Do I need to be licensed to offer training?

General Information Sheet on Career Schools and Colleges (PDF) - An introduction to what a career school is, and what is involved in becoming licensed to offer training in Texas/to Texans.

New School Application Packet - Obtain all the forms and instructions you need to apply for a license to operate a career school and get your programs and staff approved.

News for Schools - Check recent and historical notices important for licensed schools.

Know the Rules!

If you own, are employed by, or represent a career school or college, you are responsible for knowing and following TWC licensing requirements, career schools law, and career schools rule. Some key resources with which you should be familiar are:

Career Schools and Colleges Law - Texas Education Code, Chapter 132 - Complete current statute

• 2011 Letter to Schools (PDF) on changes to requirements for refund policies due to House Bill 2784, enacted by the 82nd Texas Legislature, Regular Session.
• 2011 Letter to Schools (PDF) on legislative changes affecting career schools, updates to the Directory of Licensed Career Schools and Colleges, and enhanced expectations for student enrollment and outcome reporting for the 2010-2011 reporting year.
• Summary of 2011 Changes to Chapter 132 (PDF)
• Summary of 2007 Changes to Chapter 132 (PDF)
• Letter explaining 2007 SB 309 amendment (PDF) to the refund policy for students called to active military service.

Career Schools and Colleges Rules - Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 807 (PDF) - Complete current rules

• 2013 Final Rule Amendments (PDF) and 2013 Summary of the Amendments (PDF)
• 2012 Final Rule Amendments (PDF) and 2012 Summary of the Amendments (PDF)
  • Letter to Schools on 2012 Rule Amendments (PDF)
• 2010 Final Rule Amendments (PDF) and 2010 Summary of the Amendments (PDF)
  • Letter to Schools on 2010 Rule Amendments (PDF)
  • Template for a notice to be posed in schools and on school websites to help ensure student awareness of complaint procedures (PDF)
  • Letter to licensed, accredited schools regarding procedure for Timely TWC Notification of New or Revised Course (PDF)
• 2007 Final Rule Amendments (PDF) and 2007 Summary of the Amendments (PDF)
  • Brief explanation of changes to Chapter 807 (PDF)
  • Crosswalk of changes to Chapter 807 (PDF), Texas Career Schools and Colleges Rules
  • Letter to large career schools concerning new renewal rates (PDF)
• 2006 Final Rule Amendments (PDF)
  • Letter to Title IV-eligible schools not taking attendance (PDF)
  • Letter to Title IV-eligible schools not taking attendance discussing when and how to document academically related activity (PDF)

School Directors' Resource Guide (PDF) - Provides an overview of school requirements. Since publication of this guide, procedures, provisions in law or rule, forms, or web links may have changed. Always check current law, rule, and forms.

As detailed in these resources, amongst other things, a career school or college must:

• Not operate or advertise without a Certificate of Approval, or exemption if eligible, from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
• Meet all requirements for licensure and annual renewal of licensure (except for the case of small schools eligible for a three year license).
• Pass an initial site visit, a 90 day post-licensure site visit, and then subsequently annual physical site visits.
• Be financially sound and capable of fulfilling its commitments for training.
• Offer only programs that have been properly approved by the Career School section of TWC, and other state agencies as may be required.
• Have adequate facilities, equipment, instructional materials, instructional staff, and other personnel to provide educational services necessary to meet the stated objectives for which the educational services are offered.
• Possess qualified school owners, directors and instructors, and registered representatives (student recruiting staff) who are of good reputation and character.
• Not utilize erroneous or misleading advertising, either by actual statement, omission, or intimation.
• Not promise employment of any type, for any period of time, or for any rate of pay to a prospective student, unless such conditions for employment are clearly stated in the enrollment contract signed by the student and school official.
• Furnish to the student prior to attendance in a program: a copy of the program outline, schedule of tuition, fees and other charges, current official rates of program completion and employment in the field trained for, the policies pertaining to absences, conduct, grading, satisfactory progress, refund policy, and rules of operations, and a copy of the complaint procedure of the school and of TWC.
• Publish and adhere to admissions policies, attendance policies if required, and refund policies that meet state requirements.
• Publish and adhere to a school procedure for handling student complaints, as well as information on how to file a complaint with TWC.
• Furnish to the student, upon satisfactory completion of the program, a certificate of completion to the student. A school may withhold transcript or certificate until the student has paid outstanding financial obligations to the school.
• Maintain accurate records of student grading, attendance, progress, and relevant student conduct.
• Report annually graduation and employment rates of their students in vocational programs.
• Cooperate with the TWC in all matters including site visits, request for information and documentation required to maintain the school's license, and TWC investigation of student complaints.

Special Requirements

Student Recruitment:

• Representative Training for Career Schools and Colleges course - All Representatives must take and pass the course in order to recruit or enroll students into a career school or college. This free online course is accessible to the public; other school staff may wish to take advantage of the course to enhance their professional development. Follow the link provided to the course entry screen, which will ask for your full name, the institution that you represent, and the city where it is located.
• Letter explaining the Representative Training for Career Schools and Colleges requirement, sent August 10, 2012 (PDF)
• Letter to schools regarding student recruitment practices (PDF)
• Guide from the Federal Trade Commission - for private vocational schools and distance education schools on avoiding fraudulent marketing practices.

Program Requirements:

• Letter to schools offering Dental Assisting Programs (PDF)
• Letter to schools offering Pharmacy Technician Programs (PDF)
• Letter to schools offering Nurse Aide/Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs (NATCEP) (PDF)

More Resources

Directory of Licensed Career Schools and Colleges - Explore the listings of private postsecondary schools licensed in Texas. NEW: Now includes program-level information on numbers of students enrolled, graduation rates, and employment rates of graduates, as well as program hours and cost.

THECB Information for Degree Granting Schools - web page for degree granting schools in Texas from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Related Links - Additional links that may be useful to you.

Career Schools Ordered to Cease Operation - Historical listing of school names and owners of schools that were closed due to a legal order by TWC to cease operations. These schools/owners are not permitted to operate a school in Texas again.

• Currently Licensed Schools
• Contact Information