Canadas Education Systems

AB

Doctorate

NU

Doctorate

Masters

Masters

Masters

1 to 3 years

ACS

2 years

AVS

DVS

TCST

2 years

3 to 4 years

Apprenticeship
Vocational & Technical
Training

1 to 4 years

1 to 4 years

2 years

Secondary
1

Elementary

Secondary
12 years

3
2
Secondary

Middle level

Pre-elementary

Pre-elementary

Legend
university education
college education
apprenticeship - vocational
and technical training
to the job market

typical pathway
alternate pathway

1 The right to deliver university-level programs and grant prescribed university degrees and applied bachelors degrees

has been granted to public colleges in Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon through legislation. However, some

PTC

2 Select colleges and/or institutes in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and

Saskatchewan also have some degree-granting authority. In British Columbia, all bachelors degrees are four years in

DVS

Diploma of Vocational Studies

AVS

Attestation of Vocational Specialization

3 Associate degrees (ADs) are offered only in British Columbia. AD holders obtain two years of transfer credit toward a

four-year bachelors degree.

4 In all jurisdictions, a secondary-school diploma is issued upon successful completion of the secondary-school curriculum.

5 In Nova Scotia, the elementary system consists of seven years, including Grade Primary, followed by Grades 1 to 6.

ACS

Attestation of College Studies

DCS

Diploma of College Studies

AD

Associate Degree

duration.

ON

QC

PE
NB

NS

BC British Columbia
MB Manitoba
NB New Brunswick
NL Newfoundland and Labrador
NS Nova Scotia
NT Northwest Territories
NU Nunavut

PE Prince Edward Island

SK Saskatchewan
YK Yukon

degree programs delivered are currently offered through partnerships with educational institutions in other Canadian
jurisdictions.

SK

QC Quebec

Elementary
5

NL
MB

ON Ontario

Elementary

Pre-elementary

AB

NU

AB Alberta

1 to 3 years

1 year

12 years

11 years

AD

Apprenticeship
Vocational &
Technical Training

PTC

600 to 1,800 hours

300 to 1,185 hours

1 year

College
Diploma

Bachelors

1 to 3 years

DCS Pre-university

3 to 4 years

DCS
Technical

1-2

College
Diploma

NT

BC

Bachelors

YK

1 to 3 years

3 years or more

Doctorate

Canada

SK

Bachelors

PE

EN

3 years or more

NB

YK

3 years or more

1.5 to 2 years

3 years

ON

3 years or more

NT

NS

FR

NL

QC

NB

MB

BC

Pre-work Training Certificate

TCST Training Certificate for a Semi-skilled

Trade

Notes

Colleges and universities may offer certificate

programs of variable length.

Continuing adult education programs, while not

shown on this diagram, may be offered at various
levels of instruction.

Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials

2016