College Credentials Policy

Ref. No.	Executive sponsor	Policy steward	Approval authority	First approved	Last reviewed	Effective date	Next review
13.01	Vice President, Academic and Equity	Director, Academic Equity and Quality	Board of Governors	June 21, 2018	Apr. 21, 2023	June 1 2023	June 2028

Purpose
1. The purpose of this policy is to describe the level, duration, and credit load for each of the credentials awarded by Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) through which learning is formally recognized.
2. This policy supports understanding of the scope and application of knowledge and skills underlying each credential issued by the College.
3. This policy is also intended to improve student mobility and continuous learning by facilitating the movement of students between credential types.

Scope
1. This policy applies to all NSCC programs and courses for which a credential is issued.

Definitions

Term	Definition
Microcredential	A recognition of assessed skill or competency earned through a short duration or applied learning experience. Microcredentials can stand alone or connect to other credentials and align with sector, employer, profession, community, or learner need.
Tier 1 Credentials	Tier 1 credentials represent core, credit programs approved by government and issued on NSCC parchment. Tier 1 credentials include graduate certificates, advanced diplomas, diplomas, certificates, college certificates, and certificates of individual accomplishment. Tier 1 credentials are processed and awarded through Assistant Registrars and include the President’s signature.
Tier 2 Credentials	Tier 2 includes a mix of credit and non-credit credentials which are NSCC-approved and include formal evaluation of learning. This tier generally supports the development of continuing education and customized learning opportunities. Tier 2 credentials include documents of learning, documents of achievement, certificates of completion and certificates of professional studies, microcredential module badges and microcredential certificates. Tier 2 certificates are processed and awarded through Assistant Registrars and include the Vice President Academic and Equity signature. Tier 2 documents are processed and awarded through Assistant Registrars and require the Assistant Registrar’s signature. Microcredentials receive a digital badge.
Tier 3 Credentials	Tier 3 represents learning events for which there is no evaluation of learning. Tier 3 credentials include Records of Participation. These are processed and awarded through Assistant Registrars and require the Assistant Registrar’s signature.

Policy

Tier 1 Credentials

Credential	Hours	Credits	Approval	Signatory	Admission Requirements
Certificate of Individual Accomplishment	Varies based on program of entry	Varies	NSCC Board of Governors	President and Vice President, Academic and Equity	Varies based on student and credential.
Nova Scotia High School Diploma for Adults	Varies based on students’ prior learning	Varies based on students’ prior learning. Required completion of 12 ALP Level 4 courses as outlined by the Department of Labour Skills and Immigration	Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration	Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration	Set by the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
College Certificate	285 - 585	19-39	NSCC Board of Governors	President and Vice President, Academic and Equity	High school diploma or equivalent
Certificate	600 - 900	40-60	NSCC Board of Governors	President and Vice President, Academic and Equity	High school diploma or equivalent
Diploma - 2 yr.	1200 – 1950	80-130	NSCC Board of Governors	President and Vice President, Academic and Equity	High school diploma or equivalent
Diploma - 1 yr.	600- 900	40-60	NSCC Board of Governors	President and Vice President, Academic and Equity	College level certificate in the same occupational field
Advanced Diploma - 1 yr.	600- 1185	40-79	NSCC Board of Governors	Vice President, Academic and Equity	College level diploma or university degree in the same occupational area
Advanced Diploma - 2 yr.	1200 –2160	80-144	NSCC Board of Governors	Vice President, Academic and Equity	College level certificate in the same occupational area
Advanced Diploma - 3 yr.	1800 – 3240	120-216	NSCC Board of Governors	Vice President, Academic and Equity	High school diploma or equivalent
Graduate Certificate	360-1185	24-79	NSCC Board of Governors	Vice President, Academic and Equity	College level diploma or university degree

Tier 2 Credentials

Credential	Hours	Credits	Approval	Signatory	Admission Requirements
Certificate of Professional Studies	More than 1 course, less than 285 instructional hours. (Up to 1 semester full-time)	Credit	Vice President Academic and Equity	Vice President, Academic and Equity and Assistant Registrar	Typically a minimum of a High School Diploma or a GED. Based on program, industry, sector, employer or legislative requirements
Certificate of Completion	More than 1 non-credit course, greater than 30 instructional hours	Non-credit	Vice President Academic and Equity	Assistant Registrar	May vary based on industry, employer or sector needs
Document of Achievement	Greater than 15 hours	Non-credit	School Dean	Assistant Registrar
Document of Learning	Less than 15 hours	Non-credit	School Dean	Assistant Registrar
Microcredential Module Badge	One micro-credential learning module		School Dean	Assistant Registrar
Microcredential Certificate	Two or more micro-credential module badges totaling between 15 and 270 instructional hours.		School Dean	Assistant Registrar

Tier 3 Credentials

Credential	Hours	Credits	Approval	Signatory	Admission Requirements
Record of Participation	Participation in one non-credit learning event. student is required to attend at least 80% of the learning event	Non-credit	School Dean	Assistant Registrar

Laddering and Stacking Credentials
Where equivalent, course credits from one credential may be used to meet the requirements of another credential. NSCC supports and encourages students to create the most meaningful learning pathway for them.
1. Alternate Credentials
  Students who withdraw from their program before completing their full program may apply for an alternate credential (e.g., two-year diploma instead of a three-year advanced diploma, or a one-year certificate instead of a two-year diploma), assuming all requirements of the credential have been met.
2. Multiple Credentials
  Students completing multiple credentials must earn all credits required for each credential. The amount of credit that the student can transfer will follow the College Program Progression Policy.
Laddering Multiple Credentials (vertical, horizontal and reverse laddering)
Students can use laddering to achieve credits towards different credentials in several different ways including:
1. Vertical Laddering
  Credits earned for one credential may be used to meet the requirements of a more advanced credential with the exception of Graduate-level credentials.
2. Horizontal Laddering
  Credits earned for one credential may be used to meet some of the requirements of a second credential of the same type.
3. Reverse Laddering
  Students may transfer credits from a more advanced credential into a less advanced credential.
Joint Credentials
NSCC may issue a joint credential that includes the name and logo of both NSCC and the partner organization. Joint credentials will be recommended by the Dean and approved by the Director, Academic Equity and Quality and the Vice President Academic and Equity.
Exceptions to Tier 1 Credentials
Any exceptions to the total program duration will be recommended by the Dean, and approved by the Director, Academic Equity and Quality and the Vice President Academic and Equity.

Policy Supports

13.11 Parchment Policy
23.01 Program Progression Policy
24.11 Academic Performance Policy
Credentials Framework Summary
Credit Model