{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/23.1-225.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/23.1-225.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/23.1-225.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/23.1-225.html"}],"law_id":61964,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61964,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-225","catch_line":"Prohibited acts","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 23-272; 1980, c. 658; 2002, c. 178, \u00a7 23-276.10; 2004, c. 991; 2008, c. 856; 2016, c. 588.","full_text":"A\n\nWithout prior Council approval, no person or other entity subject to the provisions of this article shall use in any manner within the Commonwealth the term “college” or “university” or abbreviations or words of similar meaning in its name, in connection with its academic affairs or business, or in any literature, catalog, pamphlet, or descriptive material.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to any person or other entity that (i) used the term “college” or “university” openly and conspicuously in its title within the Commonwealth prior to July 1, 1970; (ii) was granted authority to operate in the Commonwealth by the Council between July 1, 1970, and July 1, 2002, and maintains valid authority to so operate in the Commonwealth on or after July 1, 2002; (iii) was exempted from the provisions of former Chapter 21 (§ 23-265 et seq.) of Title 23, as such law was in effect prior to July 1, 2002; or (iv) was authorized by the Council to use a name while its request for approval to enroll students is pending before the Council.B\n\nNo person or other entity shall sell, barter, or exchange for any consideration, or attempt to sell, barter, or exchange for any consideration, any degree credit, degree, or certificate.C\n\nNo person or other entity shall:1\n\nUse or attempt to use, in connection with any business, trade, profession, or occupation, any degree credit, degree, or certificate, including any transcript of coursework that it knows or has reason to know has been fraudulently issued, obtained, forged, materially altered, or purchased;2\n\nIssue or manufacture a fraudulent academic credential;3\n\nPhysically present a fraudulent academic credential, knowing it is fraudulent, in an attempt to obtain employment, promotion, licensure, or admission to an institution of higher education;4\n\nIn any way represent that it is an institution of higher education that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or has the foreign equivalent of such accreditation if the person or entity is not so accredited; or5\n\nRepresent that credits earned at or granted by any institution of higher education or academic-vocational non-college degree school may be applied for credit toward a degree unless such person is exempted from the provisions of this article or granted certification or approval by the Council in accordance with this article and the Council’s regulations.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":226191,"text":"Without prior Council approval, no person or other entity subject to the provisions of this article shall use in any manner within the Commonwealth the term “college” or “university” or abbreviations or words of similar meaning in its name, in connection with its academic affairs or business, or in any literature, catalog, pamphlet, or descriptive material.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to any person or other entity that (i) used the term “college” or “university” openly and conspicuously in its title within the Commonwealth prior to July 1, 1970; (ii) was granted authority to operate in the Commonwealth by the Council between July 1, 1970, and July 1, 2002, and maintains valid authority to so operate in the Commonwealth on or after July 1, 2002; (iii) was exempted from the provisions of former Chapter 21 (§ 23-265 et seq.) of Title 23, as such law was in effect prior to July 1, 2002; or (iv) was authorized by the Council to use a name while its request for approval to enroll students is pending before the Council.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":226192,"text":"No person or other entity shall sell, barter, or exchange for any consideration, or attempt to sell, barter, or exchange for any consideration, any degree credit, degree, or certificate.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":226193,"text":"No person or other entity shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C1"},"3":{"id":226194,"text":"Use or attempt to use, in connection with any business, trade, profession, or occupation, any degree credit, degree, or certificate, including any transcript of coursework that it knows or has reason to know has been fraudulently issued, obtained, forged, materially altered, or purchased;","type":"section","prefixes":["C","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"C1","prefix_anchor":"C1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C2"},"4":{"id":226195,"text":"Issue or manufacture a fraudulent academic credential;","type":"section","prefixes":["C","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"C2","prefix_anchor":"C2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C1","next_prefix":"C3"},"5":{"id":226196,"text":"Physically present a fraudulent academic credential, knowing it is fraudulent, in an attempt to obtain employment, promotion, licensure, or admission to an institution of higher education;","type":"section","prefixes":["C","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"C3","prefix_anchor":"C3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C2","next_prefix":"C4"},"6":{"id":226197,"text":"In any way represent that it is an institution of higher education that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or has the foreign equivalent of such accreditation if the person or entity is not so accredited; or","type":"section","prefixes":["C","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"C4","prefix_anchor":"C4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C3","next_prefix":"C5"},"7":{"id":226198,"text":"Represent that credits earned at or granted by any institution of higher education or academic-vocational non-college degree school may be applied for credit toward a degree unless such person is exempted from the provisions of this article or granted certification or approval by the Council in accordance with this article and the Council’s regulations.