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Start your application for a private career training licence.
Unless your career program meets exemption criteria, you are required by law to licence any career training programs you want to offer.
The career program licensing process is designed to allow private career colleges to participate in Alberta's post-secondary learning system, while also providing consumer protections for students.
The career program licensing process is completed in 4 steps.
Please note that your licensing team contact will guide you through each stage of the application process. It is important not to complete each step until you are advised to do so.
Our licensing team can help you find out:
After you speak with a licensing team member, you can start to gather the information you'll need to support your application. Use the pre-application guide to get started.
These are basic requirements for any career program licensing application:
Find out what information is needed to meet these requirements.
Your licensing team member may also inform you that additional documentation is needed. Please ensure you also provide that with your submission.
Your licensing team contact will review the information you collected to determine if licensing is required, and if your data meets application requirements.
If the information you provided meets requirements, you can move on to the next step.
Contact your licensing team member after you complete your pre-application.
The licensing team will send you materials for stage 1 of the application guidelines. Please confirm your application addresses everything outlined below. If you have questions about these requirements, please contact your licensing team member.
Your career program licensing application must include:
If additional information is requested to help the Private Career College branch review your application, your application will not be approved until you provide that information.
Your application must include a statutory declaration declaring that:
You must provide the following program documentation:
Find out more about program requirements.
You must provide the following business documentation:
Learn how to meet business requirements.
If stage 1 of your application is approved, you're ready to post financial security.
In stage 2 of the licensing process, private career colleges are required to post security before they receive their licence. See financial requirements for detailed information about completing this step, including a list of approved financial institutions and ongoing requirements.
Colleges:
The security you submit must remain in force while you have a licence. You cannot make any adjustments without written approval by government. Government can also require you to increase your security amount at any time, if it's determined that your current post is no longer sufficient.
Do not post financial security you have completed Stage 1 of the licensing process, and you have been advised to do so by your licensing team contact.
Your licensing application included a statutory declaration that projected tuition revenue for all licensed programs offered by your private career college over a 12-month period. That estimate is used to calculate how much security you need to post, based on the security requirements table:
Table 1. Security Requirements Based On Annual Tuition Revenue
Annual Tuition Revenue | Program Length | |
---|---|---|
17 Weeks and Under | Over 17 Weeks | |
Under $50,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
$50,000 - $100,000 | $6,000 | $12,000 |
$100,001 - $200,000 | $12,000 | $24,000 |
$200,001 - $300,000 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
$300,001 - $400,000 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
$400,001 - $500,000 | $36,000 | $72,000 |
$500,001 - $750,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
$750,001 - $1,000,000 | $62,000 | $124,000 |
$1,000,001 - $1,250,000 | $90,000 | $180,000 |
$1,250,001 - $1,500,000 | $110,000 | $220,000 |
$1,500,001 - $1,750,000 | $130,000 | $260,000 |
$1,750,001 - $2,000,000 | $150,000 | $300,000 |
$2,000,001 - $2,250,000 | $170,000 | $340,000 |
$2,250,001 - $2,500,000 | $190,000 | $380,000 |
$2,500,001 - $2,750,000 | $210,000 | $420,000 |
$2,750,001 - $3,000,000 | $230,000 | $460,000 |
Over $3,000,000 | Revenue x 8% | Revenue x 16% |
Security requirements are based on this formula:
Your posted security amount will be adjusted to actual tuition revenue 12 months after your licensed training program begins and after your private career college's next financial year end date.
After you successfully post financial security, you're ready to attend the mandatory information session.
After all of the licensing requirements are met, your private career college representative attends an information session to review the Terms and Conditions of Licensing document before it’s signed. You will receive the document in advance so you can read it beforehand.
Other ongoing licensing requirements will also be discussed so you are fully aware of the roles and responsibilities of private career colleges offering licensed training programs in Alberta.
You'll also be asked to pay your annual licensing fee, which is prorated to the date your licence was issued.
After you successfully complete this step, you will receive your career programming licence. Learn about what you need to do to maintain your licence.
Application fees are due in the first stage of your application process. Your application will not be processed until these fees are paid.
Application fees | Cost |
---|---|
For initial program | $300 |
Each additional program | $100 |
Application fees | Cost |
---|---|
For initial program | $300 |
Each additional program | $100 |
Application fees | Cost |
---|---|
Per Program | $100 |
Annual licensing fees are due by April. Your first licensing fee will be pro-rated, based on the date your license is issued.
Annual Licensing Fees | Cost |
---|---|
For one program | $800 |
Each additional program | $50 |
Late application or licensing fee payments may result in your licence being delayed. Being late with your annual payments may result in compliance action.
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