Can we teach online classes and give out 'Certifications'?

[truckmount]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? VA

We'd like to offer up online classes for a specific industry and wondering if there is any laws if our educational company was going to teach, provide an exam at the end of the class and send them a Certification - so now they can legally state they are a Certified company (from taking our class and passing the exam)

What are the laws about certifying companies, basically giving them a paper document showing their now certified?

 

[TigerD]

Much depends on the specifics.
What industry?
What exactly are you certifying?

TD

 

[truckmount]

Much depends on the specifics.
What industry?
What exactly are you certifying?

TD

Cleaning - such as professional tile cleaning, window cleaning, carpet cleaning etc.

*Teaching them how to do these things professionally.

 

[TigerD]

I would talk to your attorney about liability and make **sure** you have enough insurance to cover potential lawsuits.

TD

 

[truckmount]

I would talk to your attorney about liability and make your you have enough insurance to cover potential lawsuits.

TD

What kind of attorney do I ask?

 

[TigerD]

What kind of attorney do I ask?

Licensed would be best.
Experienced even better.

Seriously, you need an attorney with experience in business law/start ups to assist you. You can pay for specialists in every area, but you issues can probably be resolved with an attorney having a broader base of experience. My advice is avoid the name confusion. You don't want to be the best in the market and lose customers to those guys because of a perceived similarity in names. Beyond that - planning and insurance are your friends.

TD

 

[stealth2]

And if you DO end up doing this? Please be certain to have a literate person proofread not only your advertising documentation (hard copy and online), but also the "certificates" you issue. Nothing more tacky than poor spelling/grammar in "professional" documents.