The Texas Board of Nursing (BON or Board) is aware that the following six schools are operating in Texas without approval by the Board:
- Career Advanced - UPDATE: On May 14, 2010, the Office of the Attorney General obtained a default judgment against Career Advanced. A permanent injunction was issued against Career Advanced operating in Texas. The court ordered $121,000 in civil penalties for violations of the Texas Education Code.
- Esther Medical Tutorial and Nursing Review Center
- IF Tech - UPDATE: On February 13, 2009, the Office of the Attorney General obtained a default judgment against IF Tech. A permanent injunction was issued against IF Tech operating in Texas and former students were awarded restitution.
- Merit Excellence Institute
- Omnibus International - UPDATE: MAY 1, 2009, Omnibus International was issued a Cease and Desist Order by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) on May 1, 2009, as the owner of the school, Rene Gaviola, is operating a career school without a certificate of approval or exemption required by the TWC.
- Vocational Training Educational Center or VTEC - UPDATE: On January 16, 2009, the Office of the Attorney General obtained a default judgment against VTEC. A permanent injunction was issued against VTEC operating in Texas and former students were awarded restitution.
A student must graduate from an approved nursing educational program in order to be deemed eligible to take the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN licensure examination. The purpose of the Board approval process is to protect the public from fraudulent programs that do not adequately prepare graduates to practice nursing safely and competently.
It is always important to investigate the credentials of a program of study before investing time and money in the pursuit of education. All potential nursing students should be aware that any program of study they are considering should be appropriately licensed and approved by a state board of nursing before they enroll in the program. A list of Texas Board approved nursing educational programs is provided on the Board's website at:
Contact information for each school is included with each listing of approved programs.
The Board has worked collaboratively with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) in efforts to protect the public from fraudulent nursing educational programs, as the TWC has statutory authority to issue cease and desist orders against the schools. Pursuant to Texas Education Code Section 132.301, 303, upon a showing that a person is operating a career school or college without a certificate of approval or exemption issued by the Commission, the Commission may issue an order that requires the person to immediately cease and desist from the operation of that career school or college.
The Texas Workforce Commission Press Release is available on the TWC website at http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/press/2008/021408press.pdf.
Additional Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas, have been identified by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and posted on their website.