Post-Secondary School Students
If you desire a career in health care, consider the following options that are available to you in the post-secondary education system.
There are several pathways to prepare you for success:
- A certificate or diploma program through college
- A degree program through a university
- Both a degree and a diploma option through a joint college-university program
To be eligible for admission into these programs, students must have an OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma) and the requirements for admission must be met. Note: many health sciences programs have specific high school course prerequisites for admission. See below for individual university and college programs.
Colleges
There are 24 publicly funded colleges in Ontario. Many colleges have more than one campus location, which means students can take full- and part-time courses at more than 100 locations across the province. For more information about college programs and courses, consult the Ontario Colleges website and/or the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) website.
Health care is among employment sectors that are well served by the colleges. For example, there are numerous diploma and applied degree programs available. For information on education leading to careers in:
To apply to an Ontario college, please consult the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) website.
Universities
Ontario has 19 publicly funded universities and the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) that receive funding from the Ontario government. Universities offer undergraduate programs leading to a bachelor’s degree, graduate programs leading to master's and doctorate degrees, and programs leading to certificates or diplomas. For more information about university programs and courses, consult the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) website and/or the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) website.
Learn more about which universities offer programs that lead to careers in health care.
Other Post-Secondary Institution
The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences is the only publicly funded educational institution in Canada solely dedicated to a variety of allied health sciences. Michener's broad range of opportunities in health education includes entry-level and continuing professional education for a variety of health care professions. They offer 24 academic programs, including some that are unique both in Ontario and in Canada. Michener has 47 years of experience with integration of health-related theory and application using simulation. Michener has developed an interprofessional curriculum to facilitate greater collaboration and practice.