College Diploma and Certificate Program Standards

• Overview
• Published College Program Standards
• What Does a Program Standard Contain?
• A History of the Program Standards

• Program Standards in French
• Permission to Copy
• For More Information

Overview

Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology throughout Ontario deliver a wide range of postsecondary programs designed to provide graduates with the entry-level skills they will need to become successfully employed in various vocational fields. These programs must be of high quality and relevant to the needs of both employers and students. All college graduates must have the key vocational skills that will help them find employment in their field of study. They also need the broader skills and knowledge that will give them flexibility and allow them to continue to learn and adapt throughout their working lives.

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities oversees the development and the review of standards for programs of instruction, in order to clearly identify the essential skills and knowledge that graduates of that program must acquire. Each college is required to ensure that its programs and program delivery are consistent with these standards, and must assist students to achieve these essential outcomes.

Employers, industry and professional associations, and program graduates currently working in the field are all involved in the development and review processes, as are representatives of the colleges themselves. This way, students can be assured that the programs are relevant to the needs of employers and that the skills they acquire during their program will be appropriate.

For More Information

To find out more about specific programs offered by colleges of applied arts and technology, please contact the colleges directly.

Inquiries regarding program standards should be directed to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.