EQA is a voluntary mechanism available to all eligible public and private post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. Those meeting quality assurance standards recognized by government for the purposes of EQA eligibility will be granted EQA Designation and permission to use the EQA brand and will be included in BCCIE’s international marketing and promotion of EQA institutions.

Designation is based on an institution having met or exceeded existing quality assurance standards, and being in good standing with both the Ministry and the applicable body.

An institution’s eligibility is based on:

• being a British Columbia post-secondary institution;
• having met quality assurance standards determined by the Ministry; and
• being in good standing with both the Ministry and those body(ies) responsible for managing the accepted quality assurance standards.

Appendix 1 of the Ministry’s EQA Policy and Procedures Manual should be referred to for detailed information on EQA eligibility requirements. Any questions relating to eligibility requirements not considered in Appendix 1 of the Policy and Procedures Manual should be referred to the Ministry for consideration and decision on EQA eligibility.

The EQA Administrator does not make any determination on an institution’s good standing. The EQA Administrator will check with the appropriate quality assurance body and the Ministry on an institution’s good standing.

For further information on requirements under the Degree Authorization Act or information about the Degree Quality Assessment Board and their quality assurance processes, please visit their website at: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/degree-authorization/board/welcome.htm

For further information on the Private Career Training Institutions Agency, please visit their website at: http://www.pctia.bc.ca/

For further information on requirements and legislation for public institutions please visit: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/institutions/welcome.htm