Vocational Training in Ontario
Ontario vocational or rather job oriented training is usually offered by four types of educational institutes.
- Universities
- Community Colleges
- Private Career Colleges
- Private Training Institutes
Ontario Universities
The main focus of Ontario Universities is undergraduate or postgraduate programs. They usually offer programs which lead to receiving a Bachelors Degree, a Masters Degree, or a PHD. Many universities also offer certificate or diploma programs that are job-oriented. In this sense the University acts like a vocational institute. The programs vary and could be full-time or part-time, undergraduate or postgraduate, online or on campus, and finally certificate or degree. Sometimes a University offers vocational seminars which help professionals enhance their job knowledge and capabilities.
When you sign up with a University for a vocational program remember that you may have not chosen the most cost effective option. Shop around and see if you can find similar programs offered by other institutes with the same quality but less expensive.
Community Colleges
Community colleges or rather “Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology” are partly funded by the government of Ontario. Therefore, their services are very cost-effective. The main focus of community colleges is vocational training. They usually offer certificate or diploma programs that build up skills to do a specific job. For example if you want to become a computer programmer, a mechanic, an accountant, or a chef you may consider attending one of these colleges.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities there are currently 24 community colleges active in Ontario. These colleges are located in different parts of the province. Two of them are French language colleges. Many of them have more than one campus locations which extend their services to more than one city or region. They also offer online training for those who are disciplined, need flexible course hours, are on the go, or far away from the college that offers their selected program.
With the expertise of community colleges and cost-effective programs, I strongly recommend considering their programs prior to looking into other options. Many of these colleges offer affordable housing for those students who come from out of town. Here is a list of existing community colleges in Ontario.
| College Logo | College Name | Main Campus City | Admissions/Phone Number | Website Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology | Nepean | (613) 727-0002 | https://algonquincollege.com |
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Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology | Sudbury | (705) 566-8101 ext. 7300 | https://cambriancollege.ca |
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Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology | North Bay | (705) 474-7600 ext. 5123 | https://canadorec.on.ca |
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Centennial College | Toronto | (416) 289-5300 | https://centennialcollege.ca |
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Collège Boréal | Sudbury | (705) 560-6673 ext. 1090 | https://borealc.on.ca |
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology | Kitchener | (519) 748-5220 ext. 3656 | https://conestogac.on.ca |
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Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology | Thunder Bay | (807) 475-6213 | https://confederationc.on.ca |
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Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology | Oshawa | (905) 721-3033 | https://durhamcollege.ca |
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Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology | London | (519) 452-4277 | https://fanshawec.ca |
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Fleming College | Peterborough | (705) 749-5530 | https://flemingc.on.ca |
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George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology | Toronto | (416) 415-2000 | https://georgebrown.ca |
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Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology | Barrie | (705) 728-1968 ext. 1698 | https://georgianc.on.ca |
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Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning | Toronto | 416) 675-5000 | https://humber.ca |
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La Cité collégiale | Ottawa | (613) 742-2483 or 1-800-267-2483 | https://lacitecollegiale.com |
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Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology | Sarnia | (519) 542-7751 ext. 2400 | https://lambton.on.ca |
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Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology | Belleville | (613) 969-1913 ext. 2204 | https://loyalistc.on.ca |
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Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology | Hamilton | (905) 575-2000 | https://mohawkcollege.ca |
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Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology | Welland | (905) 735-2211 ext. 7619 | https://niagaracollege.ca |
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Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology | Timmins | (705) 235-3211 ext. 7222 | https://northernc.on.ca |
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St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology | Windsor | (519) 972-2759 | https://stclaircollege.ca |
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St. Lawrence College of Applied Arts and Technology | Kingston | (613) 544-5400 | https://sl.on.ca |
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Sault College | Sault Ste. Marie | 1-800-461-2260 | https://saultcollege.ca |
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Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology | North York | (416) 491-5050 ext. 2800 | https://senecac.on.ca |
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Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning | Oakville | (905) 845-9430(905) 845-9430 | https://sheridanc.on.ca |
Private Career Colleges
As the name suggests Private Career Colleges are funded privately. In other words such colleges cover most or all of their costs through tuition fees (they may also benefit from support offered by some organizations).
Attending a private career college is probably the least cost-effective option. However, they usually tend to offer training that is not offered by community colleges. Many of them offer the latest technical training and skills that could lead you in getting the job you deserve.
There are some government funding available for those who have lost their jobs. If you are eligible for such funds then you may be lucky to attend a Private college without paying a penny. Consult an HRSDC or Service Canada office near you for more information.
Private Career Colleges (PCC) need to offer accredited programs, meaning that their certificate and/or diploma programs are certified by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities. When you sign up with a PCC make sure this is true about the program. Sometimes they offer programs that are pending approval and you may end up spending several months and thousands of dollar to receive a certificate that is not accredited.
Private Training Institutes
If you are looking for a crash course or getting familiar with a new technology then you may refer to a private institute rather than a college or university. While the training offered by such institutes could be job oriented, they usually do not offer a long-term certificate or diploma program. Prices vary and depends on the nature of the program you pick.
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