---
title: "Vocational School Licensing"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/education-law-en/vocational-school-licensing-en"
field: "Education Law"
description: "Vocational school licensing in Georgia runs through college authorization: Articles 23, 26 and 27 on founding, status and state-recognized diplomas. Legal.ge."
reviewed: "2026-07-09"
updated: "2026-10-15"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# Vocational School Licensing

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/education-law-en/vocational-school-licensing-en

## Vocational School Licensing under Georgian Law

Opening a vocational school is often described as a licensing matter, yet Georgian law regulates this field differently. The legislation governing vocational education organizes the founding of a college, the acquisition of its status and the carrying out of educational activity through the institution of authorization. This page explains how that system works on the basis of the three key provisions of the relevant law: the norms on the founding of a college, on authorization, and on obtaining the right to implement an educational program.

If you are planning to establish a vocational school or are already working through this process, it is essential to understand from the outset that the law treats the college as a legal entity of special standing which acquires that standing only as a result of authorization. It is authorization that determines whether the institution may issue education documents recognized by the state and on which educational programs its activity will extend.

The full text is available on legal.ge after signing in: https://legal.ge/en/service/education-law-en/vocational-school-licensing-en

### What is the difference between licensing and authorization of a vocational school?

The law links the acquisition of college status to authorization: as a result of authorization a legal entity becomes a college and gains the right to issue a state-recognized diploma and certificate. Licensing in this context is a colloquial term.

### In what form is a college founded?

A college is founded and operates as a public-law legal entity or a private-law legal entity. State organs and municipalities act as founders in agreement with the ministry.

### What do the authorization standards cover?

The standards concern the mission and strategic development of the college, its educational programs, vocational students and their support, human resources, and material, informational and financial resources.

### Can a general education institution implement vocational programs?

Yes — without creating an independent legal entity it may implement basic and secondary vocational educational programs, state language preparation and training or retraining programs; a higher education institution may implement any type of such programs.