Overview
Contact us before you:
- make changes to licensed programs
- offer additional programs
- cancel an existing program
- change your college’s address
- change your college’s Responsible Authority
- change ownership
- close your college
Program changes
Making changes, no matter how small, to your career training programs could affect your existing licences. Contact us if you are:
- making changes to licensed programs
- licensing additional programs
- cancelling a licensed program
Making changes to licensed programs
Changes to licensed programs require our approval. Access the forms you will need to submit your change requests on the Provider SharePoint site (password required).
As of April 1, 2025, a $200 change fee applies for program or institution change requests once approval has been granted. The approved changes will not be applied until the change fee is paid.
When payment is required, we will provide the college’s Responsible Authority with an invoice by email, along with instructions on how to pay the change fees online using MyAlberta eServices.
Licensing additional programs
Private career colleges wishing to offer additional career training programs are encouraged to check out Apply for a career training licence. If you are still unsure if a program licence is required, contact us.
Cancelling a licensed program
If you wish to cancel one or more licensed programs while continuing to offer other licensed programs, you must inform us in writing. Ensure the notification confirms:
- all enrolled students have completed the programs
- there are no outstanding contractual obligations
Once your notification is received, government will review your request, and the licensed programs can be cancelled 60 days after the last contracted student leaves the program, provided no compliance matters arise regarding former students.
College changes
Changes to your business can also affect your career training program licence. When in doubt, contact us to find out how to proceed.
Change to Responsible Authority
When a private career college applies for a program licence, they are required to assign a Responsible Authority for the business. The Responsible Authority is the main point of contact and is responsible for submitting change requests, applications, and other related tasks. This is usually the CEO, but could also be the president or chair of a Board of Governors. If you are planning a change to the Responsible Authority, it should be communicated by the current Responsible Authority in writing and confirmed by the ownership in advance of the change.
Change in ownership
If your private career college changes ownership by way of asset sale, the purchaser must apply for a new licence to offer the career training programs. In the case of a share sale or transfer of shares, the licence remains with the corporation. When a share sale or transfer of shares results in a change of ownership (that is a change in more than 50% of the shares), notification must be provided at least 30 days prior to the closing date of the transaction.
Learn more about change in ownership.
Notify us of an upcoming change of ownership by completing Section 6 of the Notification Change Form, available in the Provider SharePoint site (password required).
Closing a private career college
If you wish to close your private career college, you must inform us in writing. To close a college, all program licences associated with that college will be voluntarily cancelled. Ensure the notification confirms:
- all enrolled students have completed the programs
- there are no outstanding contractual obligations
Your college may be required to submit tuition refund documentation for:
- a specific timeframe
- former students who withdrew from licensed training
- current students whose studies were terminated
Once we have received and reviewed the required documentation, you will be asked to provide written confirmation that there are no outstanding student contractual obligations with respect to licensed training. This written confirmation must be provided in the form of a statutory declaration (to be provided by us).
Licence cancellation can take place 60 days after the last contracted student leaves their licensed program, provided no compliance matters arise regarding former students.
Following licence cancellation, letters of credit will be released, and surety bonds will be cancelled.
Contact
Connect with the Private Career Colleges and Compliance Branch:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-5609
Toll free: dial 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-427-5920
Email: [email protected]