Ontario. Private Vocational Schools Unit

• Private Vocational Schools Unit

• Ontario. Private Institutions and Student Protection unit

• Ontario. Private Institutions Branch

• Ontario. Private Career Colleges Branch

• Ontario. Private Institutions Unit

• Ontario. Private Colleges Compliance Unit.

The Private Vocational Schools Unit was established within the Ontario Department of Colleges and Universities on January 1, 1975, following the passing of the Private Vocational Schools Act, in 1974.

The Unit was headed by a Superintendent until 1984, when the title was changed to Manager.

Since its establishment, the Private Vocational Schools Unit has formed a part of the following branches: the College Affairs Branch (1975-1980, and 1984-1992); the Provincial Schools Branch (1980-1982); the Operations Branch (1982-1984); and the Student Support Branch (1992-1993). From 1993 to 1997, the Unit was directly attached to the Open Learning and Training Division. The unit was renamed the Private Institutions and Student Protection Unit in 2002 and began reporting to the Post-secondary Institutions Division. In 2004, the unit became the Private Institutions Branch. The branch was carried over into the Postsecondary Education Division when this was established in 2006.

In 2008 the Branch was split into two units: the Private Institutions Unit was part of the Postsecondary Accountability Branch, and the Private Colleges Compliance Unit was part of the Student Support Branch. The Private Institutions Unit was eliminated in 2010. In 2011 the functions were again united in the Private Career Colleges Branch. In 2016 this Branch moved from the Postsecondary Education Division into the Advanced Education Learner Support Division.

As a part of these branches, the Unit has existed within the following ministries: the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (1975-1980, and again from 1982-1993); the Ministry of Education (1980-1982); the Ministry of Education and Training (1993-1999); and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities beginning in 1999. The Branch continued in the new Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development when this was established in 2016.

The Private Vocational Schools Unit is responsible for the registration and regulation of private vocational schools in Ontario, according to the Private Vocational Schools Act. Registration of a school under the Act means that it has met requirements regarding curricula, teacher qualifications, advertising, course fees, refund policies, and general management practices.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Department of Education Annual Reports

Ministry of Colleges and Universities Annual Reports

Government of Ontario Telephone Directories

Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development organizational chart, 2017

Not found in Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

Archivist(s):
R. Anger, C. Levi