Bonanza 36
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 3700; Flight Crew Type 500
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
I was cleared to the VCT VOR at 4000; cleared for the VOR 13 at PSX.  So after crossing VCT VOR I began a descent to the published altitude.  The center controller advised me not to descend; and I asked 'wasn't I cleared for the approach'.  He said cleared to fly it but not descend.  Obviously there was a miscommunication due to some nonstandard phraseology with the clearance; and I believe it could have been better cleared up by the controller by verifying that I understood his nonstandard request. We were beginning our descent to published altitude and then corrected back to 4000 per center request.
A BE36 Instructor reports being cleared to the VCT VOR at 4000 feet; cleared for the VOR 13 at PSX. After crossing VCT outbound a descent is commenced and the Controller advises that the reporter was not cleared to descend; only to fly the procedure.