Canadian Certified Institution Diplomas/Certificates

Greetings Everyone,

I'm curious is anyone has any background or experience with Canadian "Certified Institutions" as defined by HRSDC (see List of Certified Institutions)? According to the Income Tax Act, Section 118.5, Certified Institutions are given their legal grounding under the following:

My curiosity is the following...

What is the value of a diploma or certificate program completed through one of these institutions? Yes, "value" is subjective, so I'll stick with recognition, both within Canada and then as a credential internationally. Does anyone know what a Certified Institution's diploma would be seen as in the USA, on a credential evaluation for example? Does anyone have knowledge if such a program would be acceptable as a foundation for other distance schools, thinking South Africa?

 

Mr. T? Long time no see. I know I'm a "fool" - but please "let me live."

I live in Canada. The class of "certified institutions" that you refer to are "certified" so that tax credit for tuition can be issued. The Government site for which you gave the url says exactly that. It has no reference to academic status. I looked through the list for Ontario - my province of residence - and found that pretty well all were trade or skill-type schools. Very little distance study. Welding, computer repair, truckdriving, car driving instruction -- if it's vocational, it's there. Also special interest stuff like rafting, couture, helicopter training, etc. It's not College or University stuff - even though many Canadian non-degree career schools have been allowed to use the word "college" in their names for the last -- oh, maybe 25-30 years.

Forget using these courses for academic credit, although many of the skills (and subsequent experience) may be used to earn "prior learning/portfolio" credit in university programs which allow this.

As mentioned on the site, Canada's Colleges and Universities issue tuition receipts for tax purposes the same way. Canadian University degrees are generally well-accepted in the US. What can you get on a U.S. evaluation for Canadian Community College studies? That varies a lot; it depends on the course, its duration, the province of origin and the school that you're applying to. Sometimes you can get "time served" (e.g. 2 years credit for 2 years study) sometimes a lot less. In some provinces the colleges confer Associate degrees. Often there are links to Bachelor completion programs (Canada and US).

As far as the "special interest" certified institutions go - not a useful basis for university studies. I've done several myself - computer programming, gardening, investment studies etc. etc. Enjoyable, and yes, valuable too - but not in the sense of academic advancement. I always got the tax credit - but never university or college credit from this type of course. For that I went to College and Uni.

Johann

 

This is list is for taxes purposes only and it is not by any means a list of accredited institutions. I once completed an accounting diploma from an institution in the list and could not get it accepted anywhere.

Certifications that carry some value are normally chartered at the provincial level. This include protected titles such as "certified general accountant", "chartered accountant", "professional engineer", "certified management consultant",, etc.

These certifications are many times accepted as equivalent to degrees by Universities.

 

True -every word. Wish I could have said it in as few words...but that's not like me.

One thing I'd add:

"These (provincially-chartered) certifications are many times accepted as equivalent to degrees by Universities."

Yes - and nowadays, many of those certifications require one to have a University Degree before qualifying.

Johann

 

Thanks everyone! I take away from the comments that such programs are good for skill building & knowledge enhancement, but their recognition (for academic purposes) elsewhere is generally null, but may count for something depending on all the individual factors involved.

 

Exactly -- you got it, Mr. T.

Johann

 

Perhaps it is time for my occasional reminder of the excellent work done by Canadian Lal Balkaran, in keeping track of all the many business, professional, and accounting certifications. He started with just Canadian ones, then expanded it worldwide. His directory is apparently still in print: see: 9780470124864: Directory of Global Professional Accounting and Business Certifications (Used, New, Out-of-Print) - Alibris