Attorney General Shuts Down Nursing Education Company
Associated National Medical Academy’s Nursing Courses Not Approved by
Maryland State Board of Nursing or Maryland Higher Education Commission

BALTIMORE, MD ( June 3, 2010) -Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced that his Consumer Protection Division has entered into a Consent Order with MalMilVentures, LLC, d/b/a Associated National Medical Academy, located at 322 N. Howard in Baltimore City, and the company=s principals, Johnny Malone and John Miller. Under the terms of the Consent Order, Associated National Medical Academy will return all monies it charged consumers, estimated to be at least $177,000. It has also agreed not to offer any education program in the future without authorization or a waiver from the Maryland Board of Nursing and/or the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The company also agreed to pay $110,000 in costs and penalties, which can be reduced to $35,000 if it has fully complied with the Consent Order. Associated National Medical Academy denied that it violated the Consumer Protection Act.

The Division alleged that Associated National Medical Academy offered accelerated licensed practical nurse and registered nurse bridge training programs, at a cost of $6,000 and $8,000, respectively, to Maryland students. To be licensed in Maryland, the candidate must have completed a nursing education program approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing. Associated National Medical Academy is not approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing or the Maryland Higher Education Commission. As a result, consumers attending Associated National Medical Academy would not qualify to get a nursing license.

“This company and its owners preyed on consumers who wanted to practice nursing in Maryland,” said Attorney General Gansler. “Consumers should check with state licensing boards to verify licensing requirements prior to signing up with training schools.”

The Division further alleged that Associated National Medical Academy made numerous misrepresentations and material omissions to consumers including: its nursing programs were accredited through other schools when, in fact, they were not accredited; students would receive transcripts, certifications, and/or degrees that would be honored in Maryland and other states when, in fact, they would receive invalid transcripts, certifications, and/or degrees; its programs were approved in other states, and that students could get licensed in other states and practice in Maryland when, in fact, they were not approved in any other state and students would not be eligible to practice in Maryland; and students either did not need clinical training, or would complete their clinical training at area hospitals when, in fact, no arrangements had been made with any area hospital for the mandatory clinical training.