Students who want to earn the equivalent of a high school diploma after turning 18 years old can complete the BC Adult Graduation Diploma. The Adult Graduation Diploma is often called the Adult Dogwood.
Courses in NLC’s Career and College Preparation (CCP) program are specially designed to help students achieve an Adult Dogwood. If you’d like to focus on the CCP program as a pathway to the Adult Dogwood, please refer to the CCP program. Note that the BC government has waived tuition for CCP courses and that other CCP costs may be covered by grants.
The Adult Dogwood is very flexible so pathways may also include courses taken in high school, at other colleges, and in a variety of NLC programs. In fact, the Adult Dogwood can be completed on its own within the CCP program–or while taking another program at Northern Lights College!
All students interested in earning an Adult Dogwood are encouraged to consult with an Admissions Officer or program advisor to discover the right path for them.
Note that the Adult Graduation Diploma (Adult Dogwood) is not the same as a GED (General Educational Development) Certificate. The Ministry of Education discontinued the GED® program at the end of 2014.
Getting Started
Career and College Preparation classes start as frequently as every month, and are available on most campuses. To get started getting your Adult Dogwood, contact an admissions officer or visit your local campus to set up your learning plan. To get started, you just need to be 18 years of age or older!
A Few Definitions
- ABE Articulation Guide: An annual publication listing all Adult Basic Education courses available from BC Post-Secondary institutions and their equivalencies ( www.bctransferguide.ca/search/abe ).
- Advanced-Level courses: courses at the level of Grade 11
- Ministry-authorized courses: courses approved by the BC Ministry of Education and listed on the Course Registry as “Ministry Approved”.
- Provincial-Level courses: courses at the level of Grade 12
- Transfer Request Application: a process by which NLC students can request transfer credit for post-secondary courses taken at other institutions.
- University-transfer courses: courses listed on the BCCAT Transfer Guide
A Few Limitations
- “Q” courses: Students who completed (or almost completed) a provincially examinable high school course prior to turning 18 but did not write the required provincial exam cannot use the course mark alone toward the Adult Graduation Program. These courses appear on the BC high school transcript with a course code that begins with Q.
- Use of high-school courses: No more than two courses taken while in high school may be used towards the Adult Graduation Diploma at NLC. (See Appendices for limitations)
Intakes
| Campus | Starting | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Atlin | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Chetwynd | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Dawson Creek | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Dease Lake* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Fort Nelson* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Fort St John | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Tumbler Ridge* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Online | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time |
* Courses are generally video-conferenced
Estimated Program Fees
Program fee type: Career & College Prep
Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.
Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional. Domestic students needing assistance with fees, textbooks costs, travel or childcare should ask about the Adult Upgrading Grant.
Domestic Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester | $ 0.00 | $ 76.38 | $ 65.54 | $ 141.92 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees | International Medical Insurance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester | $ 4,626.00 | $ 74.88 | $ 64.26 | $ 828.00 |
Still have questions?
Contact:
- info@nlc.bc.ca if you are in Canada
- info@international.nlc.bc.ca if you are outside of Canada
- ccpchair@nlc.bc.ca if you are currently an NLC student
Admission Requirements
- 18 years of age or older; or
- 17 years of age and out of school for at least one year; or
- By special arrangement with the School District.
Note: There is no maximum age.
Program Requirements
To qualify for the British Columbia Adult Graduation Diploma from NLC, you must meet the following four eligibility requirements:
- Be 18 years or older
- Complete at least three diploma courses as an adult.
- Complete at least one diploma course at NLC.
- Courses taken in high school may count toward the diploma.
Undergraduate-level courses eligible for the diploma may also be used towards other programs.
The following course requirements must also be met:
Provincial-Level English
You have successfully completed one of the following:
- ENGL 050 – Literature-Based Provincial English (120 contact hours)
- ENGL 051 – Provincial Technical and Professional English (120 contact hours)
- A Provincial-Level English course taken at another post-secondary institution and listed in the current ABE Articulation Guide
- An NLC university-transfer English (ENGL) course numbered 100 or higher
- ABTC 165 – Business English (6.0 credits)
AND ABTC 195 – Business Communications (4.0 credits) - A post-secondary English course transferred to NLC as 100-level or higher.
