Law 14 | Heritage
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LAW 14 (FORMERLY BILL 96): WHAT IT MEANS FOR STUDENTS AT ENGLISH LANGUAGE CEGEPS

OVERVIEW

Quebec’s Charter of the French Language has governed access to English language elementary and secondary education since 1977. Under this system, only students with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for instruction in English may attend public English elementary and secondary schools. With the adoption of Law 14 in May 2022, new amendments now affect English language CEGEPs, including their admission processes, course requirements, and graduation criteria.

CÉGEP Heritage College admission is open to all students from across Quebec, Canada, and internationally whether or not they hold a COE. Their program progression, language course requirements, and exit exam obligations differ based on their COE status. Regardless of their COE status, the College will support and provide a great learning experience to ensure our students’ academic success. 

CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY (COE)

For details on COE eligibility and the application process, visit the Ministry of Education’s website: Eligibility for instruction in English | Gouvernement du Québec.

Non-COE students who are eligible for a COE and are not currently attending/attended a Quebec English language public school must apply for their COE before completing their secondary school studies; late applications will not be granted, even if the student qualifies under the law. If the Minister has not issued the COE by the admissions deadline, your application must be processed as that of a non-certificate holder.

CÉGEP Heritage College has partnered with the Western Quebec School Board to provide an efficient and effective application process for its applicants whereby the parent or legal guardian must complete the appropriate application form and attach all required supporting documents. In all cases, the student’s birth certificate must bear the names of both parents and must be enclosed. If a birth certificate cannot be provided, any other official document issued by a competent authority will be accepted.

All prospective students residing in the Outaouais region can apply for a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English by contacting  eligibilityforcegep@wqsb.qc.ca . For prospective students residing elsewhere in Quebec, they can contact their local school board or secondary school.

HOW LAW 14 AFFECTS ENGLISH CEGEPS

There were four major changes that affected English language CEGEPs:

  1. Fixed Enrollment Cap on the number of students allowed at English CEGEPs
     
    • English CEGEPs must now operate within a provincial enrollment limit. The total number of students registered in all English colleges across Québec cannot exceed 17.5% of the total number of students in all colleges, French and English combined, in Québec.
       
  2. Priority Admissions for COE holders
     
    • When applications exceed program capacity, COE holders receive priority consideration. Priority does not guarantee admission. All applicants must meet the minimum Ministry and local admission requirements.
    • Remaining seats are awarded to non-COE applicants who meet the minimum Ministry and local admission requirements.
    • All programs can still admit non-COE students depending on space.
       

  3. Five Required French Courses for all students at an English CEGEP

    • Students beginning a new DCS program as of Fall 2024 are subject to Law 14’s French course requirements. The law does not apply to students who began their program before Fall 2024 and are continuing their studies in the same program uninterrupted.


    Students WITH a COE:

    • Must pass the Ministerial English Language Exit Exam (EEE) to graduate.
    • Must take five French courses:
      • Two General Education French Second Language courses.
      • Three additional courses: either three additional French second language courses or one program specific course taught in French and two complementary courses taught in French, depending on their French language placement and program needs.


    Students WITHOUT a COE:

    • Must pass the Épreuve uniforme de langue en français (EUF) to graduate.
    • Must take five French courses, including:
      • Three French literature courses.
      • One program specific course taught in French.
      • One complementary course taught in French.
         
  4. Ministerial Language Exit Exams based on COE status
     
    • All CEGEP students must pass a Ministerial language exit exam:
      • COE holders → English Exit Exam (EEE).
      • Non-COE students → French Exit Exam (EUF).

Program grids are adapted to ensure students respect law 14 requirements and they have the correct program progression and complete the requirements for their eligibility for the Ministerial Language Exit Exam.

CONTINUING EDUCATION (ACS PROGRAMS)

Students WITH a COE

  • Are not required to prove a level of French proficiency and have no added admission or graduation requirements beyond those of the ACS program.

Students WITHOUT a COE

  • At the time of admission, must meet one of the following exemptions or demonstrate specific French proficiency :
    • started their program before July 1, 2023 (Exemption by continuity of studies)*. *If they are an existing student transferring to a new program after July 1, 2023, then Law 14 applies. If they were a former student and had to re-apply to a program of study, then Law 14 then Law 14 applies.
    • completed a Secondary School Diploma (DES) in French in Québec.
    • completed a Secondary School Diploma (DES) in English and passed the Secondary 5 French as a Second Language course.
    • completed a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) in French in Québec.
    • completed an ACS program in Québec entirely in French.
    • completed a Diploma of Collegiate Studies (DCS) or university diploma entirely in French in Québec.
    • completed a program outside of Québec given entirely in French that is equivalent to a DCS or university diploma.
    • completed a minimum of three years of full-time secondary or postsecondary studies in French in Canada.
    • passed the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) examination leading to an attestation of a French level appropriate to practice their profession.
    • Reside or have resided on an Indigenous or First Nations reservation, an establishment where an aboriginal community lives, or on Category I and Category 1-N within the meaning of “Loi sur le régime des terres dans les territoires de la Baie-James et du Nouveau-Québec (chapitre R-13.1)”.
  • Non certificate holders who do not meet any of the above exemptions must demonstrate they have attained Level 7 in Oral French and Level 4 in Written French at the time of admission. This involves passing one of the following qualifying tests, which are recognized by Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration:
    • Test de connaissance du français from France Éducation international: TCF-QUÉBEC / TCF CANADA / TCF
    • Test d’évaluation du français from the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie Paris Île-de-France (CCIP-IDF): TEF / TEFAQ for Québec / TEF CANADA
    • Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF) from France Éducation International;
    • Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) from France Éducation International.

For any questions regarding this InfoDoc, please email our Registrar’s Office at registrar@cegep-heritage.qc.ca