AUSTIN — The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) today upheld a cease and desist order issued in February against a Dallas-area career school that advertised courses preparing students to be licensed vocational nurses or registered nurses. Career Advanced Medical Clinic and Training, also known as Career Advanced, CATS Group Inc. and Career Advanced Tutoring Services, was issued the order for failure to obtain a certificate of approval or exemption as required by the Texas Education Code. If Career Advanced does not close its doors within five calendar days of the order, the Texas Office of the Attorney General will begin prosecution of the school owners.   

“These fly-by-night operations exploit vulnerable individuals with false promises of nursing licenses at a time when nurses are in such high demand,” said TWC Chairman Tom Pauken. “Hopefully, this will serve as a warning to any other schools considering offering unlicensed, unapproved programs.”

Nurse training schools must obtain a certificate of approval from TWC, and all nursing courses must be approved by the Texas Board of Nursing in order for students to be eligible to take nurse licensing examinations in Texas.

Health care professions top the fastest-growing occupations in Texas, with an estimated growth rate of more than 33 percent over the next eight years. The need for registered nurses is expected to grow by 58,000 positions, for a growth rate of almost 40 percent.

“The need for nurses in Texas and around the country has led to the proliferation of uncertified schools,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ron Lehman. “These schools take advantage of students who are paying large sums of money.”

A career school traditionally trains students for a field in a business, trade, or a technical or industrial occupation, or for vocational or personal improvement. Cease and desist orders are issued to a business if TWC has reason to believe the school is not in compliance with the Texas Education Code. Cease and desist orders are upheld by the TWC Commissioners after the school is unable to provide a successful appeal.

“Nursing career schools must obtain TWC certification and Board of Nursing course approval,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “We want to make sure these types of schools do not take advantage of students looking to join the workforce in the health care industry.”

TWC staff statewide monitors career school certification compliance, and can impose sanctions and/or an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 per day per violation for noncompliance. The Office of the Attorney General enforces cease and desist orders and can seek to collect civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day per violation. Pursuing such cases is the function of TWC’s Regulatory Integrity Division, which is responsible for enforcing all regulatory statutes within the jurisdiction of the agency, encompassing career schools, child labor, Unemployment Insurance and workforce board sanctions.

Prospective career school students can access a list of schools with current certificates of approval on the TWC Directory of Licensed Institutions on the Career Schools and Colleges Web site page at http://propschools.texasworkforce.org.  

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