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Part of Private career colleges

Apply for a career training licence

Start your application for a private career training licence.

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Private career colleges

Overview

Career training programs offered by private institutions must be licensed by the Government of Alberta in accordance with the Private Vocational Training Act and the Private Vocational Training Regulation. This legislation supports private institutions’ participation in Alberta's post-secondary system and provides protections to students enrolled in licensed programs.

Before you start

You are required by law to license career training programs you want to offer, unless your program is considered exempt. See Career training licence requirements for licensing exemptions.

If you are unsure if your program needs a licence, or have any additional questions, contact a licensing officer by emailing [email protected] or calling 780-427-5609.

Our licensing team can help you understand:

  • if your program requires a licence
  • if your proposed program could meet licensing requirements
  • how the application process works

Get started

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Licensed institutions application

This application pathway is for licensed institutions (those with a career training licence from Advanced Education) that are seeking to license a new program.

If you are a new institution seeking to license a career training program for the first time see, New institution application.

Step 1. Apply for program licensing

Licensed institutions can now apply for new program licensing online.

Before you begin your application you will need to set up an Alberta.ca Account for Organizations. You do not need to use your personal Alberta.ca Account to access this application.

The new online application allows you to:

  • manage multiple applications at the same time
  • save your progress and come back later
  • download required templates
  • upload documents
  • submit your application to Advanced Education
  • ask for help
  • provide feedback about the application

Within 4 weeks of submitting your application, Advanced Education will advise you via email if your application has been accepted for processing. If accepted, you will be asked to pay your application fees.

Licensed institutions must pay the following fees:

New location

  • Application fee (initial program): $300
  • Application fee (each additional program): $100

Existing location

  • Application fee (per program): $100

Advanced Education will provide you with an invoice for payment, along with instructions to pay your invoice. Paper cheques are no longer accepted. Any cheques received will be voided and destroyed.

Start your application

Step 2. Apply for location approval (new locations only)

You must have passed Step 1 before starting Step 2.

If your program application has been approved and you are planning to deliver the program at a location that does not already have a licensed program, we require information about that location. Submit the below information to [email protected]:

  • physical address of the new location
  • documentation showing municipal approval of the onsite premises
  • signed health inspection permit, if applicable
  • copy of your legal entity’s corporate registration, if anything has changed since you last provided this document

Note: If you are moving an already licensed program to a new location, see Licensed training program and college changes.

Step 3. Sign and submit the statutory declaration

A Statutory Declaration must be signed by your Responsible Authority and a Commissioner of Oaths. Once signed, scan and submit to Advanced Education via email at: [email protected]

If you have questions about how to complete any of the above, call 780-427-5609 or email [email protected].

New institution application

This application is for new institutions that are seeking to license a program for the first time. If you are a licensed institution that has a career training licence from Advanced Education, see Licensed institutions application.

New program for a new institution

Step 1. Apply for a program licence

The below sections must be completed for each program that you are seeking to license. At least one program must be approved in Step 1 before you can move to Step 2.

Download the checklist to help keep track of the required documents. Do not submit your application until you have completed all components.

Application for Program Approval Checklist

  • Program information

    You are required to provide specific information about the program, including:

    • program name
    • program outline and structure
    • costs
    • details about how your program will be delivered

    Download and complete the New Program Information Form.

  • Evidence of curriculum relevance

    If the field or occupation has a professional or regulatory body, you must obtain that body's approval and include it with your application submission.

    See Qualifications recognition – Regulatory bodies for a list of regulatory bodies.

    If there is no professional or regulatory body for the field or occupation, you must have a minimum of 3 industry subject matter experts complete the Curriculum Review Form. This program evaluation demonstrates the relevance of your curriculum to industry. If applicable, we strongly encourage that at least 1 review be completed by an association relevant to the occupation within Alberta.

    Your subject matter experts must:

    • have an educational background relevant to the occupation of study
    • be independent from the institution and free of conflict of interest
    • complete the review without influence or guidance from the institution
    • reside in Alberta and be accessible by phone and email

    Provide each industry source with a copy of your curriculum and request that they complete the Curriculum Review Form. Submit the completed and signed curriculum reviews, along with the curriculum provided, and any response to the feedback provided by your subject matter expert.

    Institutions must keep the curriculum reviews on file for the duration of the program.

    Curriculum contents

    A curriculum generally includes the learning standards or learning objectives students are expected to meet, including:

    • lessons or program components that instructors teach
    • assignments and projects given to students
    • books, readings, videos, presentations and other learning materials used in each course
    • assessment methods used to evaluate learning

  • Evidence of labour market demand

    Institutions must provide evidence of labour market demand for the field in which the proposed program provides training.

    If the field has a professional or regulatory body, check with them to see if they collect labour market demand information to inform their approvals.

    See Qualifications recognition – Regulatory bodies for a list of regulatory bodies.

    If there is no professional or regulatory body for the field, or if they do not collect this information, you must provide this evidence to Advanced Education as a part of your application.

    The below document provides guidance on how you can successfully complete this requirement.

