The Private Training Act will be brought into force through regulation effective Sept. 1, 2016, and will benefit students and private training institutions, including language schools.

This new legislative framework will create higher quality standards, streamlined administrative processes and a broader range of enforcement mechanisms. The new approach is in response to the core review undertaken by government, and balances the needs and interests of students and private training institutions.

Government is working closely with the private training sector and providing support to institutions as they make the transition to the new regulatory model. Each institution will have its own application renewal timeline, based on its fiscal year, and the sector as a whole is expected to complete the transition within approximately 18 months.

Benefits for students will include better access to information through an online directory with current information for each institution. The directory will be available beginning Sept. 1, 2016, and will include programs offered by institutions, institution certificate status, disciplinary actions and any other information that the registrar considers in the public interest.

The legislation will also support higher quality standards for programs, and improvements to student enrolment contracts that, for example, prevent institutions from requiring students to pay full tuition up front. 

Benefits for institutions include enhanced reputation at home and internationally with improved quality assurance, higher accountability and other new measures to increase the credibility of the private training sector in B.C. institutions will also benefit from streamlined administrative processes and a progressive enforcement model that allows the ministry to align resources with areas that require more oversight.

The number of regulatory requirements under the new act has been reduced by 40%, to 457 from 772. The new streamlined approach will strengthen private career training education in British Columbia.

New provisions in the regulations and act will provide savings to taxpayers through reduced student loan default rates. For example, eligibility for designation under the Private Training Act is being tied to a student loan repayment rate of greater than 70% in two of the past three years.

Learn More:

Private Training Act factsheet: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/private-training-act

Private Training Act transition: www.pctia.bc.ca/pctia-transition-to-the-ministry-of-advanced-education

EQA in B.C. www.aved.gov.bc.ca/education_quality_assurance/welcome.htm

StudentAid BC: www.studentaidbc.ca/