(a) The course is approved by the college curriculum committee and the district governing board pursuant to subdivision (c) of section 55002 and by the Chancellor's Office pursuant to section 55150 and is part of either:

(b) The noncredit educational program is designed to result in either:

(c) The noncredit educational program in which enhanced funding is sought must be submitted to and chaptered in the chancellor's office curriculum inventory system. Submissions shall include an explanation of how the educational program is designed to lead students to one of the outcomes described in subdivision (b) and all of the following:

(d) Under no circumstances may a district separate an existing noncredit course which provides less than one hundred and ten (110) hours of instruction into two or more courses for the purpose of forming a noncredit educational program to satisfy the requirements of this section.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a particular student from taking additional degree-applicable coursework, pursuing an associate degree, or pursuing transfer to a baccalaureate institution in addition to or instead of seeking immediate employment.

(f) For purposes of this article, the term “certificate of completion” means a document confirming that a student has completed a noncredit educational program of noncredit courses that prepares him or her to progress in a career path or to undertake degree-applicable or nondegree-applicable credit courses. The document must include the name of the certificate and the date awarded, be identified by a Taxonomy of Programs (T.O.P.) Code number and program discipline, identify the goal of the program, and list the courses completed by the student.

(g) For purposes of this article, the term “certificate of competency” means a document confirming that a student enrolled in a noncredit educational program of noncredit courses has demonstrated achievement of a set of competencies that prepares him or her to progress in a career path or to undertake degree-applicable or nondegree-applicable credit courses. The document must include the name of the certificate and the date awarded, be identified by a T.O.P. Code number and program discipline, and list the relevant competencies achieved by the student.

(h) Content and assessment standards for certificates shall be defined by the local curriculum committee. The curriculum committee shall review noncredit educational programs leading to a certificate using the same standards as applied to credit educational programs leading to a certificate as set forth in section 55070, with respect to academic integrity, consistency with college mission, meeting a demonstrated need and program feasibility.

(i) Each noncredit educational program shall be approved by the governing board of the district.

(j) Certificates for noncredit educational programs may be awarded on behalf of the governing board of the district by any appropriate district official or by a particular department or division pursuant to a delegation of authority from the governing board to students who have earned them.