Achieve

Overview

Through in-person, hands-on activities, you learn skills that  help you:

• Make choices about your future.
• Build connections with others.
• Explore future learning and career options.
• Self-advocate and learn about what services and supports you can access.

You build confidence in a range of social and community spaces. You also learn new ways to improve your personal wellness, make independent choices and solve problems, and you learn to use online technology to support your goals.

Meet Achieve students and learn more about the program by watching this short video.

Work experience

• Field experience is a mandatory credit course, providing the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills outside the classroom.
  • Opportunities are typically unpaid and last approximately 5 weeks.
• Transportation, accommodations and other costs related to work experience courses are your responsibility.
• For more information, visit work experience opportunities.

Choose NSCC

• During this one-year program, as an NSCC student you will learn more about your strengths, increase your skills and learn how to make choices about your life - this could include goals for work, learning, where you live and being a part of your community.

Other info

• There is no application fee for the Achieve program.
• It's up to each student to arrange travel to and from the program.
• Applicants will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
• Achieve is offered by NSCC with funding from the Federal government, province of Nova Scotia and Regional Centres for Education.
• For more information about Achieve at a campus near you, contact your local Achieve coordinator.

September 2025

Campus	Full time/part time	Delivery	Availability
Akerley Campus Dartmouth	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Waitlist
Annapolis Valley Campus Middleton	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Burridge Campus Yarmouth	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Institute of Technology Campus Halifax	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Waitlist
Lunenburg Campus Bridgewater	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Pictou Campus Stellarton	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Strait Area Campus Port Hawkesbury	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Sydney Waterfront Campus Sydney	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Waitlist
Truro Campus Truro	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available

Admission requirements

• Applicants must be between 17 to 21 years of age.
• Applicants must be a high school graduate from a Nova Scotia Regional Centre of Education.
• A High School Graduation Diploma is required, including a transcript that indicates Individual Program Plan (IPP) and (IEP) designated credit(s) in any Grade 12 course or your highest Math course.
• For IPPs in Social Development or Life Skills, a copy of the IPP must be included with a completed Achieve referral form (PDF 95KB).
• Interview – applicants will be required to participate in an interview at the campus. There are two purposes for the interview. One is to help applicants gain an understanding of the knowledge, skills and abilities required for participation in the program. The second, is to give applicants an opportunity to meet with program staff and, together, determine if the program is a good fit. Please review our detailed interview and application requirements (PDF 615KB).
• If you are an organization that would like more information about how to refer an applicant to Achieve, please review the referring partner checklist (PDF 619KB).

Program requirements

• Each student is required to complete Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) training by September 30 or within 4 weeks of commencement of the program.

Tuition

Tuition amounts are for the 2025-26 academic year. Program costs and fees (textbooks, supplies, etc.) are additional.

Tuition, fees and program costs

Note: these are covered for Achieve students through the MOA so there are no fees.

View detailed program fees page(s). Please note that amounts on these pages are meant for planning purposes only. They don't represent final amounts owing.

• Achieve

Courses may include

These are some of the courses offered in this program. It is not a complete list and courses are subject to change in advance of the academic year.

Recognizing prior learning / transfer credits
If you have previous learning (course, employment, etc...) that's relevant to your program, you may be able to apply to earn credit. Not all programs are eligible. Learn about our recognizing prior learning (RPL) process.

ACHI 105 - Self-Development and Wellness I
This course introduces you to self-development and wellness strategies. You will examine your values, strengths, learning preferences and skills; identify areas for development, and work on setting and implementing goals.

ACHI 110 - Career and Community Connections I
This course will build your research, practical thinking skills, and knowledge base to help you make informed career, education, and life choices. You will explore resources that may help you identify career and work settings.

ACHI 115 - Charting Your Course I
This course is the first of two courses that help you build the skills you need to manage self-directed goals and participate in a variety of hands-on learning opportunities.

ACHI 120 - Self-Advocacy I
This course is the first of two courses that help you understand your rights and foster self-advocacy skills.

ACHI 125 - Work Integrated Learning I
This course is the first of two Work Integrated Learning opportunities for you to apply new skills and concepts appropriate for entry-level positions, and/or to explore projects/opportunities in your community.

ACHI 205 - Self-Development and Wellness II
This course continues with and builds upon the themes from Self-Development and Wellness I. You will continue to examine your values, strengths, learning preferences and skills; identify areas for development, and work on setting and implementing goals.

ACHI 210 - Career and Community Connections II
This course will build on Career and Community Connections I to help you make informed career, education, and life choices. You will explore resources that may help you identify career and work settings.

ACHI 215 - Charting Your Course II
This course is the first of two courses that help you build the skills you need to become more independent in your daily life.

ACHI 220 - Self-Advocacy II
This course is the second of two courses that help you foster self-advocacy and resiliency.

ACHI 225 - Work Integrated Learning II
This course is the second of two Work Integrated Learning opportunities for you to apply new skills and concepts appropriate for entry-level positions, and/or to explore projects/opportunities in your community.

SAFE 1000 - Introduction to WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems)
This course offers learners basic overview of WHMIS principles and establishes a solid foundation to support workplace-specific training on the safe storage and handling of controlled/hazardous products. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive basic WHMIS certification.

SAFE 1001 - Introduction to NS OH&S Act
This course offers students an introduction to the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Act of Nova Scotia, which is required by any person employed in a Nova Scotia workplace. This is a generic, introductory course that provides basic knowledge of the Act for students and is considered to be the basis from which more specific training can be given.