In BC the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) within the System Integrity Branch (SIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills administers the Private Training Act and associated regulations.
Over 60,000 students enroll in private training institutions in B.C. each year. Students are trained for a broad range of occupations from sound and audio technicians to licensed practical nurses to commercial pilots.
The sector is regulated by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU), which is responsible for:
Ensuring institutions meet the requirements and standards for certification
Maintaining a Private Training Institution (PTI) Directory of all certified institutions, along with formerly certified institutions
Providing student protection and overseeing the Student Tuition Protection Fund
Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit
310-601 Cordova St W
Vancouver BC V6B 1G1
Canada
Local: 604-569-0033
Toll-free: 1-800-661-7441
Fax: 778-945-0606
Email: PTI@gov.bc.ca
Student support inquiries: PTI.StudentSupport@gov.bc.ca
Language Education Excerpts from the Policy Manual
Examples of programs that do not require approval
• A career-related program at a registered institution for which tuition is less than $4,000
• A career-related program at a designated institution for which tuition is less than $1,000
• A language program at a designated institution that is no more than six months and less than $4,000
• Any language program at a registered institution
• A commercial driving instruction program
Programs that require approval
Programs requiring approval from the registrar fall into three categories:
Class A:
Career-related programs with 40 or more hours of instruction, for which tuition is at least $4,000.
A career-related program is defined as a program that has the purpose of enhancing students’ employability or ability to carry out a career occupation.
Class B:
Career-related programs at designated/interim designated institutions, other than Class A programs, for which tuition is at least $1,000.
Class C:
Language programs at designated/interim designated institutions that are longer than six months or for which tuition is at least $4,000. A language program is defined as a program that has as its learning objective that students gain or improve proficiency in a language.
