Canada’s Education Systems

AB BC MB NB NS
FR

QC NL NT NU ON YK NB
EN
PE SK  Canada

Doctorate Doctorate Doctorate

3 years or more 3 years or more 3 years or more

1

  
YK
Master’s Master’s Master’s NT NU
1.5 to 2 years
1 to 3 years 1 to 3 years
 1
BC NL
  AB MB
Bachelor’s SK QC PE


3 years or more College College ON
Bachelor’s Bachelor’s
  3 to 4 years Diploma 3 to 4 years Diploma AB Alberta NS
1 to 3 years 1 to 3 years NB
 
2


1-2
DCS BC British Columbia
Technical DCS Pre-university ACS         
3 years 2 years 1 year
Apprenticeship Apprenticeship MB Manitoba
  
 AVS
Vocational & Vocational & Technical NB New Brunswick
300 to 1,185 hours AD Technical Training Training
 3 2 years 1 to 4 years 1 to 4 years
NL Newfoundland and Labrador
DVS
600 to 1,800 hours PTC
  
   2 years NS Nova Scotia
TCST
5 1 year
NT Northwest Territories
4   Secondary Secondary
3 NU Nunavut
2

4 Secondary 1 
4 
4
12 years

12 years
11 years

ON Ontario

Middle level PE Prince Edward Island

Elementary Elementary QC Quebec
Elementary SK Saskatchewan

YK Yukon
Pre-elementary 
5 Pre-elementary Pre-elementary

 Legend  Notes
university education

1 The right to deliver university-level programs and grant prescribed university degrees and applied bachelor’s degrees
has been granted to public colleges in Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon through legislation. However, some
PTC Pre-work Training Certificate
college education degree programs delivered are currently offered through partnerships with educational institutions in other Canadian
jurisdictions.
TCST Training Certificate for a Semi-skilled
Trade
 Colleges and universities may offer certificate
programs of variable length.
apprenticeship - vocational
and technical training 
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 bachelor’s degrees are four years in
DVS Diploma of Vocational Studies
 Continuing adult education programs, while not
to the job market duration. AVS Attestation of Vocational Specialization shown on this diagram, may be offered at various
levels of instruction.
typical pathway 
3 Associate degrees (ADs) are offered only in British Columbia. AD holders obtain two years of transfer credit toward a ACS Attestation of College Studies


four-year bachelor’s degree.

alternate pathway DCS Diploma of College Studies

4 In all jurisdictions, a secondary-school diploma is issued upon successful completion of the secondary-school curriculum.
AD Associate Degree

5 In Nova Scotia, the elementary system consists of seven years, including Grade Primary, followed by Grades 1 to 6.

2016
Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials