Therefore, the number of schools and SAAs affected is not 
substantial and the impact on each is not significant. Therefore, under 
5 U.S.C. 605(b), the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis 
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604 do not apply.

Unfunded Mandates

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 
1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and 
benefits before issuing any rule that may result in the expenditure by 
State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for 
inflation) in any one year. This proposed rule would have no such 
effect on State, local, and tribal governments, or on the private 
sector.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed rule includes provisions that would constitute new 
collections of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3521) that require approval by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). Accordingly, under 44 U.S.C. 3507(d), VA has 
submitted a copy of this rulemaking action to OMB for review and 
approval.
    OMB assigns control numbers to collections of information it 
approves. VA may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. If OMB does not approve the 
collections of information as requested, VA will immediately remove the 
provisions containing a collection of information or take such other 
action as is directed by OMB.
    Comments on the collections of information contained in this 
rulemaking should be submitted through www.regulations.gov. Comments 
should indicate they are submitted to in response to ``RIN 2900-AQ91--
Modifications of Approval Requirements for Courses Designed to Prepare 
Individuals for Licensure or Certifications.''
    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collections of 
information contained in this

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rulemaking within 60 days after publication of this document in the 
Federal Register. Therefore, a comment to OMB is best assured of having 
its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. This 
does not affect the deadline for the public to comment on the 
provisions of this rulemaking.
    The Department considers comments by the public on proposed 
collections of information in--
     Evaluating whether the proposed collections of information 
are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluating the accuracy of the Department's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collections of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhancing the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimizing the burden of the collections of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    The collections of information contained in 38 CFR 21.4253(d)(9), 
21.4254(c)(14), 21.4253(d)(10), and 38 CFR 21.4254(c)(15) are described 
immediately following this paragraph.
    Title: Waiver of Additional Licensing and Certification Approval 
Requirements.
    OMB Control No: 2900-XXXX (New/TBD).
    CFR Provision: 38 CFR 21.4253(d)(9), 21.4254(c)(14).
    Summary of collection of information: The new collection of 
information in proposed Sec. Sec.  21.4253(d)(9) and 21.4254(c)(14) 
would allow educational institutions to apply for a waiver of 
additional approval requirements for educational programs that are 
designed to prepare individuals for licensure or certification in a 
State.
    Description of need for information and proposed use of 
information: This collection of information is necessary to allow VA to 
determine whether to waive additional approval requirements for 
educational programs designed to prepare individuals for licensure or 
certification in a State when waiver is requested. The information will 
be used by VA to determine if the educational institution's request for 
a waiver of the additional approval requirements may be granted.
    Description of likely respondents: Educational institutions that 
apply to VA, through their State approving agency of jurisdiction, for 
a waiver of additional approval requirements.
    Estimated number of respondents: 5 in FY 2021.
    Estimated frequency of responses: This is a one-time collection.
    Estimated average burden per response: 2 hours.
    Estimated total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden: VA 
estimates the total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden to be 10 
burden hours.
    Estimated cost to respondents per year: VA estimates the annual 
cost to respondents to be $270.70 (5 applicants per year x 2 hours per 
application x $27.07*).
    * To estimate the total information collection burden cost, VA used 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) median hourly wage for ``all 
occupations'' of $27.07 per hour. This information is available at: 
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oesnat.htm#15-0000.
    Title: Request for Additional Approval Requirements for Licensing 
and Certification Programs.
    OMB Control No: 2900-XXXX (New/TBD).
    CFR Provision: 38 CFR 21.4253(d)(10), 21.4254(c)(15).
    Summary of collection of information: The new collection of 
information in proposed Sec. Sec.  21.4253(d)(10) and 21.4254(c)(15) 
would require an SAA seeking to impose additional approval requirements 
for educational programs that are designed to prepare individuals for 
licensure and certification programs to present a written proposal to 
VA that justifies the need for the additional criteria.
    Description of need for information and proposed use of 
information: The information will be used by VA to determine if the 
additional approval criteria presented by an SAA are necessary and 
equitable for educational institutions offering programs designed to 
prepare an individual for licensure and certification in a State.
    Description of likely respondents: State approving agencies.
    Estimated number of respondents: 11 in FY 2021.
    Estimated frequency of responses: This is a one time collection.
    Estimated average burden per response: 1 hour.
    Estimated total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden: VA 
estimates the total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden to be 11 
burden hours.
    Estimated cost to respondents per year: VA estimates the annual 
cost to respondents to be $297.77 (11 applicants per year x 1 hour per 
application x $27.07*).
    * To estimate the total information collection burden cost, VA used 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) median hourly wage for ``all 
occupations'' of $27.07 per hour. This information is available at: 
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oesnat.htm#15-0000.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers and titles for 
the programs affected by this document are 64.027, Post-9/11 Veterans 
Educational Assistance; 64.028, Post-9/11 Veterans Educational 
Assistance; 64.032, Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve; Reserve 
Educational Assistance Program; 64.117, Survivors and Dependents 
Educational Assistance; 64.120, Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational 
Assistance; 64.124, All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance.

