Don't know about Cali,but here in Tejas, I think they have to be on an accredited or "approved list".
I did one before, and you will have to spend a minimum amount of time logged in, and take tests as well.
The one I did was like this:
You enter a bunch of answers to questions the site asks,
what's your dogs name, where where you born, your street, etc etc.
You log in and do the lessons, and things will flash on the screen, and it will ask you "what just flashed up on the screen? and you have to answer correctly within a set period of time.
It also had a timer that you had to let time down before it would let you progress to the next section.
And , it will randomly pop up the questions you provided the answers too at the start, and you had like 30 seconds to type in the answer. If you didn't, the screen would fill up with blocks, lock you out and pop up a number to call to get the session re-activated. (don't ask how I know.. :O ).
It still sucks and you have to spend a while in front of your computer going over boring a** stuff, but it beats sitting in a class with a bunch of morons who won't shut up about their speeding ticket stories and if you get an instuctor that likes the BLAH BLAH BLAH..
I looooove traffic school..