DOL on Labor Certifications for Associate Degrees

Dear Ms. Pinchak:

This is in response to your letter of April 26 asking whether a college that awards a two year Associate's degree can apply for a labor certification pursuant to the special handling provisions at 20 CFR 656.31a for college or university teachers.

"College or university" means an educational institution which: (1) admits as regular students only individuals having a certificate or diploma of graduation from a high school, or a recognized equivalent of such a certificate or diploma; (2) is legally authorized by the Federal and/or state government(s) to provide a program of education beyond high school; and (3) provides an educational program for which it awards a baccalaureate or higher degree, or provides a program which is acceptable for full credit for such a degree. This includes those junior and community colleges which award associate degrees, but which teach courses which can be credited toward a baccalaureate degree at another college or university.

Flora T. Richardson

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