Virginia Private Postsecondary School Bond
Overview
Virginia requires private postsecondary schools to carry a surety bond before they can operate legally and enroll students. This bond protects students and the Commonwealth if a school fails to deliver promised education, closes unexpectedly, or mishandles tuition funds. Obtaining it is a condition of licensure — not optional, not retroactive. If you've been told to secure this bond before your school can open or renew its license, you're in the right place.
Who Needs This Bond?
Operators and owners of private postsecondary schools in Virginia are the principals on this bond. That includes career schools, technical institutes, vocational training programs, and other non-degree or degree-granting private institutions that charge tuition and operate outside the public university system. If your school is required to obtain a license from Virginia's State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) or a comparable oversight body, this bond is part of that process. Anyone applying for a new license or renewing an existing one must have this bond on file.
What is this Bond For?
This bond exists to protect students who pay tuition to your school. If the school closes mid-enrollment, fails to provide contracted educational services, or misappropriates student funds, the bond provides a financial remedy. It holds the school accountable to the students and to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Without it, there is no state-backed financial guarantee standing behind your students' investment in their education.
When is it Required?
Applying for a private postsecondary school license in Virginia is the moment this bond becomes mandatory. You cannot complete the licensing application — or renew an existing license — without submitting proof of this bond to the appropriate state authority. Schools that add new programs, locations, or substantially increase enrollment may also trigger a bond review or adjustment. The bond must remain continuously in force for your school to stay in compliance.
Where Does it Apply?
This is a statewide Virginia requirement. It applies to any private postsecondary school operating anywhere in the Commonwealth, regardless of the city or county where the campus is located. There is no local-jurisdiction version of this bond — the obligation runs to the state of Virginia.
How to Buy Online
Click 'Buy This Bond Online' on this page and the secure surety portal will open in a new tab. Enter your school's information, complete the application, and your bond documents are processed digitally — no phone calls, no waiting on an agent. Once issued, you'll have the documentation you need to submit with your Virginia private postsecondary school license application.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan is powered by The Southern Agency and built for exactly this situation — you need a specific bond, you need it now, and you don't want to wait on a callback. Our online catalog covers surety bonds nationwide, including every Virginia education bond. The entire process runs through our secure surety portal, so you can buy, download, and move on with your licensing application today.