Data tables, 2016 Census

First Official Language Spoken (7), Industry - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2012 (122), Highest Certificate, Diploma or Degree (15), Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11) and Age (12A) for the Population Aged 15 Years and Over Who Worked Since 2015, in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census - 25% Sample Data

About this variable: Highest certificate, diploma or degree (15)

Definition

Highest certificate, diploma or degree

Highest certificate, diploma or degree is the classification used in the census to measure the broader concept of 'Educational attainment.'

This variable refers to the highest level of education that a person has successfully completed and is derived from the educational qualifications questions, which asked for all certificates, diplomas and degrees to be reported.

The general hierarchy used in deriving this variable (high school, trades, college, university) is loosely tied to the 'in-class' duration of the various types of education. At the detailed level, someone who has completed one type of certificate, diploma or degree will not necessarily have completed the credentials listed below it in the hierarchy. For example, a person with an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma may not have completed a high school certificate or diploma, nor does an individual with a 'master's degree' necessarily have a 'certificate or diploma above bachelor level.' Although the hierarchy may not fit all programs perfectly, it gives a general measure of educational attainment.

This variable is reported for persons aged 15 years and over in private households.

Users are advised to consult data quality comments for this variable, available in the Education Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2016.

Values

  1. Total - Highest certificate, diploma or degree Footnote 1
  2. No certificate, diploma or degree
  3. Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate Footnote 3
  4. Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree
  5. Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma
  6. Trades certificate or diploma other than Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification Footnote 6
  7. Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification Footnote 7
  8. College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma
  9. University certificate or diploma below bachelor level
  10. University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above
  11. Bachelor's degree
  12. University certificate or diploma above bachelor level
  13. Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry
  14. Master's degree
  15. Earned doctorate Footnote 15

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Users are advised to consult data quality comments for 'Highest certificate, diploma or degree,' available in the Education Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2016, Catalogue no. 98-500-X2016013.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 3

'Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate' includes only people who have this as their highest educational qualification. It excludes persons with a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree.

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Footnote 6

'Trades certificate or diploma other than Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification' includes trades certificates or diplomas such as pre-employment or vocational certificates and diplomas from brief trade programs completed at community colleges, institutes of technology, vocational centres and similar institutions.

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Footnote 7

'Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification' also includes Journeyperson's designations.

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Footnote 15

'Earned doctorate' refers to persons who have completed a doctorate degree awarded by a university. This includes, for example, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.). It does not include honorary doctorates.

Return to footnote 15 referrer

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