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
Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology Sudbury (705) 566-8101 ext. 7300 https://cambriancollege.ca
Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology North Bay (705) 474-7600 ext. 5123 https://canadorec.on.ca
Centennial College Toronto (416) 289-5300 https://centennialcollege.ca
Collège Boréal Sudbury (705) 560-6673 ext. 1090 https://borealc.on.ca
Conestoga College Institute of Technology Kitchener (519) 748-5220 ext. 3656 https://conestogac.on.ca
Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology Thunder Bay (807) 475-6213 https://confederationc.on.ca
Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology Oshawa (905) 721-3033 https://durhamcollege.ca
Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology London (519) 452-4277 https://fanshawec.ca
Fleming College Peterborough (705) 749-5530 https://flemingc.on.ca
George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology Toronto (416) 415-2000 https://georgebrown.ca
Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology Barrie (705) 728-1968 ext. 1698 https://georgianc.on.ca
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning Toronto 416) 675-5000 https://humber.ca
La Cité collégiale Ottawa (613) 742-2483 or 1-800-267-2483 https://lacitecollegiale.com
Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology Sarnia (519) 542-7751 ext. 2400 https://lambton.on.ca
Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology Belleville (613) 969-1913 ext. 2204 https://loyalistc.on.ca
Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology Hamilton (905) 575-2000 https://mohawkcollege.ca
Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology Welland (905) 735-2211 ext. 7619 https://niagaracollege.ca
Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology Timmins (705) 235-3211 ext. 7222 https://northernc.on.ca
St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology Windsor (519) 972-2759 https://stclaircollege.ca
St. Lawrence College of Applied Arts and Technology Kingston (613) 544-5400 https://sl.on.ca
Sault College Sault Ste. Marie 1-800-461-2260 https://saultcollege.ca
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology North York (416) 491-5050 ext. 2800 https://senecac.on.ca
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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Al Parsai

This article has been expertly crafted by Al Parsai, a distinguished Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (L3 RCIC-IRB – Unrestricted Practice) hailing from vibrant Toronto, Canada. Al's academic achievements include an esteemed role as an adjunct professor at prestigious Queen's University Law School and Ashton College, as well as a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from York University. A respected member of CICC and CAPIC organizations, Al's insights are further enriched by his experience as the dynamic CEO of Parsai Immigration Services. Guiding thousands of applicants from over 55 countries through the immigration process since 2011, Al's articles offer a wealth of invaluable knowledge for readers.