PCTIA Accredited

Winston College is a private post-secondary educational institution fully registered and accredited by the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA).

What is the difference between a registered institution and an accredited institution?

There are two standards for institutions. Registration, which is mandatory, is the minimum standard for all private career schools in BC. Under registration, institutions must adhere to certain requirements and guidelines. These guidelines do not address such areas as quality, competence or ethics. Accreditation is voluntary and means that an institution has met standards of quality set by the PCTIA. An institution must first be registered to become accredited. An institution that has undertaken the accreditation process and successfully been awarded accreditation has demonstrated educational competence and integrity. Only an accredited institution can be designated for the British Columbia Student Assistance Program (BCSAP), which allows its students to apply for student loans. Similarly, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) requires that private career institutions be accredited to be able to accept students on Employment Insurance (EI) support.

How can Accreditation better protect students?

Students in accredited institutions are protected by the Student Training Completion Fund. PCTIA’s stated mission is: The Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA) has responsibility under the Private Career Training Institutions Act to: Provide consumer protection to the students and prospective students of registered institutions; Establish standards of quality that must be met by accredited institutions; Establish and manage the Student Training Completion Fund.