Program Description: 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 can also be put toward a Bachelor's Degree.
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.
Program Contact: Lisa Verbisky
Dean: Steve Roe
Admission Requirements: To apply to the University Arts and Sciences program or to register for individual courses within the program:
Prospective learners need to complete a College “Application for Admission” form. Admission forms can be obtained in person from NLC Student Services or downloaded in PDF format from nlc.bc.ca/pdfs/application.pdf. A one-time application fee is required.
- Where available, secondary school and/or post-secondary transcripts should be provided to indicate that prerequisites for specific courses have been met.
- Applicants who do not have at least a “B” in English 12 (or equivalent) or at least a “C” in a university-level English course must complete the NLC Writing Assessment before registering in English courses. Feedback on the Writing Assessment is provided to help students make informed decisions about course selection.
- Applicants who do not have secondary school and/or post-secondary transcripts that provide documentation of prerequisites should speak with an NLC Recruiter. In these situations, entry-level skills will be evaluated as required through the Writing Assessment, the Calculus Readiness Assessment, or other assessments.
Please note that where students are registering in University Arts and Sciences courses to satisfy requirements in another program, additional registration criteria may apply.
Length of Program: (weeks and total hours) The Education Certificate involves 450 hours of class time and may be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. Where learners are attending full time, the credential may be completed in 30 weeks.
Program Intake: (start/finish dates)
Start: September, January, May
Finish: December, April, June
Available Seats: 30 per course
Application Deadline: One week prior to start of University Arts and Sciences courses
Career Prospects: As noted above, the Pre-Education Certificate may lead to enrollment in AHCOTE and a career in teaching or provide credits that count toward a Bachelor's Degree and other employment opportunities.
Affiliations/Partnerships: The AHCOTE program involves a partnership between School Districts 59, 60, 81, Simon Fraser University, the University of Northern British Columbia, and Northern Lights College. Courses comprising the Pre-Education Certificate transfer to receiving institutions throughout British Columbia (see the BC Transfer Guide www.bctransferguide.ca).
Location: Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Chetwynd, and Fort Nelson, where resources and interest permit.
Additional Requirements/Supplies: (fees, supplies, materials)
NIL
Eligibility for Canada Student Loans: (Yes or No)
Yes
Required Minimum Grade: (overall and/or minimum within a course)
A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 ("C") or better must be obtained from all courses applied toward the Pre-Education Certificate.
Residency Requirement: (percentage of courses which must be taken at NLC)
Approximately 25%; at least 9 credits (3 courses) must be taken at NLC
Required Courses: (list courses required to complete credential
and total hours for each course)
Plus one lab science (students planning to enroll in AHCOTE 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) (75-105 hrs per lab science)
Plus two or three open electives in Arts and Science, depending on the course(s) selected as a lab science (45 hrs per elective)