This document outlines the education systems of Canada's provinces and territories. It shows that each system includes elementary, secondary, college/university, and vocational/technical levels. There are some variations between jurisdictions in the names and lengths of programs at each level. For example, secondary education lasts 12 years in most provinces but 13 years in Nova Scotia. The highest level is doctoral degrees, which require at least 3 years of study.

1. Canada’s Education Systems
Doctorate Doctorate Doctorate Doctorate
(3 years or more) (3 years or more) (3 years or more) (3 years or more)
Master’s Master’s Master’s Master’s
(1 to 3 years) 9 years + (1 to 3 years) 9 years + (1 to 3 years) 9 years + (1 to 3 years)
10 years +
Bachelor’s College Bachelor’s College Bachelor’s College Bachelor’s
diploma diploma diploma
(3 to 4 years) (1 to 4 years) (3 to 4 years) (1 to 4 years) (3 to 4 years) (1 to 4 years) (3 to 4 years)
5 5 5
Diploma of Diploma of
College Studies College Studies
(technical 3 years) (pre-university 2 years) Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Apprenticeship
Vocational & Vocational & Vocational &
Technical Technical Technical
Training Training Training
AVS (1 to 4 years) (1 to 4 years) (1 to 4 years)
4
DVS
3
TCST
2
PTC Secondary Secondary Secondary Secondary
1 12 years 12 years
11 years 13 years
Middle Level
Elementary Elementary Elementary
Elementary
(Primary - Grade 6)
Pre-elementary Pre-elementary Pre-elementary
Quebec Alberta New Brunswick Nova Scotia
British Columbia Prince Edward Island 6
Manitoba Saskatchewan
Newfoundland and Labrador Notes:
Northwest Territories 7 All colleges and universities offer certificate programs
PTC - Pre-work Training Certificate
(3 years after Secondary II) Nunavut 7 of variable length.
Ontario Continuing and adult education programs, while not shown
TCST - Training Certificate for a Semi-skilled Trade
on this chart, may be offered at all levels of instruction.
(1 year after Secondary II) Yukon 7
DVS - Diploma of Vocational Studies
(600 to 1800 hrs), depending on the program
Legend:
AVS - Attestation of Vocational Specialization
(300 to 1185 hrs), depending on the program College Education
5 Selected institutions in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario University Education
and Prince Edward Island offer applied degrees. Apprenticeship - Vocational & Technical Training
6 In Prince Edward Island, secondary education is divided into To the job market
junior high (3 years) and senior high (3 years).
Typical pathway
7 The territories have no degree-granting institutions. Some degrees
are available through partnerships. Students may also access Alternate pathway
degrees directly from institutions outside the territories.
© 2008 Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials,
Council of Ministers of Education, Canada.