Start your degree, trades training or earn your certificate while still in high school.
What is dual credit?
Dual credit is an opportunity for high school students to begin post-secondary programs and courses while they are still in high school. Most dual credit students are Grade 12 students that take a program or course in their second semester (February) of their Grade 12 year.
Why consider dual credit?
- College tuition fees may be covered by your school district.
- Receive credit for both high school and college. A student who completes either a high school or university level course receives a certain number of credits. If a student completes a 3-credit course at NIC, they will be granted a certain number of credits at their high school and 3-credits at NIC.
- Dual credit courses may align with your high school block schedule..
- Test drive college while getting support from your high school and NIC.
- Lighten your course load in your first year of post-secondary.
- Get a head start with trades training and begin your apprenticeship after you graduate.
- Complete an NIC certificate while in high school to start your career right after graduation.
- Courses are transferable to most universities - you will receive transfer credit for dual credit courses.
Dual credit pathways
Courses listed below are a sampling of our most popular courses.
Dual credit students can apply for any non-listed course if it works with their high school schedule, and they meet the prerequisites.
All dual credit students are encouraged to work with their high school career’s counsellor and/or coordinator to apply.
Careers
- Art curator
- Criminologist
- Editor
- Geologist
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Paralegal
- Political Analyst
- Psychologist
Careers
- Accountant
- Administrative Assistant
- Content Marketing Strategist
- Digital Marketing Manager
- Entrepreneur
- Financial Advisor
- Hospitality Management
- Non-Profit Manager
Careers
- Health Care Assistant
- Registered nurse
- Doctor
- Dental Hygienist
- Medical Lab technician
- Paramedic
- Pharmacist
Careers
- Child and youth care worker
- Educational assistant
- Early Childhood Educator
- Elementary school teacher
- Counsellor
- Social Worker
Careers
- Computer Forensic Investigator
- Computer Programmer/Developer
- Computer Systems Technician
- Cyber Threat Analyst
- Engineer
- Mobile App Developer
- Software/Hardware Designer
- Video Game Designer
- Web Designer/Developer
Careers
- Active travel guide
- Tour operator
- Conservation officer
- Park ranger
- Community recreation programmer
- Event planner
- Restaurant manager
- Hotel or resort manager
Take a full program – full time only
Career pathways
- Chef
- Aircraft Structure Technician
- Aquaculture Technician
- