Start your trades career at NIC. Admissions requirements for each individual trades program can be found in the admissions tab on your program page.
Have questions? Educational advisors are available to help you through the application process. Call 1-800-715-0914 or email questions@nic.bc.ca.
Youth Train in Trades
You can start your trades career while still in high school. See Youth Train in Trades for information on how to begin your trades training.
General Admissions
There are no formal admission requirements for university transfer. Each course has its own prerequisites that you will need to meet in order to take the course.
To be considered for general admission to NIC
- An applicant must have graduated from secondary school, or equivalent, or be a minimum of 18 years of age or older within the calendar year in which they are applying to study and must also meet the program admission requirements.
- Underage applicants, who are under 18 years of age, may request special admission by contacting their local campus and requesting an appointment with a counsellor.
- The Office of the Registrar will provide an alternative application process for students who are both under the age of 18 and not a secondary school graduate within the calendar year in which they are applying to study.
- An applicant must be a Canadian citizen or provide the following documentation, as applicable, as part of their application:
- Proof of permanent resident status
- Proof of convention refugee status
- Proof of permission to study in Canada as an international student
Admissions Process – Foundation certificates
Step 1: Apply
You can apply to NIC online through Education Planner BC
Step 2: Receive NIC communication
After applying you will receive an email from NIC to your personal email address to confirm that your application has been received. The email will contain instructions for accessing your
myNic account. myNIC allows you to register for courses and pay fees. You will also be sent your North Island College email address. All subsequent communication from NIC will go to your NIC email.
Step 3: Submit your transcripts
You must submit your official transcripts to ensure you meet the prerequisites as listed for your course description(s).
Students coming to NIC directly from high school may ask the Ministry of Education to submit final grades electronically.
If you don’t have your high school transcripts you may be able to meet the prerequisites by doing an assessment. Details of the assessment process can be found on the assessment page.
Some programs also have program specific assessments. Please check the program page to see if this is the case for your program.
Step 4: Qualify
NIC will review your application and determine if you are:
- Qualified – you meet the requirements to take the program
- Conditionally Qualified – you are registered in the prerequisite courses needed
- Not qualified – you do not meet the prerequisites. In this case, you can meet with an educational advisor to discuss
upgrading options to help you meet the prerequisites for the course you want to take.
Step 5: Get Invited
Qualified and conditionally qualified applicants will be invited to NIC. Normally, students are invited on a first-qualified, first-invited basis. If a program is full, you may be waitlisted. You will be contacted by Admissions when a seat becomes available.
If a program is full, you may be waitlisted. You will be contacted when a seat becomes available.
Step 6: Pay your deposit
The deposit is required to secure your seat, as per the deadline in your invite letter.
Step 7: Pay tuition
Tuition and fees are due by deadlines, as outlined in academic schedules and deadlines (key dates).
Admissions Process – Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship training is a combination of on-the-job training and classroom learning.
Step 1: Find a sponsor
The first step is to find an employer who will agree to sponsor your apprenticeship. Sponsorship involves providing the work hours you need for each level of apprenticeship training.
Step 2: Register your apprenticeship
Register your apprenticeship with the Industry Training Authority (ITA).
To complete your apprenticeship technical training, you return to college for 6 – 10 weeks to complete your levels of training.
Step 3: Apply
You can apply to NIC online through Education Planner BC
Step 4: Pay
Tuition and fees are due by deadlines, as outlined in academic schedules and deadlines (key dates).
Funding
As an apprentice you may be eligible for up to five levels of funding. Explore your funding options to help pay for your training. NIC’s educational advisors can help.