  • Admission requirements

    It is the responsibility of the institution to set appropriate requirements for each licensed program to:

    • ensure that prospective students have the prerequisite education and skills needed to benefit from the training
    • reflect industry expectations for prospective graduates (for example: formal education, work experience, criminal record check, driver’s licence)

    You must submit a description of the admission requirements for the program as a part of your application. The below document provides guidance on what you should consider.

  • Sample of credential

    Upon completion of a licensed program, a student is awarded a credential.

    Consistency in credential naming helps students and employers understand and recognize licensed programs.

    Submit a sample of the credential to be awarded to graduates of the program. The sample should include the following information:

    • certificate or diploma (see definition below)
    • school name
    • program name
    • graduation date
    • signature of appropriate school representative

    Certificate programs:

    • prepare students for employment in specific occupations
    • generally, requires 1 year or less of full-time study at a college or technical institute
    • may also be available through part-time study

    Diploma programs:

    • prepare students for employment in a particular field or group of occupations
    • generally, requires 2 years of full-time study at a college or technical institute (for private career colleges, programs greater than one year of full-time study may be referred to as diploma programs)

  • Instructor Qualifications Agreement

    Institutions identify instructor qualifications that are regarded by the industry as appropriate.

    If there is a professional or regulatory body or other agency that sets the instructor qualifications for a program, the institution must use these qualifications.

    See Qualifications recognition – Regulatory bodies for a list of regulatory bodies.

    If there is no professional or regulatory body that sets the instructor guidelines, instructors should have a:

    • degree, diploma, certificate or a professional designation in a related field
    • minimum of 3 years of work-related experience
    • minimum one year of instructional experience or hold a training certificate in adult education

    If industry subject matter experts indicate that additional qualifications are required for the program, you should reflect this in your Instructor Qualifications Agreement.

    Submit a completed Instructor Qualifications Agreement with your application. Note that your agreement to minimum instructor qualifications will be confirmed by signing the Licensed Institutions Applying for New Programs: Application Checklist and Statutory Declaration.

  • How to submit

    When you have completed all the above components of your new program application, submit them in one email to: [email protected]

    Attach all application documents in PDF or Word format. Zip files will not be accepted.

    If you have questions about how to complete any of the above, call 780-427-5609 or email [email protected].

Step 2. Apply for institution approval

You must have passed Step 1 before starting Step 2.

  • Application checklist and statutory declaration

    Complete the following checklist and Statutory Declaration, which must be signed by your responsible authority and a Commissioner of Oaths, scanned and then submitted to us with your application package.

  • Applicant and new institution information

    We require specific information about the individual or business applying to offer licensed programs. The chief executive officer or owner of the legal entity applying for a licence is known as the responsible authority responsible for the operation of the school.

    We also require information about the institution that will be delivering the proposed program(s). Complete the below form and include it in your submission.

    Also provide the following documentation as part of your Step 2 application documents:

    • copy of the municipal occupancy permit
    • signed health inspection permit, if applicable
    • copy of your legal entity’s corporate registration

  • Application fees and annual licensing fees

    All institutions are responsible for the following fees:

    Application fees

    Application fee (initial program)$300
    Application fee (each additional program)$100

    Annual licensing fees

    One program$800
    Each additional program$50
    • Fees not paid on time may result in a delay in the initial issuance of a program licence.
    • Annual licensing fees not paid on time may result in compliance action being taken.
    • Initial licensing fee amount will be pro-rated based on the date the licence is first issued.
    • Annual licensing fees are due by May 1.

    Advanced Education will provide you with an invoice for payment, along with instructions to pay your invoice. Paper cheques are no longer accepted. Any cheques received will be voided and destroyed.

  • How to submit

    When you have completed all the above components of your institution application, submit them in one email to: [email protected].

    Attach all application documents in PDF or Word format. Zip files will not be accepted.

    If you have questions about how to complete any of the above, call 780-427-5609 or email [email protected].

Step 3. Post financial security

Private career colleges are required to post financial security before they receive their licence. The posted security protects tuition paid by students enrolled in licensed vocational training programs.

Private career colleges must:

  • post and maintain financial security for every campus where licensed career training is offered
  • pay the amount required by government
  • ensure the posted security is in the form of a surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bonding agency or financial institution

The financial security you post must remain in force while you have a licence. You cannot make any adjustments without written approval by government. You will be asked to increase your security amount if it's determined that your current amount is not sufficient based on increases in enrolment.

Financial security for new institutions

As part of the licensing process, the responsible authority must complete a Projected Tuition Statutory Declaration.

Use the Projected Tuition and Security Calculation document to calculate your project revenues based on your enrollment projections and tuition and provide you with information to determine your security amount.

You also must complete and submit the Projected Tuition Statutory Declaration.

You can pay your security in the form of a Surety Bond or Letter of Credit. The Security Samples document outlines what is required for each of these options.

Step 4. Licensing agreement information session

Advanced Education provides an information session to all new licensees to review the Licensing Agreement, also known as the Terms and Conditions of Licensing.

Other ongoing licensing requirements will be discussed so you are fully aware of the roles and responsibilities of private career colleges offering licensed career training programs in Alberta.

Contact

Connect with the Private Career Colleges and Compliance Branch:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-5609
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

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