Frequently Asked Questions about the ICS Canada High School Program:
What is this program good for?
- The ICS Canada High School program is designed to allow the graduate to qualify for jobs requiring a high school-leaving or equivalent. Very often, employment ads state that the candidate must have a high school-leaving certificate or equivalent. It is this “equivalent” that the ICS Canada program attempts to satisfy as it is accepted by a great many employers due to the rigor of its content.
What will I get when I finish the program?
- You will be awarded a diploma from ICS Canada which attests to your competency in a comprehensive curriculum that continues to impress employers and college admissions personnel alike.
- If your overall lesson-average is 92% or better once all grades are final, you will receive a Diploma with Highest Honours.
Does this mean that I can go on to college after I get my diploma?
- The purpose of the program is to prepare the graduate for the workforce; as such, it is not designed as a prerequisite for post-secondary education. This being said, many of our graduates have gone on to college or university studies –mainly in Arts or Commerce programs—as a result of having successfully completed their ICS studies. This, however, is on a case-by-case basis; anyone wishing to use the program as a means to enter into post-secondary studies should gain permission from the institution to which they would wish to apply before enrolling in the ICS Canada program.
What if I wanted to go into nursing or a PSW program?
- Most health care programs require that the candidate have a high school-leaving certificate issued by his/her Provincial Ministry of Education and that the individual is a graduate of the “advanced” stream –having completed a higher level of math, biology, and chemistry than would be taught in the “general” stream.
What’s the difference between your program and a GED?
- The General Equivalency Diploma (GED) is a certificate issued by the Provincial Ministry of Education once the candidate has successfully completed a series of exams issued by the Ministry. The usual syllabus consists of exams in English grammar, basic mathematics, Canadian history, and general science. If the candidate successfully completes the exams, he/she is awarded the GED by the Ministry. The GED can be useful as a means to enter college but it is not accepted by all colleges or by all college programs. Many health science programs will not accept the GED.
- The ICS Canada diploma is not awarded by the Ministry of Education as we are a private school; however, our program is more comprehensive than the GED as it contains structured lessons in many subjects not covered in the GED preparatory packages. As such, for anyone wanting a full, rounded knowledge of high school subjects, the ICS Canada program is superior to the GED.
- Many of our students have been out of school for many years and –justifiably—experienced nervousness at the thought of writing GED exams. After successfully completing the ICS Canada program, they had the confidence and knowledge to sit the GED and successfully complete it with high marks.
So, if I’m in your program, there’s no way that I can go on to college?
- The school does not recommend that students enroll into the program for the purpose of using it as a prerequisite for college; however, many of our graduates have been accepted by colleges on the strength of the ICS Canada diploma alone. Other graduates have applied under the colleges’ “Mature Student” policies and –after having successfully completed challenge exams—have been admitted into college programs. This, however, is on a case-by-case basis.
What if I wanted to be an auto-mechanic?
- Students wishing to enter regulated trades such as plumber, electrician, carpenter/joiner, mechanic, and hairdresser will require a Provincial High School-Leaving Certificate. As the trades are regulated by the Provincial governments, anyone applying for apprenticeship positions will be expected to have a high school diploma issued by their province’s Ministry of Education.
Can I use ICS courses to make up the missing credits from my Provincial program?
- It is highly unlikely that a provincial Ministry of Education will accept ICS High School subjects as substitutes for its own curriculum. Each province in Canada sets its own curriculum in each subject; therefore, “credit” can only be obtained if the subject in question meets the exact curriculum requirement for the provincial program and is approved by the Ministry of Education.
Does ICS give me any credit from subjects I’ve already taken through my former program?
- Yes. ICS Canada maintains a policy of reviewing academic work done through other training institutions for possible credit (academic/tuition) toward an ICS Canada program of studies. The following conditions apply:
- The competency must be demonstrated through a grade achieved through a training institution
- The grade obtained must meet the ICS passing-standard of 70%
- The exemption can only be realized if the course in question comprises the learning objectives of the entire module--the school only exempts on a module basis, not by individual lesson.
A prospective student wishing to have his/her former course-work evaluated for possible exemptions is encouraged to send copies of his/her official transcripts to:
The Advanced Standing Committee
ICS Canada
610-245 Victoria Avenue
Westmount, QC H3Z 2M6
If exemptions are awarded, it will result in a reduction in course-load and tuition to a maximum of 75% of the ICS program.
I’ve always been lousy in math and I’m a little scared to do the program.
- Most students are surprised at how well they do in mathematics as ICS Canada students! This is a tribute to our lesson-materials which draw on our over 100 year-history preparing educational materials for self-study. In addition, students tend to approach their ICS studies with a more determined mind-set than they had in their former high school days which greatly improves the learning process.
Are there electives? Can I substitute other subjects for those on the ICS Canada program outline?
- No. There are no electives and no substitutions. The school designed the High School curriculum based upon what most employers stressed as the vital subjects required in a secondary school program. As such, the ICS Canada program is intensive in both mathematical and written communications skills –important for success in the workforce.
