For the purpose of this Evaluation Program, the following definitions are being applied to clarify the interpretation and application of the evaluation charts:
a) Acceptable throughout the Evaluation Program 5 refers to courses, degrees, diplomas and certificates which have been evaluated by the QECO and which meet current standards of the QECO.
b) Acceptable university/institution for the granting of an acceptable degree is defined by the following:
i. In Canada:
Recognized Post Secondary Institution: Public or private institution that has been given full or limited authority to grant degrees by an act of the provincial/territorial legislature.
ii. In the United States: One of the following regional accrediting agencies:
1. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges
3. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
4. Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges
iii. Internationally:
Every country has laws and regulations which they publish that govern the establishment and recognition of academic institutions and programs within its jurisdiction. QECO will accept all such recognized programs from acceptable institutions.
iv. By the Ontario College of Teachers:
As listed on the Certificate of Qualification and Registration issued by the Ontario College of Teachers.
c) Advanced Academic Accreditation (AAA) requires a minimum of 20 full university degree-credit courses exclusive of basic teacher training with an acceptable undergraduate university degree. Including in those 20 full courses must be 15 full courses with the minimum B average. A specified subject area of 5 full courses with the minimum B average or 8 full courses with the minimum B average, in two specified subject areas, 4 full courses in each area, shall be included in the 15 full courses.
Only those courses within the initial degree program designated by the university as “extra to the degree” will be considered for higher category placement beyond the degree program when that degree is used in the AAA.
d) Advanced Baccalaureate Credit (ABC) requires a minimum of 20 full university degree-credit courses and an acceptable undergraduate university degree of which 15 full courses must have the minimum B average. Within the 15 full courses 9 full courses must be in one subject area with the minimum B average or 14 courses in two subject areas (at least 6 full courses in each) with the minimum B average.
Only those courses within the initial degree program designated by the university as “extra to the degree” will be considered for higher category placement beyond the degree program when that degree is used in the ABC.
e) ARCT means Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto.
f) ATCM means Associate of the Toronto Conservatory of Music.
g) Basic Teacher Training is the program of teacher education required by the Ontario College of Teachers for the granting of a licence to teach in Ontario.
h) CAAT means College of Applied Arts and Technology.
i) Degrees and Diplomas
1. Acceptable undergraduate three year university degree means an undergraduate degree granted by an acceptable university (minimum 15 full courses or equivalent) provided that this degree does not contain any basic teacher training.
2. Acceptable undergraduate four year university degree means an undergraduate degree granted by an acceptable university (normally between 19 to 20 full courses or equivalent) provided that this degree does not contain any basic teacher training. An Honour degree conferred by an Ontario university is an acceptable four year undergraduate university degree.
3. Acceptable undergraduate five year university degree means an undergraduate degree granted by an acceptable university (minimum 25 full courses or equivalent) provided that this degree does not contain any basic teacher training.
4. Acceptable Master in Education (M.Ed.) – QECO considers an acceptable M.Ed. to have the credit value of eight (8) full courses. Each complete course will be credited on a pro-rated basis of the appropriate fraction of eight (8) full courses, when submitted for evaluation prior to conferral of the degree. (For example, in a 10 “half-course” M.Ed. degree, each “half-course” is pro-rated to 4/5 of a full course so that 5 half M.Ed. courses will be equal to 4 full university courses.)
The M.Ed. must be beyond the undergraduate degree level, basic teacher training and certification.
M.Ed. courses taken beyond the issuance of a M.Ed. degree or taken in excess of M.Ed. requirements will be credited at the pro-rated value.
5. Acceptable master’s degree is a post-graduate degree, exclusive of basic teacher training from an acceptable university normally requiring a minimum of one year of full-time study beyond the undergraduate degree. Once conferred, it is deemed to be equivalent to eight full courses. Courses leading to an acceptable master’s degree will be credited at transcript value until the degree is conferred.
6. Acceptable doctoral degree is a post-graduate degree from an acceptable university. Once conferred, it is deemed to be equivalent to ten full courses. Courses leading to an acceptable doctoral degree will be credited at transcript value until the degree is conferred.
