Definition of a Non-academic Private School

A non-academic private school usually provide courses with specific technical skills. Even though some of these schools offer certificates of completion for their courses, non-academic private schools are not accredited. A few examples of non-academic private schools are pet grooming school, sewing school, cooking school, driving school and etc.

There is no need to obtain license or permit to set up a non-academic school. It does not have to register with any government authority to offer courses. It, however, need to register as a business with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore. Your business must register as a sole proprietorship, partnership or a private limited company. Rikvin is Singapore’s leading business registration specialist. We can assist you in finding the right business structure for your business.

Choosing a Name

An important thing to note is choosing the appropriate name for your school. The name of your business registered with ACRA has to be the same name as the school if the business is registered as sole proprietorship or partnership. The words ‘Singapore’ and ‘National’; ‘University’, ‘Conservatory’ and ‘College’, or ‘International’ are not allowed in any part of the school name.

Choosing a Premise

Since non-academic private schools are not subjected to rules and regulations of the government authorities, there is no guideline for setting up the facilities. However, with any space used for business operation, you will need to make sure that the premise is zoned for commercial use.

Any major renovation of the premise will require an application for a building work permit through Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA). When the building works are complete, you will also need to obtain from BCA: a Certificate of Statutory Completion and/or a Temporary Occupation Permit before you can occupy the space.

You will also need a Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) prior to occupying the building. You can obtain an FSC from Singapore Civil Defense Force through a registered architect or engineer. All renovation works are to be performed by certified or licensed contractors including architects. A business signage that is placed on the building will require an application of an Advertisement License from BCA.

Enrolling International Students

A non-academic private essentially is a business that provides courses that teach vocational or technical skills. These usually short-term courses such as a weekend class on learning the Thai cuisine. It does not constitute a formal education and therefore not required to register with any authorities.

However, if you plan to open programs in your school to international students, you will need to apply for Case Trust for Education. Without the certification from Case Trust Singapore, you will not be allowed to enroll students in any of the programs in your school.

Rikvin has helped thousands of clients incorporate their companies successfully in Singapore since 1995. We can help you register your company with ACRA in less than 24 hours. Our company formation packages can be customized to needs which may include application of pertinent licenses and permits for the setup of your school.

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