Career College Solutions

We offer a wide range of consultancy services to our clients from registration to operations, compliance to addition of new programs and campuses.

Book 15 Minutes Free or 1 Hour Paid Strategic Consultation

Pre-Screening

Not all institutions and vocational programs require registration or approval. If organizations have any questions about institutional or program exemptions they should consult their program consultant and/or submit a fully completed Ontario Career College Pre-Screening Form.

Curriculum Development

Building the Curriculum, Lesson Plans,

Instructor Manuals, Training Records, Quizes and Supplementary Study Materials.

Third-party Assessment

Third party program assessments of proposed vocational programs are required for all new programs and are conducted at the PCC’s expense. O. Reg. 415/06 – Section 11

What We Do?

Ontario Career College Approval

The Ontario Career Colleges Act 2005 requires applicants of new career colleges to comply with several acts, regulations & policy documents. Sometimes understating these requirements take a longer time and delays the already lengthy process. Developing policies, contracts, the curriculum is other major areas that require attention. We help our clients to get registration done in few months.

Developing Policies & Guidelines

Ontario career colleges must have refund policies, expulsion policy, student complaint procedure & other policy documents prior to the submission of file and post institution/program approval.

Drafting Vocational & Non-Vocational Contracts

Student contracts used for enrolling students in a vocational program must include the terms specified in the regulation. These terms are mandatory and excluding them from student contracts will mean that a PCC is in non-compliance and may be subject to penalties. For non-vocational programs, institutions must use a different contract. O. Reg. 415/06 – Sections 20-23

Distance Education

Registered Ontario Career Colleges can offer Distance Education programs subject to Suprintendent's approval for a DE Program.

Services for existing Career Colleges

Distance Education Toolkit

Pursuant to subsection 23(1) of the PCC Act, PCCs must have their vocational programs approved by the Superintendent of Ontario Career Colleges (Superintendent). Further, as per subsection 23 (2) of the Act, an application for program approval shall contain such information as the Superintendent may require.

We help our clients to determine which path they qualify to pursue Distance Education and prepare policies & guidelines, design curriculum and upload information along with documents to the PARIS platform.

Student File Management & Record Keeping

Section 45 of O. Reg. 415/06: GENERAL requires PCC's to maintain student files in such a way that it contains following records: Full name, sex, date of birth, residential address while enrolled, permanent address, phone numbers at the residential and the permanent address, and any cell phone number or e-mail address, academic record, contract copy, A copy of evidence verifying that student has met the admission requirements, a copy of all receipts issued to the student for the payment of fees as required under subsection 44 (7). O. Reg. 415/06 etc.

The cost of non-compliance is higher for PCCs, we assist our clients in how they can be compliant with various record-keeping requirements.

OCC Act 2005 Compliance

The OCC Act 2005 provides the Ministry with a continuum of compliance tools that begins with education and escalates to

revocation of registration and prosecution. Some of the actions Superintendent may take to enforce compliance are:

Superintendent’s orders and the ability to apply for court injunctions

Future administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) for prescribed contraventions of the Act or regulations.

Economic disincentives (e.g., full refunds to students for some violations)

Upon conviction, increased fines up to, $25,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations

Suspension or revocation of registration

Exemptions Under OCC

Not all colleges and programs are required to be registered under OCC Act 2005. There are some exemptions provided under the act, Fact Sheet # 1 provides the criteria for colleges and types & classes of programs to be exempted from the Act.

Completing KPI's

Pursuant to section 26 of the PCC Act, every OCC shall make public, at the times and in the manner set out by the Superintendent, the performance indicators and objectives applicable to the PCC’s vocational programs. Performance measurement through the collection of KPIs is an important tool to promote quality and accountability in the sector. The Superintendent has defined five KPIs to measure PCC performance, in a consistent manner across the sector, against established goals and objectives.

TCAF Fund

The Training Completion Assurance Fund protects students in the event of a closure of a registered Ontario Career College.

Through the fund, students affected by a closure may obtain support to complete their training at another institution (if available) or receive a refund. Students may be eligible to claim costs associated with completing their training, such as transportation and child care.

