Protecting Students

Students who choose to attend a private career college (PCC) are making an important investment in their future. The Ontario government is working to make sure those investments are fully protected.

In 2006, the government passed new legislation to ensure students at private career colleges get the education and training they are promised. Under the new Private Career Colleges Act, 2005:

  • Academic records are protected. PCCs must give students access to their transcripts for 25 years.
  • Students are protected from misleading advertising. PCCs must comply with new marketing and advertising rules.
  • Students who have a complaint about a college will have their voices heard. All colleges must have a student complaint procedure in place. Students can also submit a complaint form to the government.
  • International students receive better financial protection. Private career colleges can collect no more than 25 per cent of the cost of a program from international students before the program starts.
  • Students affected by a school closure are protected under the Training Completion Assurance Fund (TCAF), which may allow students to complete their training or receive a refund in the event of a PCC closure. For more information on the process and requirements under TCAF see Fact Sheet #5: TCAF Information for Students: Private Career College Closure

If you are a former student of a registered PCC that has closed please visit the TCAF section of this website for more information.

TCAF is supported by an advisory board, funded by private career colleges and administered by the government.

To find out more about how Ontario is protecting private career college students please visit Ontario Newsroom.

The government will continue to work with PCCs to ensure the education and training students receive meets high-quality standards.

Download a poster (PDF, 392 KB), brochure (PDF, 599 KB) or fact sheet (PDF, 715 KB) to find out what you need to do before you enrol in a private career college.

Check back here for more updates!