Certificate Programs FAQ

What is a certificate program?

Certificate programs consist of four (4) to ten (10) single-term courses that provide post-secondary-level studies in specific career-related areas. To graduate from a certificate program you must register and successfully complete all program requirements.

Want to register for a certificate program? Visit our How to Register for a Certificate Program page.

When and how do I register in a certificate program?

If you choose not to register in the certificate before you enrol in your first course, please note that all applicable certificate courses taken prior to registration will be counted towards your graduation requirements; however, they will not be included in the calculation of your cumulative GPA (grade point average).

Visit How to Register for a Certificate Program for step-by-step instructions, and Certificate Registration for registration policies.

Visit Important Dates for Registration Application deadlines.

What are the admissions criteria for certificate programs?

Admission criteria varies by certificate program. Check the “Admissions Criteria” section of each certificate page for specific details.

How do I know which curriculum to follow?

If you are registered in a certificate program, you must complete the curricula published online at the time you registered in the certificate. Prior to registration, this can be found on the certificate page in “Certificate Requirements”.

It is recommended that you keep a list of the certificate requirements of your program study. Curriculum may change, in which case requirements must be completed by way of Course Substitution/Directive.

How do I withdraw from a certificate program?

Students are required to complete and submit a Certificate Program Withdrawal Form available on our Forms and Documents page. Withdrawing from a course does not withdraw you from a certificate program. Please note that withdrawing from a certificate program does not drop you from your enrolled courses. You must officially drop your courses online according to Toronto Metropolitan University’s official deadline dates (refer to Important Dates).

Need help? Connect with a client service advisor at ce@torontomu.ca.

Are there any time limits for completing a certificate program?

Yes. To graduate, you must successfully complete, within your official timespan, the published certificate curricula from the year you registered in the program.

Your official timespan is the number of required single-term courses (or equivalent) divided by 2, plus one year. (Note: When a timespan calculation results in a half year – for example, 2.5 years – the timespan is rounded up to the next full year.) The timespan you have to complete the certificate will vary depending on the number of courses that must be completed in order to satisfy the graduation requirements of the certificate. Visit Glossary of Chang School Terms for more details.

Can I register in more than one certificate program at the same time?

No. You can only be registered in one certificate program at a time.

Can I register in a certificate and a degree at the same time?

Yes. However, all continuing education certificate courses in which you have enrolled will be counted in your Continuing Education Career GPA and subsequently your certificate GPA. If these courses are part of your degree requirements they will apply towards your Undergraduate program requirements, but not your Undergraduate Career GPA.

Some certificates are restricted for certain undergraduate programs. Refer to Curriculum Advising for a restriction listing if you are also in an undergraduate program

Can I register in a certificate that is restricted to my undergraduate degree program?

No. You may, however, register if the certificate is restricted to an undergraduate degree program from which you have already graduated. Refer to Curriculum Advising for complete details.

Can I continue my certificate program studies if I have been admitted to an undergraduate degree program?

Yes. In many cases, students will be allowed to continue their certificate studies. However, in the event that the certificate is restricted to your undergraduate degree program, you will automatically be withdrawn from the certificate program and notified accordingly.

Can I use any credits earned in a Toronto Metropolitan University degree program and/or another accredited post-secondary institution toward a certificate program?

Yes. However 50 percent of the courses used to meet certificate graduation requirements must be completed in your Continuing Education Career (CNED).

For Toronto Metropolitan University degree programs: Some certificates may be restricted to students in the undergraduate program. Refer to Curriculum Advising for complete details.

Undergraduate students may access continuing education courses by ‘cross-enrolling’ within their Undergraduate URDG career. These courses will be included in the student’s Undergraduate GPA.

For other accredited post-secondary institutions: Visit Toronto Metropolitan University’s Transfer Credits page for detailed transfer credit application instructions for Chang School students.

Are Transfer Credits included in my grade point average?

No. They are recorded on your academic record as CRT (credit). Transfer Credits will not be used in the calculation of your Cumulative GPA. Visit Grade Point Averages for more information.

Are there time frame limits for applying a Transfer Credit to a certificate program?

In order to meet current curriculum, accreditation, and learning outcome requirements, some courses may not be recognized for Transfer Credit. Courses taken 10 or more years ago will require departmental evaluation of the course content; this individual assessment will determine if an "old" course can be accepted.

If you have taken a course within this time frame and would like it to be considered as a transfer credit, contact ce@torontomu.ca about the evaluation process.

Since I registered in my certificate program, the number of courses required to graduate has changed. Can I transfer to the new curriculum?

This varies depending on the certificate program. Contact our client services advisor at ce@torontomu.ca to discuss your options.

How do I transfer from one Chang School certificate program to another?

You can transfer to another certificate program online in your MyServiceHub Student Centre by clicking “Chang Certificate Reg/Trnsfr”. There is no fee to apply.

Can I use applicable courses towards more than one certificate program?

If you have taken a course that appears in more than one certificate program, you can apply that course to the requirements for each program. There is no limit to the number of times that a specific course can be used towards the completion of a program, but you must:

• Be registered in only one certificate program at a time
• Be registered in your chosen program before completing 50 percent of the course requirements
• Take at least 50 percent of your chosen program courses as Continuing Education (CNED) offerings through The Chang School

Do I need a minimum GPA to graduate?

Yes. A CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 1.67 or higher is required to graduate from a certificate program. Visit Grade Point Averages for information about GPAs at The Chang School.