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"C5","prefix_anchor":"C5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C4"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15696,"edition_id":1,"name":"Regulation of Certain Private and Out-of-State Institutions of Higher Education","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14064,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:58:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:58:03","permalink":{"id":184705,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15696,"identifier":"3","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3","url":"\/23.1\/I\/2\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14064,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Council of Higher Education for Virginia","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13393,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:45","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:45","permalink":{"id":184639,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14064,"identifier":"2","token":"23.1\/I\/2","url":"\/23.1\/I\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13393,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13111,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:47","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:47","permalink":{"id":184583,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13393,"identifier":"I","token":"23.1\/I","url":"\/23.1\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13111,"edition_id":1,"name":"Institutions of Higher Education; Other Educational and Cultural Institutions","identifier":"23.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:18","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:18","permalink":{"id":184581,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13111,"identifier":"23.1","token":"23.1","url":"\/23.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":71294,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-213","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/23.1-213\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-213","metadata":false},{"id":61081,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-214","catch_line":"Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail","url":"\/23.1-214\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-214","metadata":false},{"id":60133,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-215","catch_line":"Authority of the Council; regulations; standards for postsecondary schools; delegation of authority to Executive Director","url":"\/23.1-215\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-215","metadata":false},{"id":64447,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-216","catch_line":"Career College Advisory Board established","url":"\/23.1-216\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-216","metadata":false},{"id":66073,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-217","catch_line":"Certification required","url":"\/23.1-217\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-217","metadata":false},{"id":61720,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-218","catch_line":"List of postsecondary schools holding valid certification","url":"\/23.1-218\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-218","metadata":false},{"id":74209,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-219","catch_line":"Council certification; requirements and prohibitions","url":"\/23.1-219\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-219","metadata":false},{"id":73720,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-220","catch_line":"Approval procedures","url":"\/23.1-220\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-220","metadata":false},{"id":84806,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-221","catch_line":"Refusal, suspension, and revocation of approval or certification","url":"\/23.1-221\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-221","metadata":false},{"id":77929,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-222","catch_line":"Emergency actions","url":"\/23.1-222\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-222","metadata":false},{"id":83508,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-223","catch_line":"Preservation of students' records","url":"\/23.1-223\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-223","metadata":false},{"id":84204,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-224","catch_line":"Fees","url":"\/23.1-224\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-224","metadata":false},{"id":61964,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-225","catch_line":"Prohibited acts","url":"\/23.1-225\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-225","metadata":false},{"id":74161,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-226","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/23.1-226\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-226","metadata":false},{"id":64724,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-227","catch_line":"Laws of the Commonwealth to apply to contracts","url":"\/23.1-227\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-227","metadata":false},{"id":76711,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-228","catch_line":"Violations; penalties; remedies","url":"\/23.1-228\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-228","metadata":false},{"id":71518,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-229","catch_line":"Postsecondary school closure procedures","url":"\/23.1-229\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-229","metadata":false},{"id":86216,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-230","catch_line":"Enrollment agreements required","url":"\/23.1-230\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-230","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":84204,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-224","catch_line":"Fees","url":"\/23.1-224\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-224","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74161,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-226","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/23.1-226\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-226","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/23.1-225\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1980, chapter 