I graduated from China Calligraphy and Painting Correspondence University (Shunde Branch, Guangdong) in July 2007. Personally, I think it is a very formal school with strong teachers. I salute them!
After two years of systematic study in China Calligraphy and Painting Correspondence University (Shunde Branch, Guangdong Province), I became a formal theoretical calligrapher from an amateur!
As for whether your education is recognized by the state, I don't think it matters! After all, painting and calligraphy are hobbies! In order to improve their artistic level! One word "value"