7. Acceptable diploma is an award usually from a tertiary level institution to recognize advance study consisting of at least one year of full-time study, but not resulting in a degree. The QECO will assess the acceptability of diplomas not named in the category definitions on an individual basis.
Where an acceptable university has given advanced standing towards a degree for courses within a three year diploma from an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT), the diploma will be considered to have been used in its entirety, and no further credit will be given. However, a person who has received advanced standing may replace that advanced standing using additional university degree-credit courses on a course for course basis, to “free” the CAAT diploma for consideration.
j) Equivalent is the recognition of courses, programs, certificates, diplomas and degrees which are considered by the QECO to be of the same value in terms of course time spent, course value granted and standard achieved.
k) Honour Specialist qualification is an entry on the Ontario Certificate of Qualification and Registration. Admission to the Honour Specialist Qualification course is granted by the appropriate course provider and not by QECO. Inquires concerning requirements for admission to the Honour Specialist qualification should be directed to one of the course providers.
l) Independent Three Part Specialist qualification means that all three parts of the Ontario College of Teachers’ three part Specialist Additional Qualification must be completed, exclusive of any other three part Specialist qualification.
m) The minimum B average in the QECO evaluation procedures means at least a B minus standing as recognized by the granting institution at the time the work was completed.
n) Second Class Standing on Degrees
1. Second class standing in an acceptable five year undergraduate university degree in QECO means the minimum B standing as recognized by the granting institution at the time the work was completed. Where there is doubt about the grading of such a degree, and where there is no information available from the university concerned as to what the overall standing of the degree must be, the average of the last 20 full courses will be used by QECO to determine the standing on that degree.
2. Second class standing in an acceptable four year undergraduate university degree in QECO means the minimum B standing as recognized by the granting institution at the time the work was completed. Where there is a doubt about the grading of such a degree, and where there is no information available from the university concerned as to what the overall standing of the degree must be, the average of the last 15 full courses will be used by the QECO to determine the standing on that degree.
3. Second class standing in an acceptable three year undergraduate university degree in QECO means the minimum B standing as recognized by the granting institution at the time the work was completed. Where there is a doubt about the grading of such a degree, and where there is no information available from the university concerned as to what the overall standing of the degree must be, the average of the last 10 full courses will be used by the QECO to determine the standing on that degree.
o) Second Class Standing on Diplomas on an acceptable diploma for QECO purposes shall be based on 75% of the courses required for the diploma having the minimum B average unless stated on an official transcript.
p) Specified Subject Area for QECO purposes means:
1. Courses bearing the same subject code or label on the transcript issued by the university concerned.
2. A subject in which an Honour Specialist qualification is issued by the Ontario College of Teachers.
3. Subjects in which honour degrees are offered by Ontario universities.
q) Transcript is an official document containing a complete record of studies undertaken as a post-secondary institution and bearing an official signature and the seal of the university.
r) University Course (Approved) is a course recognized for credit towards the granting of an acceptable degree. It is normally a unit of instruction consisting of three lecture hours per week, or equivalent, throughout the academic year. For QECO purposes two half-courses, six semester hours or nine quarter-hours will constitute one full course.
If an applicant has completed coursework in a second language (i.e. French, Italian, Spanish, German, etc) any additional academic coursework in that language must be beyond the introductory level and must not repeat or duplicate the course content of any previous coursework.
Additional Qualifications courses approved by the Ontario College of Teachers are considered “university degree-credit courses” when they appear on the applicant’s Certificate of Qualification and Registration. QECO will assign a grade of B unless officially indicated otherwise by the course provider.
University practicum courses credited on a university transcript towards a degree, other than the basic teacher training, will be credited at transcript value.
Programs completed in their entirety from Ontario colleges of applied arts and technology (CAAT) which are unused either as university transfer credit or in any other way, will be granted university degree credit equivalence at the following rate:
- Ontario College Diploma: 2.5 courses
- Ontario College Advanced Diploma: 5.0 courses
- Ontario College Graduate Certificate: 2.5 courses
s) Specific course acceptance shall be determined when full details have been submitted on an application. It is advised that application to determine course acceptance be made well in advance of enrolment in the course.