How Your Tuition is Protected

The Student Training Completion Fund (STCF) – What is it?

PCTIA manages the Student Training Completion Fund (STCF) which is funded by contributions from registered and accredited private career training institutions.

If an institution closes unexpectedly before you have completed your program, or if the board finds you have been misled about a key aspect of the institution or your program, you can apply for a refund of part or all of your tuition.

What does the STCF cover?

Tuition refunds when a student has been found to have been misled

Occasionally a student enters into a program at a private career training institution and finds that he or she has been misled about a key aspect of the program. In that case, the student may file a complaint and seek a refund under the STCF.

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions section for more information on what being misled means and on how to file a complaint.  If the information you require is not found, contact the PCTIA Student Relations Administrator.

Partial tuition refunds if your school closes

If you are enrolled in a program at a registered private career training institution and it closes prior to completion of your program, we can help.  You may qualify to get a refund of your unearned tuition. Unearned tuition is defined as the portion of tuition paid which has not yet been earned by the institution upon closure.

For example, if you were taking a 10-month program, had paid tuition of $10,000, and the school closed after you had completed 8 months (or 80%)of your program, the calculation of your refund would be 20% of the total tuition paid:

Total program tuition: $10,000
Less portion earned by school: $ 8,000
Potential tuition refund: $ 2,000

For more information on refunds and to find out if you qualify, contact the PCTIA Student Relations Administrator.

Transfers to another institution if yours closes

If the institution you are attending closes you may have the option of transferring to another institution to complete your program rather than receiving your tuition refund. This would be at no additional cost to you and is called a "train-out" option. PCTIA staff work with you and other institutions to make arrangements.

For more information on your "train-out" options, visit our Frequently Asked Questions section or contact the PCTIA Student Relations Administrator.