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 21

    Administrative practice and procedure, Armed forces, Claims, 
Colleges and universities, Education, Employment, Schools, Veterans, 
Vocational education, Vocational rehabilitation.

Signing Authority

    Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on December 20, 2021, and authorized the undersigned to sign 
and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for 
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.

Luvenia Potts,
Regulations Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy & 
Management, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs proposes to amend 38 CFR part 21 as set forth below:

PART 21--VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION

Subpart D--Administration of Educational Assistance Programs

0
1. The authority citation for part 21, subpart D continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  10 U.S.C. 2141 note, ch. 1606; 38 U.S.C. 501(a), 
chs. 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and as noted in specific sections.

0
2. In Sec.  21.4253, amend paragraph (d) by revising the last sentence 
of the introductory text and adding paragraphs (9) and (10).

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Sec.  21.4253  Accredited courses.

* * * * *
    (d) * * * The State approving agency may approve the application of 
the school when the school and its accredited courses are found to have 
met the following criteria and additional reasonable criteria 
established by the State approving agency if the Secretary or designee, 
in consultation with the State approving agency, approves the 
additional criteria as necessary and equitable in its treatment of 
public, private, and proprietary for-profit educational institutions:
* * * * *
    (9)(i) For a course designed to prepare an individual for licensure 
or certification in a State, the course meets all instructional 
curriculum licensure or certification requirements of such State.
    (ii) For a course designed to prepare an individual for licensure 
to practice law in a State, the course is accredited by a specialized 
accrediting agency for programs of legal education or association 
recognized by the Secretary of Education under subpart 2 of part H of 
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b), from 
which recipients of law degrees from such accredited programs are 
eligible to sit for a bar examination in any State.
    (iii) For a course designed to prepare an individual for employment 
pursuant to standards developed by a board or agency of a State in an 
occupation that requires approval, licensure, or certification, the 
course meets such standards.
    (iv) An educational institution may apply, through their State 
approving agency of jurisdiction, to the Secretary or designee for a 
waiver of the requirements of this paragraph (d)(9). The State 
approving agency will forward an application for waiver, together with 
its recommendation for granting or denying the application, to the 
Secretary or designee. The Secretary or designee may grant a waiver 
upon a finding that all of the following criteria have been met:
    (A) The educational institution is not accredited by an agency or 
association recognized by the Department of Education.
    (B) The course did not meet the requirements of this paragraph 
(d)(9) at any time during the 2-year period preceding the date of the 
waiver.
    (C) The waiver furthers the purposes of the educational assistance 
programs administered by VA or would further the education interests of 
individuals eligible for assistance under such programs.
    (D) The educational institution does not provide any commission, 
bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on 
success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any persons or 
entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or 
in making decisions regarding the award of student financial 
assistance, except for the recruitment of foreign students residing in 
foreign countries who are not eligible to receive Federal student 
assistance.
    (10) Before requiring a school and its accredited courses to meet 
any additional criteria, the State approving agency must present a 
written proposal to the Secretary or designee justifying the need for 
the additional criteria and containing an attestation that the criteria 
will treat all schools equitably, regardless of whether they are 
public, private or for-profit institutions. The Secretary or designee 
will determine whether the additional criteria are necessary and treat 
schools equitably based on the proposal and any additional information 
submitted. The Secretary or designee may change the determination at 
any time if, after implementation, it becomes apparent that the 
criteria are unnecessary or schools are treated inequitably under the 
criteria.
    (i) The written proposal must contain a description of the need for 
the additional criteria and an explanation of how the imposition of the 
additional criteria would remedy the problem. The proposal must also 
contain a statement concerning whether State or Federal laws, 
regulations, or policies require the imposition of the additional 
criteria and an explanation of the consideration of any alternative 
means to achieve the same goal as the additional criteria.
    (ii) The Secretary or designee may request such additional 
information from the State approving agency as the Secretary or 
designee deems appropriate before determining whether the criteria are 
necessary and treat schools equitably.
* * * * *

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3675(b)(3), 3676(c), (f))

0
3. Amend Sec.  21.4254 by revising paragraph (c)(14) and adding 
paragraph (c)(15).


