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The Approval Process

Career schools and colleges are regulated under Title 3, Texas Education Code, Chapter 132, and Title 40, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 807 (PDF).

Is your business exempt?

Texas Education Code, Sections 132.002 & 003 provide for 17 specific exemptions to regulation. If you feel that your business may qualify for exemption, please read the applicable section of form PS-017, General Exemptions, which is available for download from the Career Schools and Colleges Forms section of our web site. Simply write a letter to the address provided in the form and provide the information requested for the specific exemption. There is no charge. It normally takes just a few days to review your request and you will be notified as to whether or not your request was approved.

Some schools are exempt because they are approved and regulated by another state agency. Common examples of this are cosmetology schools, which are approved and regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and driver safety and defensive driving schools, which are regulated by the Driver Training Division of the Texas Education Agency.

Is your business a career school or college?

The definition of a career school or college is found in Texas Education Code, Section 132.001:

(1) "Career school or college" means any business enterprise operated for a profit, or on a nonprofit basis, that maintains a place of business within this state, or solicits business within this state, and that is not specifically exempted by this chapter and:

(A) that offers or maintains a course or courses of instruction or study; or

(B) at which place of business such a course or courses of instruction or study is available through classroom instruction or by correspondence, or both, to a person for the purpose of training or preparing the person for a field of endeavor in a business, trade, technical, or industrial occupation, or for avocational or personal improvement.

The statute requires that a business have either an exemption, or if it is a career school or college, have a Certificate of Approval, prior to advertising or operating.

The statute requires that a number of things occur before we issue a Certificate of Approval. The major parts of the process are listed below:

• The courses of instruction must be submitted and approved.
• A school director is required. The application for that individual must be approved.
• Applications for the instructors must be approved.
• Applications for representatives (the employees of the school that discuss the school with the public) must be approved.
• The facilities and equipment must be inspected and approved.
• Audited financial statements must be submitted and approved.

Typically, two to three months pass from the time that we first receive an application packet to the time that all of the requirements are met and we can issue a Certificate of Approval.

The approval process starts with your application. For the purpose of applying, there are three different applications, each for a different type of school. Since the distinctions between the types of schools can be somewhat technical, you may want to call our department to ensure that you get the correct application.

You can download form PS-999, Career School and College New School Packet Request, from the Career Schools and Colleges Forms section of our web site. Complete the form according to the directions, enclose the fee and mail it to the address provided. We will send you the application packet.

If you wish, forms PS-001F, G and H list the contents for each type of application packet. All of the forms are available for download from the Career Schools and Colleges Forms section of our web site.

Once you have your packet, please take the time to read through all of the information provided. Complete all of the forms and provide the requested information. If you have any questions, please call us. The name, phone number and e-mail address of each of the subject area expert is provided in the packet at the beginning of each section and again on the staff directory found toward the end of the packet.

After you complete the application, mail it to the address provided, along with the appropriate fees. Although you can submit a partial application, we are not able to issue a Certificate of Approval until you have met all of the requirements.

Once I've submitted an application, can I advertise while I'm waiting for final approval and issuance of a Certificate of Approval?

No. Texas Education Code, Section 132.051 states that a school may not maintain, advertise, solicit for, or conduct any course of instruction before it receives a Certificate of Approval.

Can a school receive a temporary approval while it is in the application process?

There is no provision in statute for temporary approval.

Do I have to have a location and/or phone number when I submit the application?

No. You may submit the application without this information. However, many parts of the application are notarized documents. Therefore, to make changes to the application you either will have to come to our office and add the information where required on the application or resubmit the portions of the application that require the information.

When we receive an application, we will review everything submitted and if there are any deficiencies we will identify them in a written response. You should expect to receive our response in approximately 30 days. If you have deficiencies, you should correct them as soon as you can and then provide us with the corrections. You may respond to the deficiencies individually or all at once, as you prefer.

If you have additional questions, please e-mail the Help Desk at career.schools@twc.state.tx.us or call at 512-936-3100.

Thank you for your interest in providing new educational opportunities to the citizens of Texas.

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