Skip to main content Skip to site utility navigation Skip to main site navigation Skip to site search Skip to footer
NSCC collective bargaining: view updates
Menu

Credentials

We offer many levels of certificate and diploma programs that are designed to meet your career goals. Depending on your goals, your pathway with NSCC may involve a combination of credentials. 

College Certificates

Programs with this credential provide a level of skills, knowledge, and attitudes that allow graduates to gain entry-level work within a prescribed range of functions and activities.

Typical length: 15 to 30 weeks, full-time (285 to 585 instructional hours)

Admission requirements:

  • Often a high school graduation diploma or equivalent
  • Some programs may require additional high school course credits

View college certificate programs

Certificates

Programs with this credential prepare you for entry-level employment and develop the level of skills and knowledge that help graduates perform a defined range of activities within a specific occupation.

Typical length: 1 year, full-time (600 to 900 instructional hours)

Admission requirements:

  • Often a high school graduation diploma or equivalent
  • Some programs may require additional high school course credits

View certificate programs

Diplomas

Diploma programs help prepare you for a specific field of work and include a broad base of study that enable graduates to work within a wide range of technical, administrative, professionally oriented occupations.

Typical length: 2 years, full-time (1,200 - 1,950 instructional hours)

Admission requirements:

  • Often a high school graduation diploma or equivalent
  • Some programs may require additional high school course credits

View diploma programs

Advanced Diplomas

Programs with this credential help develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable graduates to work within a broad range of technical and/or management functions across many occupational areas. Graduates gain a deeper understanding of the applications and concepts related to a specific occupational area.

Typical length: 1 to 3 years, full-time (600 to 3,240 instructional hours depending on the credential required upon admission)

Admission requirements:

  • High school diploma or diploma or certificate

View advanced diploma programs

Graduate Certificates

Programs with this credential provide graduate-level study. They either deepen knowledge and skills already gained through a diploma or advanced diploma program, provide exposure to an interdisciplinary area of focus, or provide graduates of baccalaureate programs with specific knowledge and skills related to an applied occupational area.

Typical length: 15 weeks to 1 year, full-time (360 to 1,185 instructional hours depending on the credential required upon admission)

Admission requirements:

  • Diploma or university degree

View graduate certificate programs

Certificate of Professional Studies

Programs with this credential provide the opportunity for you to develop new or enhance existing skills and knowledge in a focused area, helping to build on previous education and experience to meet your career goals.

Typical length: Up to 15 weeks, full-time (maximum of 285 instructional hours)

Admission requirements:

  • Often a high school graduation diploma or equivalent
  • Some programs may require additional high school course credits

View certificate of professional studies programs 

Certificate of Completion

Programs with this credential are non-credit and provide you with sector specific skills needed for entry level positions or allow you to enhance existing skills for future career advancement.

Typical length: Minimum of 30 hours with no maximum duration

Admission requirements:

  • In some programs you may need a high school graduation diploma or equivalent
  • Some programs may have industry specific admission requirements

View certificate of completion programs

Microcredentials

A microcredential is a recognition of assessed competencies or skills that you earn through a short learning experience. Microcredentials align with labour market, employer or community needs. A microcredential module is typically a short course or workshop that results in a digital badge. A microcredential certificate is a group of microcredential modules leading to a set of related competencies that results in a digital certificate. Competencies and skills are assessed practically and are selected to meet labour market, employer or community needs. 

Typical length: 7.5 hours to 60 hours for microcredential modules; 15 hours to 270 hours for microcredential certificates.

Admission requirements:

  • Often no admission requirements but may assume the learner has related competencies.
  • Some microcredentials may have industry specific admission requirements.

View microcredential modules and certificates.

Top