Classification of highest certificate, diploma or degree

Usage

Highest certificate, diploma or degree implies a hierarchy of educational credentials; however, in a number of instances, the levels are not entirely hierarchical when comparing programs across different types of institutions.

While the classes of this classification represent Canadian awards and qualifications, this standard does not exclude equivalent qualifications obtained from accredited educational institutions or government bodies in other countries.
The classes in this classification pertain to the highest certificate, diploma or degree obtained. Accordingly, the definitions indicate "highest" in brackets. These definitions do not refer to certificates, diplomas or degrees "ever obtained" or to that which is "most recent".

Where "highest" appears in brackets in the class name, it may be omitted when the context provides clarification.
Where "College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma" appears in brackets in the class name, it may be omitted when the context provides clarification.

For the purposes of this classification, persons who obtained trades qualifications from secondary level vocational training programs in the province of Quebec - such as the Diplôme d'études professionnelles/Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP/DVS) - are included in the category "Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma." Alternatively, such trades qualifications are included as secondary level qualifications in the "Highest educational attainment -- variant for alternate reporting" classification of educational attainment and in the "Classification of educational qualifications responses - variant for alternate reporting" classification of educational qualifications.

The Highest certificate, diploma or degree classification refers only to the highest education program successfully completed. In comparison, the class "Some postsecondary education (highest)" in the Highest educational attainment classification includes persons who have received some education that can be counted towards a postsecondary qualification but have not received any postsecondary qualification. As a result, categories of the two classifications below the level of completed postsecondary qualifications are not directly comparable.