Opening a private IT training center in Vietnam does not require the massive capital needed to establish a school, but investors must still pass one mandatory legal gateway: the establishment approval decision of the Director of the Department of Education and Training. Since 20/11/2024, all conditions and procedures have been governed by Decree 125/2024/ND-CP (replacing Decrees 46/2017/ND-CP and 135/2018/ND-CP), together with the organization and operation regulations for foreign language and IT centers in Circular 21/2018/TT-BGDDT.
This article systematizes the conditions, personnel standards and licensing procedures for opening a private IT training center under current law, helping investors prepare a correct dossier from the start.
1. Legal status of an IT training center
Under Article 42 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP, an IT training center belongs to the group of “other centers performing continuing education tasks” — continuing education institutions operating under Article 42 of the Law on Education 2019. This has two important consequences:
- An IT center is not a school, so the minimum capital thresholds of tens or hundreds of billions of VND applicable to general or higher education institutions do not apply;
- The center may only deliver registered continuing-education IT programs and may not grant diplomas of the national education system.
Confusing an IT center with a “vocational training institution” or a “school” is a common mistake that gets dossiers returned, because the competent authority and conditions differ completely.
2. Four establishment conditions (Article 43, Decree 125/2024/ND-CP)
To be permitted to establish a private IT center, investors must satisfy four conditions simultaneously:
Condition 1 — Premises and facilities: location, facilities, classrooms, functional rooms and teaching equipment meeting the requirements of the continuing education programs delivered at the center. In practice, appraisers will check computer labs, the computer-to-learner ratio, network systems and teaching software.
Condition 2 — Programs: education programs, teaching and learning materials meeting the requirements of the continuing education programs delivered at the center under Ministry of Education and Training regulations. Teaching beyond registered programs is a violation.
Condition 3 — Personnel: sufficient management staff, teachers, employees and workers meeting the standards required for each program under Ministry regulations.
Condition 4 — Charter: a draft charter on the organization and operation of the center.
3. Director and teacher standards (Circular 21/2018/TT-BGDDT)
This is the most scrutinized part of the dossier. Under Article 6 of the regulations issued with Circular 21/2018/TT-BGDDT, the director of an IT center must meet all of the following standards:
- Good personal background and management capacity;
- A university degree in IT, or a university degree plus a basic IT application certificate under the IT skills standards (or equivalent);
- Experience in education and training.
The director serves a 05-year term; for private centers, the authority permitting establishment decides on recognizing the director. Note: the law does not require the director to hold an education management certificate — do not impose conditions the law does not contain.
As for teachers: they must hold at least a college pedagogical degree in IT, or a college IT degree plus a pedagogical training certificate; the ratio must not exceed 25 learners per teacher per session.
4. Procedures and licensing authority
Under Article 44 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP, the Director of the Department of Education and Training decides on permitting the establishment of IT centers at the request of organizations or individuals. The dossier includes: the written request, the establishment proposal (objectives, programs, facilities, personnel, finance), the draft organization and operation charter, and evidence of meeting the four conditions above.
One advantage of Decree 125/2024 is the added option of online dossier submission, saving investors travel time. Once permitted, the center must publish the decision and may only enroll learners and deliver training within its registered programs.
5. Mistakes that get dossiers returned
- Citing expired instruments: using proposal templates drafted under Decree 46/2017/ND-CP — expired since 20/11/2024;
- Unqualified director: a university degree in an unrelated field without a basic IT application certificate and no proven education experience;
- Missing the draft organization and operation charter — mandatory but frequently omitted;
- Vague program registration: writing only “IT training” without listing each specific program, level and target learner group.
6. Frequently asked questions
Q: Can an individual open a private IT training center?
A: Yes. The law allows organizations and individuals to request permission to establish a private IT center, provided all conditions are met and the Director of the Department of Education and Training grants approval.
Q: Can an IT center grant graduation diplomas to learners?
A: No. An IT center is a continuing education institution; it may only issue certificates of program completion, not diplomas of the national education system.
Q: Is there a minimum capital requirement for opening an IT center?
A: Current law sets no absolute minimum capital as it does for schools. However, investors must demonstrate sufficient financial capacity to sustain the center (premises rental, equipment, payroll).
Preparing to open an IT training center and need a legal review of your establishment proposal? Contact us for advice.
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.