Engineering Technology and Applied Technology Accreditation

Accreditation of engineering technology and applied technology schools and programs is a form of independent, professional certification which assures international students and their parents that a Canadian school or program adheres to high quality standards. This means the school's programs are delivered by qualified faculty and are constantly updated to follow the changes and meet the needs of the working world. Attending an accredited school or program is therefore often thought to make you more competitive in the job market.

In Canada, all public community colleges are accredited by their respective provincial government. Accreditation standards for private career colleges vary from province to province and may include provincial legislation, licensing, certification, accreditation and program approval. For example, institutions may seek voluntary accreditation through the Canadian Education and Training Accreditation Committee (CETAC).

In addition, the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB), which is a standing committee of The Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT), provides national accreditation for over 240 post-secondary engineering technology & applied technology programs in Canada. This includes both private and public colleges and institutes. The CTAB provides accreditation to programs only; individuals are granted certification by the provincial associations.

Graduation from a CTAB accredited program ensures that your academic qualifications meet the requirements for registration in your field as a technologist or technician (which will be important if you hope to stay and work in Canada). In addition, your academic credentials will be recognized in many countries around the world without additional study.

International students can also check to see if a school or program has any memberships in, or endorsements by, discipline-specific professional associations which reflect certain standards of quality, but which is not the same as official accreditation.

Accrediting Agencies
Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB)
Established: 1982
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Web: www.cctt.ca
Accredits engineering technology and applied technology/science programs in Canada

Why Accreditation?
The goal of accreditation is to ensure that the education provided meets acceptable levels of quality. Accrediting agencies, which are educational associations of regional, national or international scope, develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those criteria are met. Institutions and/or programs that request an agency's evaluation and that meet an agency's criteria are then "accredited" by that agency.