Act

The Post-Secondary Education (PSE) Act establishes the framework to recognize post-secondary education institutions in the NWT, including universities, colleges and private training institutions. It formalizes a quality assurance system for the accreditation of certificate, diploma, degree programs, and institutions.

Creating a standardized system allows for greater integration with institutions in other jurisdictions, including transferring post-secondary credits earned in the NWT. This process also looks at the whole of the post-secondary education system in the NWT to ensure the institutions and programs complement and enhance the existing system.

On December 16, 2022, the PSE Act and four sets of regulations came into force. This legislation ensures institutions are properly governed and that programs, courses and the institutions themselves are meeting quality assurance processes.

This legislation provides consumer protection for students and employers. The Act and regulations ensure that institutions are providing the appropriate types and levels of education and training that meets the needs of NWT students and labour market and will be recognized outside of the NWT.

Regulations

The purpose of the Act and regulations is to clarify and create alignment across legislation.

Quality assurance processes help ensure post-secondary institutions and their programs meet territorial standards of quality, so NWT residents can be confident that they are getting recognized, high-quality training from accredited post-secondary institutions in the territory. 

There are five sets of new regulations, four of which are now in force.

• Private Vocational Training (PVT) Regulations regulate Certificate and Diploma programs that provide training in the skill and knowledge required for employment in a vocation.  
• Colleges, Degree Granting and Universities Regulations regulate institutions identified as colleges and universities and the offering of degrees in a post-secondary institution.
• Private Training Institutions Regulations regulate private institutions wanting to offer post-secondary education
• General Regulations contain information on items that do not fit into the other areas, such as tuition, mandates and reporting requirements for institutions.
• Indigenous Institution Regulations, which are still in development, will establish the requirements to be considered an Indigenous institution.

The Indigenous Institution Regulations are being developed and informed by engagement with Indigenous governments and organizations and will reflect the unique Indigenous perspectives and contexts of the NWT.