Plan

Credentials

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Different careers require different qualifications

Choose the Credential required for your Career

But first, what is a credential?

It's that beautiful piece of parchment you receive when you successfully complete a program!

Some credentials can be earned in a short period of time, others require years of study.  You can use a previously completed credential to ladder into other programs.

Commonly Offered Credentials in BC 

  1. CITATION
    Less than 6 months.
    Entry level credential in a specific area of study, typically made up of at least 4 courses.
  2. FOUNDATION TRADE CERTIFICATES
    Between 6-12 months.
    Introduce students to various trades training opportunities and grads often receive some technical training credit towards their desired trade.
  3. CERTIFICATE
    Between 6-12 months.
    Academic certificates, typically made up of 30 credits or 10 courses.
  4. DIPLOMA
    Typically 2 years.
    Academic diplomas, typically made up of 60 credits or 20 courses.
  5. ASSOCIATE DEGREE
    Typically 2 years.
    Involves university course work (60 credits) in Arts or Sciences. BC universities guarantee students all 60 credits will be accepted for transfer. More info can be found in the BC Transfer Guide.
  6. POST-BACCALAUREATE OR ADVANCED DIPLOMA
    Typically 8 months-2 years.
    Diploma or undergraduate degree grads gain greater specialization in their original area of study or core skills in a new field of study. These diplomas are not graduate level studies.
  7. BACHELOR'S DEGREE
    Typically 4 years.
    Involves undergraduate university course work to gain breadth and depth in an area of study, and typically specializing in one subject area through a Major or Honours program.
  8. FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEGREE
    Examples: law, medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.
    It is a degree that prepares you for a particular profession, often by meeting the academic requirements of licensure or accreditation.
    Typically 2 to 4 years, follows a full or partial completion of a Bachelor’s Degree.
    Entry to a first professional degree program requires previous post-secondary experience, including completion of specific university-level admission prerequisite courses. These programs may consider students from a variety of academic disciplinary backgrounds. Check admission info for each program.
  9. MASTER'S DEGREE
    Typically 2 years, follows an undergraduate degree.
    Combination of course work and independent research under a faculty advisor and research is presented in a thesis.
  10. DOCTORAL DEGREE
    Highest level of academic achievement.
    Involves completion of oral and written exams and original research presented in a dissertation.
Choices - Careers & Credentials!