㽶Ƶ

Academic Upgrading: Academic and Career Entrance Program

Post-Secondary Preparation
Campus: Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee, Timmins, Distance
Program Length: Custom

Whether you’re looking to earn your high school equivalency or the prerequisites for a specific college program, Academic Upgrading offers support and services to:

  • improve your communication, computer, and study skills
  • develop your project and time management skills
  • acquire job-specific skills
  • become a happier and more confident learner overall

Our services are free* and ready when you are. Start anytime – even in summer.*

Our timetables accommodate work and family needs. You may even qualify for transportation and childcare support.

We’ll evaluate your current level in math, communications, and computers. Within a few weeks you’ll be in a classroom with other adult learners, getting one-on-one coaching and feedback, and working independently on your own custom curriculum.

*There is a $20 student enrolment fee for most learners. Other nominal charges may apply.
**Summer course availability is based on enrolment, and varies by campus.

About Our Services

Academic Upgrading at 㽶Ƶ offers support and services to individuals seeking to advance their education. Whether it is to obtain high school equivalent, obtain pre-requisite courses to get into a college program, or to develop computer or study skills, Academic Upgrading is here to support your pursuit of advancing your education and skills.

Upgrading will benefit you if:

  • You have been out of school for some time.
  • You need further education to achieve career or personal goals.
  • You need senior math or sciences credits for a college program.
  • You want to develop your learning and study skills.
  • You want to improve your computer skills.

Courses are tailored to your educational level and background and geared towards the health, business, environmental, technical, and human services program streams, all in a supportive and friendly environment.

How It Works

Contact the centre nearest you to arrange for an assessment with us to evaluate your current skill levels in math, communications and computers.

Programs generally start within two weeks of evaluation.

You will work independently on assigned tasks in a large classroom of adults and on computer. You also receive one-on-one coaching and feedback.

To prepare for a college program, begin your Academic Upgrading as early as possible to ensure you are ready in time for the college program to begin.

Because September is the best time to start upgrading, make your initial contact in June or late August.

Program Length

Program duration depends on your unique needs and goals.

Learners needing several subjects can, on average, complete the program within 1.5-2 years, although some may need more or less time.

Programs run for 37 weeks between September and June every year.

Summer sessions may be available at a site near you, based on enrolment.

If you’re preparing for a specific college program, begin Academic Upgrading in September to line up with the next year’s enrolment deadline.

Free and Flexible

Our services are free, however a small fee may apply for use of texts and a $20 student fee is levied.

You can begin anytime between September and May. Courses are customized to health, technical, business, human services, or environmental program streams.

Timetables are individualized to accommodate work and family needs and you may qualify for transportation and/or childcare support.

Our services are offered to adult learners from a variety of education levels and backgrounds.

To learn more about our services, please email upgrading@northern.on.ca

Complete our registration form to get started with us.

Register

Academic & Career Entrance (ACE)

Didn’t finish high school? Come to college to study instead!

Whatever your long-term goals, Northern’s Grade 12 equivalency program—the Academic & Career Entrance (ACE) certificate—will set you up with the skills, prerequisites, and coursework you need to get ahead.

With core courses and electives in communications, math, science, computers, and personal management, ACE credits can be used to satisfy the admission requirements of a wide range of college and apprenticeship programs.

What’s more, the ACE Certificate is also recognized by a growing number of employers when hiring and promoting staff.

Register

ACE is considered equivalent to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) by Ontario’s community colleges and by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

To receive an ACE Certificate, students are required to complete the communications course, one mathematics course plus any two other courses from the ACE course list.

The ACE Certificate is recognized as an OSSD (grade 12) equivalent by Ontario’s community colleges and by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development. ACE courses have been evaluated by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development. The ACE Certificate is also recognized as an OSSD (grade 12) equivalent by a growing number of employers when hiring and promoting staff.

What Our Students Are Saying

“I recently completed several courses through the ACE program at 㽶Ƶ to meet the requirements for the Practical Nursing program, and I am thrilled to share my positive experience.

From the start, the staff at 㽶Ƶ were incredibly supportive. They conducted a thorough assessment to determine exactly which courses I needed, ensuring I was on the right path to achieve my goals.

While working both full-time and part-time jobs, I was able to complete the coursework on time. The flexibility of the program, with individualized timetables and the ability to start at any time between September and May, made it possible for me to balance my busy schedule.

The ACE program provides a personalized learning experience, offering one-on-one coaching and feedback, which was invaluable. The communication and support from the instructors were excellent, ensuring I always had the assistance I needed.

㽶Ƶ made me feel genuinely appreciated for my efforts, awarding me scholarships and other forms of recognition.

