Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 28, 2026
1. Information We Collect
We collect only the information necessary to provide our educational services and fulfill state reporting requirements.
Personal Identification:
Name, email address, phone number, and physical mailing address.
Professional Credentials:
Your license number (required for reporting your Continuing Education credits). Note: We do not collect or store Social Security Numbers.
Account Data:
Log-in credentials created when you register for an account on our platform.
Usage Data:
Standard information collected automatically, such as IP addresses, browser types, and pages visited, to ensure our site functions correctly.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your data for the following essential business purposes:
State Reporting: Reporting your completed continuing education (CE) hours to the proper state departments.
Account Management: Maintaining your student records, course progress, and history.
Service Communications: Sending course confirmations, certificates of completion, and updates regarding your license requirements.
Payment Processing: We use Helcim to process payments securely. Sterling Professional Education LLC does not store your full credit card or bank account details on our servers.
3. Data Retention & Legal Obligations
As an approved continuing education provider in the State of Minnesota, we are subject to specific record-keeping regulations:
- Mandatory Retention: We are required by the state agencies to maintain accurate records of course offerings, student attendance, and completion for a period of at least three (3) years from the date of course completion.
- Account Lifecycle: Beyond the mandatory retention period, we maintain your account data as long as it remains active to help you track your long-term professional development.
4. Third-Party Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share data only with:
Regulatory Bodies: Relevant state authorities if applicable for education credit processing.
Service Providers: Secure partners like Helcim (payment processing) and our web hosting/email delivery services. These partners are contractually bound to protect your data.
5. Your Rights & Data Portability
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Access & Correction: You can log in to your account at any time to view or update your personal details.
Data Portability: You may request a digital copy of your course history and personal data in a portable format.
Deletion: You may request that we delete your data; however, please note that we cannot delete records that are still within the state-mandated 3-year retention window.
6. Cookies & Tracking
We use cookies for essential site functionality (like keeping you logged in). We do not use tracking cookies for targeted advertising or third-party marketing "retargeting."
7. Security
We implement industry-standard security measures, including SSL encryption, to protect your data. While no system is 100% secure, we prioritize the safety of your professional and personal information.
8. Contact Us
For questions regarding this policy or to request a copy of your data, please contact: