Statistics Canada
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2006 Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations

Highest certificate, diploma or degree (14)

Highest certificate, diploma or degree

Part A - Plain language definition
Information indicating the person's most advanced certificate, diploma or degree.

Part B - Detailed definition
This is a derived variable obtained from the educational qualifications questions, which asked for all certificates, diplomas and degrees to be reported. There is an implied hierarchy in this variable (secondary school graduation, registered apprenticeship and trades, college, university) which is loosely tied to the 'in-class' duration of the various types of education. However, at the detailed level a registered apprenticeship graduate may not have completed a secondary school certificate or diploma, nor does an individual with a master's degree necessarily have a certificate or diploma above the bachelor's degree level. Therefore, although the sequence is more or less hierarchical, it is a general rather than an absolute gradient measure of academic achievement.

  1. Total - Highest certificate, diploma or degree
  2. No certificate, diploma or degree
  3. Certificate, diploma or degree
  4. High school certificate or equivalent
  5. Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma
  6. College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma
  7. University certificate, diploma or degree
  8. University certificate or diploma below bachelor level
  9. University certificate or degree
  10. Bachelor's degree
  11. University certificate or diploma above bachelor level
  12. Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry
  13. Master's degree
  14. Earned doctorate
Number Stub
1. 'Highest certificate, diploma or degree' refers to the highest certificate, diploma or degree completed based on a hierarchy which is generally related to the amount of time spent 'in-class'. For postsecondary completers, a university education is considered to be a higher level of schooling than a college education, while a college education is considered to be a higher level of education than in the trades. Although some trades requirements may take as long or longer to complete than a given college or university program, the majority of time is spent in on-the-job paid training and less time is spent in the classroom.
4. 'High school certificate or equivalent' includes persons who have graduated from a secondary school or equivalent. Excludes persons with a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. Examples of postsecondary institutions include community colleges, institutes of technology, CEGEPs, private trade schools, private business colleges, schools of nursing and universities.
6. 'College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma' replaces the category 'Other non university certificate or diploma' in previous censuses. This category includes accreditation by non degree-granting institutions such as community colleges, CEGEPs, private business colleges and technical institutes.