Sec.  21.4254  Nonaccredited Courses.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (14)(i) For a course designed to prepare an individual for 
licensure or certification in a State, the course meets all 
instructional curriculum licensure or certification requirements of 
such State.
    (ii) For a course designed to prepare an individual for licensure 
to practice law in a State, the course is accredited by a specialized 
accrediting agency for programs of legal education or association 
recognized by the Secretary of Education under subpart 2 of part H of 
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b), from 
which recipients of law degrees from such accredited programs are 
eligible to sit for a bar examination in any State.
    (iii) For a course designed to prepare an individual for employment 
pursuant to standards developed by a board or agency of a State in an 
occupation that requires approval, licensure, or certification, the 
course meets such standards.
    (iv) An educational institution may apply, through their State 
approving agency of jurisdiction, to the Secretary or designee for a 
waiver of the requirements of this paragraph (c)(14). The State 
approving agency will forward an application for waiver, together with 
its recommendation for granting or denying the application, to the 
Secretary or designee. The Secretary or designee may grant a waiver 
upon a finding that all of the following criteria have been met:
    (A) The educational institution is not accredited by an agency or 
association recognized by the Department of Education.
    (B) The course did not meet the requirements of this paragraph 
(c)(14) at any time during the 2-year period preceding the date of the 
waiver.
    (C) The waiver furthers the purposes of the educational assistance 
programs administered by VA or would further the education interests of 
individuals eligible for assistance under such programs.
    (D) The educational institution does not provide any commission, 
bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on 
success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any persons or 
entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or 
in making decisions regarding the award of student financial 
assistance, except for the recruitment of foreign students residing in 
foreign countries who are not eligible to receive Federal student 
assistance.
    (15) Such additional reasonable criteria as may be deemed necessary 
by the State approving agency if the Secretary or designee, in 
consultation with the State approving agency, approves the additional 
criteria as necessary and equitable in its treatment of public, 
private, and proprietary for-profit educational institutions. The 
Secretary or designee will determine whether the additional criteria 
are necessary and treat schools equitably

[[Page 1091]]

based on a proposal and any additional information submitted.
    (i) Before requiring a school and its nonaccredited courses to meet 
any additional criteria, the State approving agency must present a 
written proposal to the Secretary or designee justifying the need for 
the additional criteria and containing an attestation that the criteria 
will treat all schools equitably, regardless of whether they are 
public, private or for-profit institutions. The written proposal must 
contain a description of the need for the additional criteria and an 
explanation of how the imposition of the additional criteria would 
remedy the problem. The proposal must also contain a statement 
concerning whether State or Federal laws, regulations, or policies 
require the imposition of the additional criteria and an explanation of 
the consideration of any alternative means to achieve the same goal as 
the additional criteria.
    (ii) The Secretary or designee may request such additional 
information from the State approving agency as the Secretary or 
designee deems appropriate before determining whether the criteria are 
necessary and treat schools equitably.
    (iii) The Secretary or designee may change the determination at any 
time if, after implementation, it becomes apparent that the criteria 
are unnecessary or schools are treated inequitably under the criteria.
* * * * *

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3676(c), (f))


0
4. Amend Sec.  21.4259 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  21.4259  Suspension or disapproval.

* * * * *
    (e) The Secretary or the appropriate State approving agency will 
disapprove a licensing and certification program of education if the 
educational institution providing the program of education fails to 
publicly disclose in a prominent manner any conditions or additional 
requirements, including training, experience, or examinations required 
to obtain the license, certification, or approval for which the program 
of education is designed to provide preparation.
    (1) The Secretary will determine whether a disclosure is 
sufficiently prominent; however, at a minimum, the educational 
institution must publish the conditions or requirements on a publicly 
facing website and in their catalog, and include them in any 
publication (regardless of medium) which explicitly mentions 
``educational assistance benefits for servicemembers (and their 
dependents) or veterans (and their dependents)'' or which, in the view 
of the Secretary, is intended for VA educational assistance 
beneficiaries.
    (2) Individuals continuously enrolled at the same educational 
institution pursuing a program of education subject to disapproval 
under paragraph (e) of this section may complete the program of 
education.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3679(d))


[FR Doc. 2021-27942 Filed 1-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P