Private Career Colleges (PCC)

What's New

Students who choose to attend a private career college (PCC) are making an important investment in their future.  The Ontario government is working to make sure those investments are fully protected.

In 2006, the government passed new legislation to ensure students at private career colleges get the education and training they are promised.  Under the new Private Career Colleges Act, 2005:

• Academic records are protected.  PCCs must give students access to their transcripts for 25 years.
• Students are protected from misleading advertising.  PCCs must comply with new marketing and advertising rules.
• Students who have a complaint about a college will have their voices heard.  All colleges must have a student complaint procedure in place. Students can also submit a complaint form to the government.
• International students receive better financial protection.  Private career colleges can collect no more than 25 per cent of the cost of a program from international students before the program starts.

Together with private career colleges, the government is also working to create the Training Completion Assurance Fund (TCAF) to support further training or provide refunds to students if a school closes suddenly.

TCAF is supported by an advisory board, funded by private career colleges and administered by the government.  The board will be up and running in 2009.

Click here to find out more about how Ontario is protecting private career college students.

The government will continue to work with PCCs to ensure the education and training students receive meets high-quality standards.

Check back here for more updates!