Canadian Education/US Equivalency Question???

I am trying to understand the structure of the education system in Canada. Can anyone help? As far as I can tell from my research, the highest form of post-secondary school in Canada would be the university. Each province or territoty has one or more universities. As far as I can tell, study at Canadian "universities" is generally considered RA equivalent here in the United States. These universities frequently have federated or affiliated colleges. It is here I become confused. For example, the University of Saskatchewan has about 6 "affiliated" colleges. Does study at one of these "affiliates" carry the same basic equivalency (here in the U.S.) as the university itself?

 

whenever you want to transfer your credits or find equivalency of Canadian education to US RA College/University, you will find that you will need to go through foreign education evaluation process. Which means that Canadian education does not automatically become RA equivalent. You will have to find your Canadian (UK, Australian and others for that matter) education equivalency for it to be recognized in US.

 

I suspect the students of affiliated colleges would have their complete program accepted towards a degree at the university.

I believe there are many different situations. Some religious colleges grant religious degrees, while their arts or science students receive degrees from the affiliated university.

 

Usually it goes:

1) University: Awards includes Certificates, Diplomas, Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate degrees.

Then...

2) Colleges: Awards include Certificates and Diplomas though some offer U.S. style Associate degrees and Bachelor degrees in addition.

That would be up to the credential evaluation services etech referred to. However, I would not foresee a problem with a legitimate Canadian degree being recognized in the U.S as legitimate.

But it can be tricky. For example Excelsior College will accept direct credit transfer from Niagara College located in Welland, Ontario.

http://www.excelsiorcollege.edu/pdf/Acceptable_Institutions_Outside_the_United_States.pdf

However, Mohawk College just up the highway in Hamilton, Ontario that offers pretty well the same programs would have to go through a foreign credential assessment.

So, you never can tell how Canadian credentials will be recognized in the U.S.

 

York University in Toronto is affiliated with Seneca College and Centennial College. Both colleges have credit transfer agreements with York University. As a result, one can take college level course at either of these two colleges and transfer or complete their final year at York. The Ontario government is now allowing colleges with afflilations to universities to grant degrees.

 

True!

Ontario colleges have articulation arguments with institutions in Australia (I.E. University of Western Sydney), the United States and Europe as well as Canada. Some Ontario colleges offer degrees of their own altogether.

The best thing for people to do if they want to transfer credits (foreign and domestic) to a certain school is to ask the school in question if they will recognize them.

NEVER ASSUME THAT THEY WILL!

 

Thank you for the input thus far. There is no question that a Canadian university will accept the credits earned at one of is affiliated colleges. I have already confirmed this. The question is whether the credits earned at one of the affiliated colleges would carry the same weight here in the U.S. as the university itself. Ive already submitted this question to 2 different Foreign Credential Evaluation Services and am awaiting a response. If the answer is "yes" it certainly poses an interesting scenario. For example, take Briercrest: Briercrest is affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan, but it also carries NA through the AABC. A U.S. school with AABC accreditation obviously does not qualify to be examined for RA equivalency, BUT Briercrest is not a U.S. school. Since it is loacted in Canada it IS eligible for a foreign credential examination, and since Briercrest is affiliated at the university level, what's the outcome? Isn't foreign equivalancy generally given a "thumbs up" if the program/school adheres to the GAAP? Interesting....

 

Is there a particular school that you want to transfer credits too or are you asking for curiosity's sake?

 

Sorry about the typos!!! Was I drunk when I wrote that???

 

No particular school, but more than a curiousity. Most graduate programs that I have looked into will accept undergraduate degrees from AABC accredited schools, at least graduate programs with a religeous theme, so there is no problem there. The potential problem comes into play when it comes down to government requirements for certain jobs. For instance, to hold a federal government position NA accreditation is sufficient, but to hold a state government position (at least in maryland) you need RA. Even if the degree you hold has nothing to do with the postion you are seeking, a frequent requirement is a RA undergraduate degree. Teaching is a great example. In Maryland you need to have a RA undergraduate degree to teach. If the degree is NOT in education, you will also need a teaching certificate, but you need an RA degree to be admitted into the program. If your studies were done outside of the U.S., a Foreign Credential Evaluation Service must determine RA equivalency.