The Pre-Education Certificate comprises the first year of an Associate of Arts Degree designed for prospective teachers and is a first step toward enrolment in the Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE), Northern Lights College’s teacher training program.
A Pre-Education Certificate is awarded to students who complete one year of planned coursework at Northern Lights College. Credits earned may also be applied to an undergraduate degree with other post secondary institutions.
The Pre-Education Certificate is offered as part of the University Arts and Sciences program, which provides university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practiced in the Arts and Sciences.
Career Prospects
The Certificate prepares students for continued Bachelor level studies at universities or other receiving institutions, continued studies in specific programs at NLC, continued studies in professional programs, or entry-level employment opportunities.
Transfer arrangements exist with universities, colleges and institutes throughout British Columbia. See the BC Transfer Guide(opens in a new tab). Course transfer beyond British Columbia is determined on a case-by-case basis. NLC students are responsible for confirming admission requirements, application procedures, transfer credit, and graduation requirements at all receiving institutions.
Intakes
| Location | Starting | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Chetwynd* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Dawson Creek | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Fort Nelson* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Fort St John | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Tumbler Ridge* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time |
* requires a mix of online and video-conference courses
Length
30 credits (450 hours), minimum.
This is a one year program taken over two semesters with minimum of 15 credits per semester. Part-time studies will take longer.
Estimated Program Fees
Program fee type: Academic
Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.
Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional.
Domestic Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 3,820.16 | $ 152.16 | $ 103.68 | $ 4,076.00 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | International Medical Insurance | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 12,352.00 | $ 152.16 | $ 103.68 | $ 828.00 | $ 13,435.84 |
Still have questions?
Contact:
- info@nlc.bc.ca if you are in Canada
- info@international.nlc.bc.ca if you are outside of Canada
- academic-chair@nlc.bc.ca if you are currently an NLC student
Admission Requirements
English Requirement
For applicants from countries that practice Standard Written English, one of the following:
- English Studies 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- English First Peoples 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- ENGL 050 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- ENGL 099 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- Any university-level English course with a grade of C or higher
- NLC Writing Assessment with placement at the college level (100)
For all other applicants, one of the following:
- IELTS result with an overall score of 6.0 or higher with no band less than 6.0*
- TOEFL iBT of 78
- Canadian Academic English Assessment (CAEL) 60 overall band
- Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment (CLBA) 8 in each section
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) 57
- Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) 76
- Cambridge-Michigan Language Assessment (CaMLA) 69 plus NLC’s Writing Assessment
- A post-secondary level credential with equivalent English language requirements
- Two years of full-time secondary school education in English in Canada and completion of English 12, English Studies 12, English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, or equivalent with a minimum grade of B.
- Completion of the Citation in English for Academic Purposes Level 060
The General Academic English Language Proficiency Requirements outline more details of the academic English requirements.
* Students with a writing band of 6.0 or less are required to complete ENGL 099 with a B grade or higher before or during the first semester of their program.
Math Requirement
One of the following:
- Pre-calculus 11 with a C grade or higher, or equivalent
- Principles of Mathematics 11 with a C grade or higher, or equivalent
- Foundations of Math 11 with a C grade or higher, or equivalent
- MATH 040 with a C grade or higher, or equivalent
- Readiness for MATH 050 as determined by the CCP Math appraisal.
Note
Elective courses may have specific prerequisites. Meeting entrance requirements for the program does not ensure course prerequisites have been met for all available courses.
Important Notes
- The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans for domestic students. Visit StudentAidBC to apply for financial assistance online. Note that dual credit students are not eligible for Student Aid.
- Course transfer agreements allow students to receive course-by-course transfer to other colleges, universities, and institutes in BC, as indicated in the BC Transfer Guide.
Program Requirements
| Residency Requirement | 25% of all coursework must be completed at Northern Lights College |
|---|---|
| Minimum Grade Requirements | 2.00 program Grade Point Average (GPA); minimum D grade (50%) in all courses |
Semester One
All of:
- ENGL 100 – Academic Writing (3.0 credits)
- GEOG 103 – The Regional Geography of Canada (3.0 credits)
- HIST 104 – Canada, Post-Confederation (3.0 credits)
- Two Pre-Education Electives (see below) Minimum credits: 6.0
Semester Two
All of:
- HIST 103 – Canada, Pre-Confederation (3.0 credits)
- MATH 190 – Principles of Mathematics for Teachers (4.0 credits)
- Two Pre-Education Electives (see below) Minimum credits: 6.0
And one of:
- ENGL 105 – Nonfictional Prose (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 111 – Poetry and Drama (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 112 – Prose Fiction (3.0 credits)
Pre-Education Electives
Students must select a total of four electives (12-14 credits) as:
- A minimum of one lab science*
- Plus two or three open electives in Arts and Science, depending on the course(s) selected as a lab science
* Students planning to enroll in the Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education program at SFU, should note that in some cases, two NLC lab science courses are required to meet the SFU lab science requirement (eg. GEOG 112 and GEOG 114 or PHYS 103 and PHYS 104)
Credential
Certificate in Pre-Education