Continuing Education
Retrieved from http://cicic.ca/507/basic-definitions.canada
Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC)
Definitions used in the Directory of Universities, Colleges and Schools in Canada
Legislative Status
Recognized Postsecondary Institution
Public or private institution that has been given authority to grant degrees, diplomas, and other credentials by a public or private act of the provincial/territorial legislature or through a government-mandated quality assurance mechanism.
Postsecondary Institutions Authorized to Offer Specific Credentials
Public or private institution that has been given authority to grant specific degrees, diplomas, or other credentials through a government-mandated quality assurance mechanism, and/or by a private act of the provincial/territorial legislature.
Registered or licensed institutions
Private institutions that have been given, under provincial or territorial legislation governing commercial activities, the right to operate as a business for the purpose of offering private training programs after it has been established, for consumer protection purposes only, that they meet minimum financial and other requirements.
Administrative Status
Public Institution
Institution controlled or managed by a body most of whose members are elected or appointed by or under the scrutiny of a public authority.
Private Institution (not-for-profit)
Institution, controlled or managed by a body most of whose members are not selected by a public authority, that is not established for the purpose of distributing profits to individual directors, employees, owners or shareholders
Private Institution (for-profit)
Institution, controlled or managed by a body most of whose members are not selected by a public authority, that is established for the purpose of distributing profits to individual directors, employees, owners or shareholders
Additional Categories
Career Colleges
Institutions that are privately owned and authorized to operate as commercial enterprises for the purpose of offering private training programs after it has been established, for consumer protection purposes only, that they meet minimum financial and other requirements. They must be registered or licensed, as applicable, under provincial or territorial legislation. As potential consumers, students must take the same care and precautions when choosing a program as they would take when making any other major purchase.
Distance Education (only) Institutions
Institutions where education is exclusively delivered to students who are not physically in a classroom. Students may work, individually or in group, and communicate with their instructors using print or electronic media, or through technology (such as telephone, emails, video and online teleconferences or seminar).
Theological Schools (also known as seminaries, divinity schools, or theological colleges)
Institution, most often established for the training of theologians or the clergy, that are recognized under a private act of a provincial or territorial legislature and that are usually not subject to quality assurance mechanisms at the provincial or territorial level.
Types of credentials
Doctoral Degrees (Doctorate / Ph.D.)
Graduate degree offered by university-level institutions that is one level higher than a master’s degree and normally requires a minimum of two to three years of full-time study.
Master’s Degrees
Graduate degree offered by university-level institutions. It normally follows an undergraduate degree and takes one to two years of full-time study.
Bachelor’s Degrees
Undergraduate degree offered by postsecondary institutions, normally requiring three or four years of full-time study.
Applied Master’s Degrees
Graduate degree offered in British Columbia by postsecondary institutions. It normally follows an undergraduate degree, and requires one or two years of full-time study. Applied masters degrees focus on both theory and applied skills, and include content relevant to an advanced level of expertise in a recognized occupational sector or profession. The main distinction between an academic master’s degree and a master’s degree with an applied focus, is the inclusion of practice-based elements and less emphasis on research in the latter.
Applied (Bachelor’s) Degrees
Degree offered by postsecondary institutions normally requiring four years of full-time study. Degrees are primarily in technology fields, emphasize technical applications, and frequently involve fieldwork or practical training.
Associate Degree
Undergraduate degree offered in British Columbia by colleges and university colleges, normally requiring two years of full-time study.
University Certificate/Diploma
Credential awarded upon completion of an approved program of study, usually less than four semesters’ duration, at the undergraduate level. Advanced graduate diplomas are intended to recognize the completion of specified courses at the graduate level offered to meet the ongoing educational needs of professionals.
College Diploma
Credential awarded upon the successful completion of a program of postsecondary academic and/or vocational training and education, usually requiring two years of full-time study.
College Certificate
Document attesting to the successful completion of an educational or vocational course or program, normally requiring up to two years of study after secondary school.
Attestation of college studies (AEC)
Document attesting to the successful completion of a vocational or technical program of variable length developed by an educational institution with the authorization of the Quebec Ministry of Education
Institutional Relationships
Affiliated Institution
Institution that retains its administrative independence, but whose power to grant degrees may be held in abeyance, in full or in part, with the parent. The parent supervises instruction in the programs and grants degrees to graduating students. In British Columbia, this definition does not apply to theological colleges affiliated with the University of British Columbia. The private theological colleges meet the criteria for affiliation established by the senate of the university, but this does not imply scrutiny or approval of the course offerings of the private theological colleges by the university senate.
Constituent Institution
Institution that has significant independence from the parent institution in its academic (program and admissions requirements) and financial affairs. Usually awards its own degrees.
Federated InstitutionInstitution that is a legal entity separate from the parent institution, with which it has academic, research or administrative ties. Usually awards its own degrees, but may hold this power in abeyance with the parent institution.
Click here for a list of associations offering continuing education opportunities.
Click here for a list of Canadian Institutions offering programs in Counselling/Psychotherapy.