Overall, my experience with the ACE program with Academic Upgrading was outstanding. I am grateful to have found such a supportive and effective program, and I am excited to continue my education at 㽶Ƶ.”

– Shanice Morris, Practical Nursing Student, ACE Graduate in Math, Chemistry, Biology

Shanice Morris - Practical Nursing Student - ACE Graduate in Math, Chemistry, Biology

“I came to the Academic Upgrading program in October of 2023 as a mature student who had been out of the educational system for almost 30 years. At that time, I had resigned myself to the fact that I had passed up the opportunity for a fulfilling career, and my intention was to obtain my grade 12 equivalent to increase my chances of employment in the public sector. During my assessment, we discussed my interest in human resources, which led to a discussion about how obtaining a post-secondary diploma and starting a career at my age was achievable.”

“Since that conversation, I have worked very hard to keep my GPA at a minimum of 4.0 and enrolled in the Business-Human Resources program at 㽶Ƶ. So far, one of the biggest challenges I have faced has been the financial hardships of supporting a household and dependants and trying to save for my tuition. This bursary has relieved a lot of stress and brought me one step closer to my goal.”

“The Academic Upgrading program and the Academic Upgrading Bursary have been life-altering for me and I want to, once again, express my gratitude for being chosen out of all of my classmates to receive this reward. This bursary will help me in obtaining something I had thought was out of my reach, a fulfilling career in a field I enjoy.”

– Rikki Carter, Human Resources Student

Rikki Carter - Human Resources Student

“Growing up, school was not my thing. It started with failing a few classes and eventually led to dropping out of high school. Down the road, I did not expect to be a mother of six wonderful children and have to explain the importance of education to them.”

“At the beginning of October 2019, my grandma became very ill. The PSWs that would come in to take care of her worked so hard; my grandma was always smiling… I thought this was something I would love to do with my life; the only problem was I needed the prerequisites to get into the program.”

Nine months later, while juggling all six children and a busy household, Leah had completed her English, Computers and Self Direction Self Management courses with honours. She is an example of the mind set that it is never too late to start something new. After 17 years away from education, Leah found the courage to try again.

“With Academic Upgrading, I am where I am now. I got the courses I needed to be accepted into the PSW program. My long-term goal is to finish PSW and begin working in long-term care. I enjoyed Academic Upgrading being offered at the college. As an older student, I felt comfortable being in a class with students of all ages. I would recommend Academic Upgrading to anyone needing to get credits or upgrade their current marks.”

– Leah Bolton, Personal Support Worker Student

Leah Bolton - Personal Support Worker Student

 “With Academic Upgrading, I am where I am now. I got the courses I needed to be accepted into the PSW program. My long-term goal is to finish PSW and begin working in long-term care." Leah Bolten PSW Student Testimonial

Areas We Serve

We have Academic Upgrading centres at each campus and access centre. We serve all surrounding areas in Northeastern Ontario.

Contact the centre nearest you to get started with our services.

Campuses

Haileybury Campus
Kate Glover
Program Coordinator
Tel: 705-672-3376 ext. 8822
Email: gloverk@northern.on.ca

Kirkland Lake Campus
Georgina Tryon
Program Coordinator
Tel: 705-567-9291 ext. 3606
Email: tryong@northern.on.ca

Moosonee Campus
Julie Garrod
Program Coordinator
Tel: 705-336-2913 ext. 5609
Email: garrodj@northern.on.ca

Timmins Campus
Charbonneau, Barb
Program Coordinator
Tel: 705.235.3211 ext. 2146
Email: charbonneaub@northern.on.ca

Access Centres

Moose Factory
Tel: 705-658-4463
Email: access@northern.on.ca

Attawapiskat
Tel:705-997-2477
Email: access@northern.on.ca

Fort Albany
Tel: 705-278-7070
Email: access@northern.on.ca

Kashechewan
Tel: 705-275-1388
Email: access@northern.on.ca

Timmins Native Friendship Centre
179 Kirby Avenue, Timmins, ON
Tel: 705-268-6262 ext. 228
Email: tnfclbsprog@ntl.sympatico.ca

 

Iroquois Falls
Also serving the communities of Matheson and Wahgoshing First Nation
441-C Main Street, Iroquois Falls, ON
Barb Charbonneau
Tel: 705-235-3211 ext. 2146
Email: upgradingif@northern.on.ca

Cochrane
Sarah Brown
1-149 Fifth Avenue, Cochrane, ON
Tel: 705-272-4188
Email: browns@northern.on.ca

Hearst
Mireille Morin
3 15th Street, Unit 4, P.O. Box 2303
Hearst ON P0L1N0
Tel: 705-372-1211
Email: morinm@northern.on.ca

To learn more about our services, please email upgrading@northern.on.ca

Complete our registration form to get started with us.

Register

Back To Top