CA Appoved Degrees - Legally Defensible?

As a student in a Legally Operating CA State Approved University, Pacific Western University, I became interested when reading the following statement from the web-page of OPI, another CA Approved School.

"You will have a legally defensible university degree. Your education through our university is challenging, practical and professional. Each state has it's own requirements for specific types of professional practice. We encourage you to consider your specific needs."

http://www.opi.edu/ps/faq.html

Is this the case with CA Approved Degrees? Despite not being accredited, are they Legally Defensible? Just curious.

Thanks,

 

The majority opion (like 90+% (including mine)) is that the California "approved" schools are legal. Even Oregon recognizes some California "approved" schools

The main caveat has always been utility. Will the degree serve the need of the person persuing it.

The other main point is that the cost argument is not justified, as the cost difference between California "approved" and DETC accredited is not very much (if at all), and some RA accredited or UK or South African schools may even be lower cost.

Legal yes, lower cost maybe not, equal utility probably not.

 

To me, the term "legally defensible" might as well say "you won't end up in jail, but anything else is possible". Anything else meaning ridicule, embarrassment, and lost job opportunities.

If staying out of jail is the best thing that a school can say about the utility of its degrees, you're probably better off looking elsewhere.

 

OK, I don't doubt your ability to assess your own opinion, but while the majority of people may agree that your are not commiting a crime by claiming a degree from one of these institutions, that does not make them legitimate. And it is important to rember that in Oregon, at least, you are committing a crime by claiming a legitimate degree from one of these "institutions."

Sure, I don't think there is anyone here who would argue that the National Test Pilots School is not legitimate. Or, for that matter, that it is not the best in the world in its field. But that says absolutely nothing about the legitimacy of other CA approved schools. Albert Einstein dropped out of high school. Does that mean that every high school dropout deserves a Noble Prize?

Exactly. If you want to continue your education, your chances of doing so with a CA approved degree are very close to ZERO.

For employment, there may be some instances in which a CA approved degree is legitimately acceptable. In a few fields this is demonstrably true. In most fields, I know of no scientific studies to back this up, but it is possible.

There may also be instances in which you can fool the employer. Of course, if you want to fool an employer, why not just make up your own university and grant yourself a degree?

 

It's impossible to say whether or not CA-approved degrees are "legally defensible" until that phrase receives a definition.

If we say that a degree is "legally defensible", what assertion are we making about it?

What law are we talking about here? Defensible against what, exactly?

 

Hi RJT

 

I keep wondering what happens when a Califonia lawyer with an unaccredited degree moves to appear hac pro vice in an Oregon court. He probably has to tell the Judge when and where he received his JD...yet, as a member of the California Bar, it would be hard for the Oregon Court to deny his application to appear!

Of all possible CA approved degrees, I imagine that the JD has the greatest utility, both inside and outside California.

 

I took the term "legally defensible" to mean not committing a crrime. Legitamacy was not discussed.

NPTS is not on the Oregon approved (or diasallowed list) but SCUPS (Psychology PhD only) is approved for use in Oregon as is University for Humanistic Studies.

Using these two definitions I would say that California "approved" schools are legal, legitimate, and "legally defensible". It does not mean I would want my daughter to get one, or my wife, but by those definitions, in locals where they are not specifically disallowed (ie Oregon) the answer to the original queation is yes. I may not like to give it, but it is true (by the definitions cited). I would have liked to have the definitions from Black's but I did not have it handy.

 

Q: Is the Optimal Performance "Institute (OPI) accredited?
A:
Yes, OPI is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). This is a private accrediting association designed to meet the needs of non-traditional educational institutions and is not affiliated with any government agency, nor the Department of Education.

Q: Is OPI recognized by a governmental agency?
A:
Yes, OPI is recognized as a degree granting institution by the government operated Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education."

OPI's reference to their "accreditation" is a violation of California law. Just another example of the BPPVE asleep at the wheel.

 

Yes!!!