In Thailand, the Nursing and midwifery council has projected a shortage of 50,000 nurses by 2020. To meet this gap, there is a need to increase the number of nurses being trained. Private training institutions offer one potential route to expand the supply, however, little is known about these institutions and how they fit into the health system. This study  will examine the emerging role of private nursing schools in Thailand, and how these compare with public training institutions in terms of resources and financing, teaching staff and exposure of students to rural community health.