More information on Highest certificate,
diploma or degree

Censuses:

2006 (1/5 sample)¹, 2001 (1/5 sample)², 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1976 (1/3 sample)³, 1971 (1/3 sample)⁴, 1961⁵

Information on the historical comparability of the 2006 'Highest certificate, diploma or degree' variable with previous censuses can be found in the Education Reference Guide, 2006 Census.

Reported for:

Population 15 years of age and over, excluding institutional residents and employees.

Question numbers:

Derived variable: Questions 26, 27, 28 and 29

Responses:

No certificate, diploma or degree; High school certificate or equivalent; Apprenticeship certificate or diploma; Other trades certificate or diploma; College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma from a program of 3 months to less than 1 year duration; College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma from a program of 1 year to 2 years duration; College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma from a program of more than 2 years duration; University certificate or diploma below bachelor level; Bachelor’s degree; University certificate or diploma above bachelor level; Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry; Master’s degree, Earned doctorate.

Remarks:

The following qualifications are to be noted:

1. A secondary (high) school graduation certificate or equivalent is classified as junior or senior matriculation, general or technical-commercial.
2. Other trades certificates or diplomas such as pre-employment or vocational certificates and diplomas are brief programs completed at community colleges, institutes of technology, and similar institutions.
3. A journeyman’s or journeyperson’s certificate in the trades is obtained through successful completion of the examinations for a Certificate of Qualification (COQ). Candidates for the exam must have several years of work experience in the trade or have received their registered apprenticeship certificate through a combination of on-the-job training and in-school training.
4. College, CEGEP and other non-university certificates or diplomas are obtained from: a community college; a CEGEP (both general and professional); an institute of technology; a school of nursing; a private business school; a private or public trade school; or a vocational school. Included in this category are teaching and nursing certificates awarded by provincial departments of education, with the exception of teachers' or nurses qualifications at the bachelor level or above obtained at university-affiliated faculties of education or nursing. College certificates or diplomas of two years or more usually have a minimum entrance requirement of secondary (high) school matriculation or its equivalent.
5. University certificates or diplomas are commonly connected with professional associations in fields such as accounting, banking, insurance or public administration. If a bachelor's degree is a normal prerequisite for a university certificate or diploma course, as may occur with teaching certificates, then the latter is classified as a university certificate above the bachelor level.
6. University degrees are obtained through degree-granting institutions.

Notes:

1. The 2006 Census differed from previous censuses in that there were separate questions for respondents to report their certificates, diplomas and degrees attained at the following educational levels: high school, trades, college/CEGEP/other non-university, and university. Previous censuses included all levels as part of a single list. While most levels of educational attainment are found to be comparable historically, changes to the questionnaire in 2006 may have influenced the trends over time of some individual levels. Users should be aware that underreporting of high school completions in censuses prior to 2006 contributed to elevated results for the less than high school category, as well as impacting data on high school graduation. With regards to trades, a change was made in the 2006 Census questionnaire to specifically include certification by a type of educational institution found only in Quebec, the 'centres de formation professionelle', and this may have influenced the data on trade certifications in Quebec. Users of the 'University certificate or diploma below the bachelor level' category should know that an unexpected increase in this category was noted compared to the 2001 Census; it is recommended that users not compare this category in 2006 with previous censuses.
   Consult the Education Reference Guide, 2006 Census for information on data quality for the 'Highest certificate, diploma or degree' variable.
2. Prior to 2001, the college level was referred to as 'postsecondary non-university'. The term was changed to 'college' to more accurately reflect the predominant institution at this level, which also includes non-degree-granting institutions such as community colleges, CEGEPs, private business colleges and technical institutes.
3. In 1976, 'trades certificate or diploma' and 'university certificate or diploma above bachelor level' categories were not included.
4. In 1971, data were collected on the attainment of university degrees, certificates or diplomas only. The response categories in 1971 were: No university degree, certificate or diploma; University certificate or diploma (below bachelor level); Bachelor's degree; First professional degree; Master's or equivalent, or earned doctorate.
5. In 1961, data were collected on the attainment of a university degree only, without classification by type.