- A Language Arts 12 course at a BC/Yukon high school. Find your course code on your high school transcript and ensure it is on the English Appendix
- An English 12 equivalent completed at a school district or post-secondary institution outside of BC or the Yukon may be permitted, providing NLC can formally establish the learning outcomes align with the BC Ministry of Education learning outcomes.
Advanced-Level Math
You have successfully completed one of the following:
- MATH 040 – Advanced Mathematics (120 contact hours)
- MATH 044 – Advanced Business/Technical Mathematics (120 contact hours)
- MATH 050 – Provincial Algebra and Trigonometry (120 contact hours) *
- An Advanced or Provincial Level Math course taken at another post-secondary institution and listed in the current ABE Articulation Guide.
- ABTC 111 – Accounting I (3.0 credits)
AND ABTC 151 – Accounting 2 (4.0 credits) - A post-secondary Math course transferred to NLC as 100-level or higher
- A Mathematics 11 or 12, or Accounting 11 or 12 course at a BC/Yukon high school. Find your course code on your high school transcript and ensure it is on the Mathematics Appendix.
- A Math 11 or 12 equivalent completed at a school district or post-secondary institution outside of BC or the Yukon may be permitted, providing NLC can formally establish the learning outcomes align with the BC Ministry of Education learning outcomes.
Three Electives
You have successfully completed three electives blended from one or more of the following Groups:
Group 1:
Any of NLC’s Provincial-Level courses as reported in the ABE Articulation Guide:
- CPST 050 – Provincial Computer Studies: Applications (120 contact hours)
- EDCP 050 – Provincial Career and Personal Planning (120 contact hours)
- BEST 051 – Provincial Better Employment Strategies and Techniques (90 contact hours)
- FNST 051 – Provincial First Nations of the Upper Peace: History and Customs (120 contact hours)
- MATH 050 – Provincial Algebra and Trigonometry (120 contact hours) *
- BIOL 050 – Provincial Biology (Human) (120 contact hours)
- CHEM 050 – Provincial Chemistry (120 contact hours)
- PHYS 050 – Provincial Physics (120 contact hours)
- GEOG 050 – Provincial Geography (120 contact hours)
- HIST 050 – Provincial History (120 contact hours)
- LAWC 050 – Canadian Law (120 contact hours)
Group 2:
One of the following Advanced-Level social science courses:
- SOST 040 – Advanced Social Studies (120 contact hours)
- BC Social Studies 11
- BC First Nations Studies 12
- BC Civic Studies 11
Group 3:
Any courses comprising 3 or more credits each and offered by NLC as part of an NLC certificate, diploma, or associate degree..
Group 4:
Any courses transferred to NLC numbered 100 or higher.
Group 5:
Any levels of apprenticeship technical training delivered by a BC post-secondary institution (must be on transcript). Unfortunately, NLC cannot recognize apprenticeship technical training taken outside the province or at a private training organization.
Group 6:
Any 4-credit, Grade 12-level, Ministry Authorized courses (including External Credential Courses and Work Experience). Grade 12-Level courses completed outside of BC or the Yukon may be permitted, providing NLC can establish the learning outcomes align with learning outcomes for acceptable, Ministry-Authorized, BC Grade 12 courses.
Group 7:
Students who have successfully completed an NLC certificate can receive credit for up to three Dogwood electives. The Certificate must be recognized for dual credit by one of NLCs School District partners or NLC must identify Grade 12 equivalencies for the program.
Group 8:
Selected college-level courses taken at NLC that have zero (0) credits but are listed in the BC Transfer Guide including PNUR 099.
Note:
* If you have completed MATH 050 and either MATH 040 or MATH 044, MATH 050 may be used as an elective.
External Links
- Adult Basic Education on the BC Transfer Guide
- Adult Basic Education: A Guide to Upgrading in British Columbia’s Public Post-Secondary Institutions – An Articulation Handbook
- Handbook of PROCEDURES for the GRADUATION PROGRAM
- Credit from Post-Secondary Courses Policy, Ministry of Education
- BC Ministry of Education Course Registry
Credential
British Columbia Adult Graduation Diploma