The problem: opening a university “cram center” — are good teachers and classrooms enough? Quick answer: no. Exam-prep centers are training institutions — they must meet establishment and operating conditions under Decree 46/2017/ND-CP (curriculum, staffing, facilities) and get licensed. Unlicensed teaching and “guaranteed pass” ads bring penalties and lost trust.
Operating conditions (Decree 46/2017)
- Curriculum: prep programs aligned with the general education curriculum and current high-school graduation/university admission exam structures; updated with exam changes.
- Staffing: qualified, experienced prep teachers; heads meeting management standards.
- Facilities: classrooms and equipment fit for scale; safety and fire-protection compliance.
- Licensing: Department of Education and Training training-operation licenses after file appraisal and physical inspection.
Prep advertising: honesty mandatory
“Guaranteed admission,” “100% pass,” “top scorers from center X” — baseless claims are false advertising, administratively punishable. Centers may advertise pass rates and average scores with real data and clear methodology. Inflated achievements are the fastest way to lose parent trust — a prep center’s only real asset.
Tuition and contracts
Prep tuition must be published and collected per contracts/enrollment forms stating duration, content, and mid-course withdrawal refund policies. Prep-center tuition disputes usually orbit “ineffective study refunds” — contracts should answer this upfront, not vaguely.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Conditions for an exam-prep center?
Suitable prep curriculum, qualified teachers, adequate facilities, and a Department training-operation license (Decree 46/2017).
2. Can “guaranteed admission” be advertised?
No. Baseless “guaranteed pass” claims are false advertising, administratively punishable.
3. Refunds for “ineffective” study?
Per signed contracts: mid-course withdrawal refund policies must be stated upfront. “Effectiveness” is hard to quantify — detailed contracts minimize disputes.
4. Can public-school teachers open prep centers?
Yes with: business registration, no paid tutoring of one’s own curricular students (Circular 29/2024), main duties unaffected.
5. Does online prep teaching need licensing?
Yes. Online training remains regulated education activity — conditions and registration apply.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council.