NPS/A Certification Applications

Download and complete the Intent to Apply for NPS Certification (DOC).

Mail the completed Intent to Apply for NPS Certification form, along with a check made payable to the California Department of Education, for the certification fee, to:

California Department of Education, Special Education Division
Focused Monitoring & Technical Assistance VI Unit
1430 N Street, Suite 2401
Sacramento, CA 95814

Note: Fee requirements are listed on the Intent to Apply for NPS Certification Form.

New NPS applicants are required by California Education Code (EC) Section 56366.1(b)(1) to provide the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), in which the NPS is located, with a written notification of intent to seek certification to provide related services for individuals with exceptional needs.

For initial (new) applications, the NPS must wait at least 60 days for the SELPA representative to respond prior to submitting the application to California Department of Education (CDE). If there is no response from the SELPA, the NPS may attach a copy of the certified mail receipt to the NPS certification application as evidence it has met the requirements of the law.

The NPS Certification Application and NPS Certification Application Instructions will be e-mailed to all renewing NPS applicants on August 1. This ensures that renewing NPS applicants can begin working on the NPS Certification Application at the start of the renewal period which begins August 1 and ends on October 31. Although the NPS Certification Application will be available for completion, renewing NPS applicants must pay their certification fee by October 31 or the NPS certification application cannot be accepted.

Renewing nonpublic, nonsectarian schools (NPS) are required by California Education Code (EC) Section 56366.1(b)(1) to provide the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), in which the NPS is located, with a written notification of intent to renew its certification to provide related services for individuals with exceptional needs.

The NPS must wait for the SELPA representative to respond, at least 30 days for renewal applications, prior to submitting the application to the California Department of Education (CDE). If there is no response from the SELPA, the NPS may attach a copy of the certified mail receipt to the NPS certification application as evidence it has met the requirements of the law.

Note: Fee requirements are listed on the NPS Intent to Apply for NPS Certification Form.

New NPA applicants are required by California Education Code (EC) Section 56366.1(b)(1) to provide the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), in which the NPA is located, with a written notification of intent to seek certification to provide related services for individuals with exceptional needs.

For initial (new) applications, the NPA must wait at least 60 days for the SELPA representative to respond prior to submitting the application to the California Department of Education (CDE). If there is no response from the SELPA the NPA may attach a copy of the certified mail receipt to the NPA certification application as evidence it has met the requirements of the law.

Renewing nonpublic, nonsectarian agencies (NPA) are required by California Education Code (EC) Section 56366.1(b)(1) to provide the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), in which the NPA is located, with a written notification of intent to renew its certification to provide related services for individuals with exceptional needs.

The NPA must wait for the SELPA representative to respond, at least 30 days for renewal applications, prior to submitting the application packet to the California Department of Education (CDE). If there is no response from the SELPA, the NPA may attach a copy of the certified mail receipt to the NPA certification application as evidence it has met the requirements of the law.

No later than October 31; the NPA Certification Application, along with a check for the certification fee made payable to the California Department of Education, must be mailed to:

California Department of Education, Special Education Division
Nonpublic Agencies Unit
1430 N Street, Suite 2401
Sacramento, CA 95814

Note: Fee requirements are listed on the NPA Intent to Apply for NPA Certification form.

When the NPA Certification Application is complete and meets all of the requirements, the NPA Certification Application will be 'Approved' and the CDE will issue the NPA certification.