Our Continuing Education Department offers students a variety of options. Whether you need to improve your language skills, upgrade professional qualifications, or just explore something new, we will be happy to see you!
Our Business Services Department offers private companies, public institutions, non-for-profit organizations and associations, training programs and workshops, in private cohorts –exclusive to you and your employees, or as public cohorts –open to all private and public sectors. For complete information visit our Business Services overview page and start your turnkey training solutions today.
The Attestation of College Studies (ACS)/Attestation d'études collégiales (AEC) is a qualification issued in Quebec by CÉGEPs and colleges upon successful completion of a credited and recognized program. ACSs are created specifically for an adult clientele to reflect current job-market realities.
On June 1, 2022, the Quebec Government passed new legislation called an Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec (Law 14, previously known as Bill 96). Law 14 seeks to protect and promote French as the official language in Quebec through amendments to several pieces of existing legislation, mainly the Charter of the French Language (the Charter).
The Act provides that obtaining a Diploma of College Studies or an Attestation of College Studies is conditional on knowledge of French and, where applicable, successful completion of French courses or courses given in French. It also makes amendments to the provisions relating to the policies of college- and university-level educational institutions concerning the use and quality of the French language.
As of June 1, 2023, certain aspects of the Act will affect students who register in Attestation of College Studies (ACS) programs in CÉGEPs. Specifically, it puts students pursuing post-secondary education, including ACS programs, into two (2) categories:
The graduation of Non-Certificate of Eligibility Holders is conditional upon a French language requirement.
It is important to note that ALL STUDENTS who are qualified to study at a college in Quebec can be admitted to an English-language college, regardless of their high school of origin or their eligibility to receive instruction in English in an elementary or secondary school in Quebec.
A Certificate of Eligibility is issued to a person who is allowed to receive instruction in English based on specific provisions. An explanation of these provisions can be found on the Quebec Government’s Website. Those identified as Certificate of Eligibility Holders have no additional admission or graduation requirements.
Most Quebec citizens, or recently arrived immigrants, are identified as Non-Certificate of Eligibility Holders and therefore have not been issued a Certificate of Eligibility by the Government. Under Law 14, these individuals must have a certain level of French oral and written proficiency by the time they finish their ACS studies.
If you meet the Government’s eligibility criteria, the Government would already have issued the Certificate to you. Whether or not you have the Certificate, you can inform the CÉGEP when you apply for admission. The CÉGEP will confirm your status with your permanent code which is issued to every person who attends an educational institution in Quebec.
CÉGEPs have access to the Government’s database to confirm an applicant’s eligibility using your permanent code. Applicants are not required to submit their Certificate of Eligibility with their application.
Applicants who hold the Certificate of Eligibility are not required to prove a level of French proficiency and have no added admission or graduation requirements beyond those of the ACS program.
Under Law 14 Section 88.0.18, Non-Certificate of Eligibility Holders who have been successfully admitted to a program must prove that they have a level of French language proficiency before obtaining their program’s ACS certification. The Government has declared that Non-Certificate of Eligibility Holders must prove that they have attained a level of oral and written French proficiency consistent with the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels for adult immigrants (“Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes”) as follows:
French Applicants accepted into an ACS program who are Non-Certificate of Eligibility Holders will be required to prove their attainment of the required levels of oral and written French through the successful completion of a Ministry-approved test.
Information about local testing options will be made available to students at the beginning of the Academic Year. We will share details with students regarding the test to be successfully completed once the Government releases this information.
Students who are Non-Certificate of Eligibility Holders can be exempted from proving their level of French if they meet any of the following conditions:
There are many ways to improve your French language skills so that you can prepare for the Government-mandated test.
a) The Government of Quebec offers French courses (“Francisation”). It consists of French courses that are free for immigrants and residents living in Quebec. Francization courses are offered in various locales in the province of Quebec, including CÉGEPs, school boards, adult education centers and more.
b) Some CÉGEPs, like ours, offer non-credit French courses through the Language Centre. The courses are designed according to French language standards and will help students prepare for the Government-mandated French test.
c) Applicants can also look at online French resources.
Please note: scheduling changes could take place as the College is subject to provincial Public Health measures.
These non-credit workshops allow you to explore interesting subjects without pre-requisites or exams.
Our Business Services offerings allow you and your employees to sharpen and expand important workplace skills.
Please note: scheduling changes could take place as the College is subject to provincial Public Health measures.
Our continuing education students have access to many of the same services and offerings as our regular education students. We're here to support you as you continue learning.
