Opening a private foreign language center is a popular education business model, but many investors stumble on staffing: what standards must the center director meet, what qualifications do teachers need, and how must the training curriculum be built? This article systematizes the legal conditions under Decree 125/2024/ND-CP and Circular 21/2018/TT-BGDDT.
1. What type of education institution is a language center?
Under Article 42 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP (effective 20 November 2024, replacing Decree 46/2017/ND-CP), a foreign language center belongs to the group of “other centers performing continuing education tasks” — alongside IT centers, language-and-culture centers and life-skills education centers.
This means: establishment conditions are uniformly set in Article 43 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP, while detailed organization and operation standards continue to apply Circular 21/2018/TT-BGDDT (Regulation on organization and operation of foreign language and IT centers).
2. Four establishment conditions (Article 43, Decree 125/2024/ND-CP)
- Facilities: premises, physical facilities, classrooms, functional rooms and teaching equipment meeting the requirements of the continuing education programs run at the center;
- Curriculum: education programs and teaching/learning materials meeting continuing education program requirements set by the Ministry of Education and Training;
- Personnel: managers, teachers, staff and employees sufficient in number and meeting the standards of each program;
- Charter: a draft organization and operation charter of the center.
Authority: the Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training decides to permit establishment of a private language center upon proposal by an organization or individual.
3. Director standards (Circular 21/2018/TT-BGDDT)
The director of a language center must simultaneously:
- Have good political and ethical qualities, and management capability;
- Hold a university degree in a foreign language, or a university degree plus a foreign language certificate of at least level 3 under Vietnam’s 6-level foreign language competency framework (or equivalent);
- Have experience working in education and training.
Practical note: authorities typically require demonstrated education management experience — investors should prepare proof of the prospective director’s experience from the start.
4. Teacher standards (Article 18, Circular 21/2018/TT-BGDDT)
Vietnamese teachers are qualified to teach a foreign language when meeting one of these standards:
- Holding a college degree or higher in foreign language pedagogy; or
- Holding a college degree or higher in a foreign language plus a pedagogical certificate.
Centers may also employ native-speaker teachers and foreign teachers — who must satisfy work-permit and professional requirements under labor law.
5. Curriculum: not “teach anything you like”
The teaching program must fit the foreign language curriculum framework and be clearly documented: training objectives, learner profiles, duration, content per level, teaching methods and learning-outcome assessment. The curriculum is part of the licensing dossier — a sketchy program is a common reason dossiers are asked to be supplemented.
6. After establishment permission: don’t forget the “operation permit” step
Like schools, a language center must complete the educational operation licensing procedure before enrolling students and starting classes. Enrolling before the operation permit is an administrative violation.
7. Frequently asked questions
Q: Can an individual without a language degree open a language center?
A: Yes — the law does not require the investor to hold a language degree. Qualification requirements apply to the center director and teachers. The investor may hire a qualified person as director.
Q: Must the business be registered before applying?
A: The proposing organization or individual needs clear legal status; in practice the dossier is usually tied to a registered enterprise or business household. Business registration should be completed before submitting the center establishment application.
Q: Does teaching English online require a center license?
A: Organized paid online teaching (classes, curriculum, learners) in principle falls within education management; the licensing obligation depends on the specific model. Seek advice before launching to avoid violations.
Preparing to open a language center and need a review of staffing and curriculum conditions? Contact us.
This article was prepared by the FLAW AI Legal Council. Content is pending QA Council review before submission for approval; information is for reference only and does not replace legal advice for your specific case.