The fund became available to students on January 1, 2009.

Ontario Career College Q&A

What are the steps involved in registering a Career college in Ontario, Canada?

Registering a career college in Ontario involves a thorough three-step process, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards set by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Pre-screening: Prior to submitting a formal application, prospective college operators undergo a pre-screening process. This step serves to gauge the applicant's eligibility and readiness to proceed with the registration process.
Application for Registration: Following successful pre-screening, applicants proceed to formally apply for registration. This comprehensive application includes detailed documentation regarding the proposed campus location and at least one educational program offered by the institution. The application is submitted to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities for review and evaluation.
Facility Inspection: Upon receipt and initial review of the application, the Ministry conducts a facility inspection. This inspection ensures that the proposed campus meets the necessary infrastructure and safety standards required for operating a career college. The inspection also verifies compliance with regulatory guidelines governing educational facilities in Ontario.

What are the specific facility requirements for operating a Career College?

To operate a PCC, you need facilities that can adequately accommodate the number of students enrolled in your programs. It's a general requirement that all facilities must pass a fire inspection conducted by the local fire department. Additionally, if your facility includes a cafeteria, it must also pass a health inspection by the local public health unit. Depending on the type of programs you offer, there may be additional facility requirements as part of the program approval process.

For programs that prepare students for regulated occupations like dental hygiene, or those involving exposure to blood and bodily fluids, or where food is consumed, served, or sold, a program-specific, third-party inspection may be necessary. These inspections ensure that your facilities meet the necessary standards for the safety and well-being of your students and staff.

What are the eligibility requirements for program or curriculum designers?

The process for program or curriculum design doesn't have strict eligibility requirements per se, but there are crucial steps and assessments involved to ensure quality and suitability. Primarily, programs must undergo assessment by subject matter experts, typically representing the educational institution submitting the program for approval or a new career college registering the program. These experts evaluate the program's content, relevance, and alignment with educational standards.

In addition to subject matter expert review, programs must undergo an adult assessment, which evaluates the program's appropriateness for adult learners. This step ensures that the curriculum meets the needs and abilities of adult students.

What regulations should I be aware of when enrolling international students?

When enrolling international students, it's essential to follow regulations outlined in the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005 (PCCA. 2005). Key points include:

Only collecting up to 25% of total program costs from international students before the program starts.
Providing a refund (minus 20%, up to $500) if a student fails to obtain a visa by halfway through the program.
Establishing a trust account if international students make up over 50% of the student body or if there are concerns about fee collection or student welfare.

What qualifications and experience are required for career college instructors?

Under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005, an instructor for a vocational program must have:

at least 48 months of work or teaching experience in the vocation in the past 10 years. This can be 4 years of work experience, 4 years of teaching experience or a combination of both
or
at least 24 months of experience, within the previous 10 years, working or teaching in the vocation, plus one of the following qualifications:
1. an Ontario bachelor's degree (or equivalent degree outside Ontario)
2. a certificate of qualification issued under the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009 (or equivalent Canadian certificate)
3. status as a graduate of an Ontario college of applied arts and technology or registered career college (or equivalent institution outside Ontario)

Which programs or institutions in Ontario are exempt from registration ?

Which programs or institutions in Ontario are exempt from registration?

Certain institutions and vocational programs are exempt from registration under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005. Here are the exemptions and categories:

Physical Presence Exemption: Institutions without a physical presence in Ontario are not subject to the provisions of the Act.
Non-vocational Programs Exemptions: Specific occupations exempted under Section 7 of Ontario Regulation 415/06 include:
- Professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating.
- Practitioners of natural healing.
- Performers.
- Athletes, coaches, referees, and related occupations.
- Personal services occupations.
Other Exempt Programs: Programs exempted based on various criteria including:
- Single-skill training.
- Corporate and third-party training.
- Religious training.
- Programs less than 40 hours in duration.
- Programs charging fees less than $2,000.
- Programs exclusively for individuals under 18 years old.
- Programs protected by other legislation.
- Qualifying examination preparation courses.
- Professional development and skill upgrading.
- Principal qualification programs.
- Language training.
- Personal interest or hobby courses.