658; in 2002, chapter 178<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 991<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 856<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 588<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":184755,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61964,"identifier":"23.1-225","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-225","url":"\/23.1-225\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/23.1-225\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-225","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibited acts","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 23.1-225","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Without prior Council<\/span> approval, no person or other entity subject to the provisions of this article shall use in any manner within the Commonwealth the term “college<\/span>” or “university<\/span>” or abbreviations or words of similar meaning in its name, in connection with its academic affairs or business, or in any literature, catalog, pamphlet, or descriptive material<\/span>.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to any person or other entity that (i) used the term “college<\/span>” or “university<\/span>” openly and conspicuously in its title within the Commonwealth prior to July 1, 1970; (ii) was granted authority to operate in the Commonwealth by the Council<\/span> between July 1, 1970, and July 1, 2002, and maintains valid authority to so operate in the Commonwealth on or after July 1, 2002; (iii) was exempted from the provisions of former Chapter 21 (§ 23-265 et seq.) of Title 23, as such law<\/span> was in effect prior to July 1, 2002; or (iv) was authorized by the Council<\/span> to use a name while its request for approval to enroll students is pending before the Council<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No person or other entity shall sell, barter, or exchange for any consideration, or attempt to sell, barter, or exchange for any consideration, any degree credit<\/span>, degree, or certificate<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> No person or other entity shall: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Use or attempt to use, in connection with any business, trade, profession, or occupation, any degree credit<\/span>, degree, or certificate<\/span>, including any transcript<\/span> of coursework that it knows or has reason to know has been fraudulently issued, obtained, forged, materially altered, or purchased; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Issue<\/span> or manufacture a fraudulent academic credential<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Physically present a fraudulent academic credential<\/span>, knowing it is fraudulent, in an attempt to obtain employment, promotion, licensure, or admission to an institution of higher education<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> In any way represent that it is an institution of higher education<\/span> that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or has the foreign equivalent of such accreditation if the person or entity is not so accredited; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Represent that credits earned at or granted by any institution of higher education<\/span> or academic-vocational non-college<\/span> degree school<\/span><\/span><\/span> may be applied for credit toward a degree unless such person is exempted from the provisions of this article or granted certification or approval by the Council<\/span> in accordance with this article and the Council<\/span>’s regulations. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITED ACTS (\u00a7 23.1-225)\n\nA. Without prior Council approval, no person or other entity subject to the\nprovisions of this article shall use in any manner within the Commonwealth the\nterm “college” or “university” or abbreviations or words\nof similar meaning in its name, in connection with its academic affairs or\nbusiness, or in any literature, catalog, pamphlet, or descriptive material.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to any person or other entity that (i) used\nthe term “college” or “university” openly and\nconspicuously in its title within the Commonwealth prior to July 1, 1970; (ii)\nwas granted authority to operate in the Commonwealth by the Council between July\n1, 1970, and July 1, 2002, and maintains valid authority to so operate in the\nCommonwealth on or after July 1, 2002; (iii) was exempted from the provisions of\nformer Chapter 21 (§ 23-265 et seq.) of Title 23, as such law was in effect\nprior to July 1, 2002; or (iv) was authorized by the Council to use a name while\nits request for approval to enroll students is pending before the Council.\n\nB. No person or other entity shall sell, barter, or exchange for any\nconsideration, or attempt to sell, barter, or exchange for any consideration,\nany degree credit, degree, or certificate.\n\nC. No person or other entity shall:\n\n 1. Use or attempt to use, in connection with any business, trade, profession,\n or occupation, any degree credit, degree, or certificate, including any\n transcript of coursework that it knows or has reason to know has been\n fraudulently issued, obtained, forged, materially altered, or purchased;\n\n 2. Issue or manufacture a fraudulent academic credential;\n\n 3. Physically present a fraudulent academic credential, knowing it is\n fraudulent, in an attempt to obtain employment, promotion, licensure, or\n admission to an institution of higher education;\n\n 4. In any way represent that it is an institution of higher education that is\n accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of\n Education or has the foreign equivalent of such accreditation if the person or\n entity is not so accredited; or\n\n 5. Represent that credits earned at or granted by any institution of higher\n education or academic-vocational non-college degree school may be applied for\n credit toward a degree unless such person is exempted from the provisions of\n this article or granted certification or approval by the Council in accordance\n with this article and the Council’s regulations.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 23-272; 1980, c. 658; 2002, c. 178, \u00a7 23-276.10; 2004,\nc. 991; 2008, c. 856; 2016, c. 588.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}