Religious Institutions

Religious affidavits should be emailed to cieinfo@fldoe.org or mailed to:

Please note the following when sending documents by e-mail:

• Keep your email (with all attachments) under 30 MB, or it may be rejected without warning.
• If you need to send multiple emails because of file size, label them clearly (for example, “Email 1 of 2”).
• The CIEInfo mailbox sends automatic replies to confirm receipt of an e-mail. If you don’t receive an auto reply, your email likely has not been received by the Commission.

Florida Statute 1005.06 (1)(f) Religious Institutions Exempt from the Commission's Jurisdiction

Religious institutions that meet the requirements found in Section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes and Rule 6E-5.001, Florida Administrative Code are not under the jurisdiction or purview of the Commission for Independent Education and are not required to obtain licensure.

Section 1005.06(1)(f), F.S. reads:

1. A nonpublic religious postsecondary educational institution may operate without licensure if the institution annually verifies by sworn affidavit to the commission each of the following affirmations:
   1. The name of the institution includes a religious modifier or the name of a religious patriarch, saint, person, or symbol of the church.
   2. An explanation of the religious modifier, religious name, or religious symbol used in the institution’s name.
   3. The institution offers only educational programs that prepare students for religious vocations as ministers, professionals, or laypersons in the categories of ministry, counseling, theology, education, administration, music, fine arts, media communications, or social work.
   4. The titles of degrees issued by the institution cannot be confused with secular degree titles. For this purpose, each degree title must include a religious modifier that immediately precedes, or is included within, any of the following degrees: Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Education. The religious modifier must be placed on the title line of the degree, on the transcript, and whenever the title of the degree appears in official school documents or publications.
   5. The titles and majors of every degree program offered by the institution as they appear on degrees and transcripts issued by the institution.
   6. The duration of all degree programs offered by the institution is consistent with the standards of the commission.
   7. The institution’s consumer practices are consistent with those required by s. 1005.04.
2. If requested by the commission, the institution must submit documentation demonstrating compliance with the requirements of this paragraph and with s. 1005.04. The institution shall submit such documentation within 30 days after the request.
3. The commission shall review for approval or denial, in a public meeting, affidavits submitted pursuant to this paragraph. The commission shall approve an affidavit unless the affidavit is facially invalid, the affidavit is contradicted by the institution’s public advertisements or by other evidence, or the institution has failed to comply with the requirements of subparagraph 2. The commission may provide such a religious institution a letter stating that the institution has met the requirements of state law and is not subject to licensure by the commission.
   1. If a nonpublic religious postsecondary educational institution that has been issued a written notice of exemption from licensure by the commission subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of this paragraph, the commission must revoke its approval of the institution’s affidavit in a public meeting.
   2. If an affidavit is denied by the commission, the commission may take any of the actions specified in s. 1005.38 unless the institution applies for a license pursuant to s. 1005.31(1)(a), ceases operating in this state, or submits documentation indicating compliance with this paragraph.

Rule 6E-5.001 Religious Institution Letter of Exemption

1. Definitions. As used in this rule, a “letter of exemption” means a letter issued by the Commission to a nonpublic religious postsecondary educational institution providing that the institution has met the requirements of state law and is exempt from licensure.
2. The Commission shall issue an annual letter of exemption, after receipt of a properly completed CIE Form 113 and upon approval from the Commission. CIE Form 113, Affidavit for Religious Institution Letter of Exemption, is incorporated by reference to become effective December 2025 (http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18743). CIE Form 113 may be obtained without cost, from the Commission’s website at http://www.fldoe.org/cie or by writing to the Commission for Independent Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.
3. The sworn affidavit, CIE Form 113, shall be executed by an Officer, Director, or person holding a similar office with the religious institution.
4. The Commission shall not issue a letter of exemption until it has received a properly completed CIE Form 113 and granted approval. Upon request from the Commission, the institution shall submit documentation demonstrating compliance with s. 1005.06(1)(f) and s. 1005.04, F.S., including paragraph 6E-1.0032(6)(i), F.A.C. The institution shall submit such documentation within 30 days after the request.
5. Duration. A letter of exemption is valid for one year from the date reflected on the letter. However, if the Commission is unable to supply the letter of exemption to an institution after the institution has timely submitted a completed CIE Form 113, the previous year’s letter of exemption will remain in effect until the Commission issues a new letter of exemption or until the Commission denies the completed CIE Form 113 at a public meeting.

Download Form 113 - Application for Religious Institution Letter of Exemption (PDF)