ACE

Because the majority of college upgrading students have a goal of entering postsecondary programs or apprenticeship training, many need to obtain either an overall grade 12 equivalence and/or complete specific grade 12 equivalent courses that are required for admission to postsecondary, for registration as an apprentice, or for direct entry to employment.

To satisfy this need for grade 12 equivalent programming, the colleges deliver a long-standing program known as Academic and Career Entrance (ACE). Colleges use LBS funding to deliver ACE courses, just as other LBS providers use LBS funding to deliver curricula that meets the needs of their students’ goals. College upgrading programs may offer a combination of ACE and pre-ACE or foundational courses.

Although the ACE curriculum is delivered using LBS funding, it is very important to note that the ACE Program (curriculum, credential, and graduation requirements) is an approved program in the Postsecondary Education Division of MAESD, not in the Employment and Training Division which funds LBS.

Only public colleges or the ACE Distance program can deliver ACE courses and provide the ACE credential (certificate).

Students can:

• Complete one or more ACE courses to satisfy specific prerequisites for application to college postsecondary programs;
• Use a combination of high school courses and ACE courses to satisfy prerequisites for college postsecondary programs; and
• Complete the ACE Certificate requirements to obtain a grade 12 equivalent certificate for apprenticeship registration or for college programs requiring the full certificate.

The ACE Certificate is also recognized as grade 12 equivalent by a growing number of employers when hiring and promoting staff. Major employers such as the OPP, Proctor and Gamble, CP Rail, Revenue Canada, Tembec, VALE INCO, Chrysler Canada and many municipalities and regional hospitals recognize the ACE Certificate.

This table lists the ACE courses offered in both English and French.

NOTE: Not all colleges offer all ACE courses.

Several years ago, the Ontario Ministry of Education engaged Curriculum Services Canada to undertake a comparison of the ACE and OSS courses for the purpose of establishing equivalencies. The following table shows the results of that analysis.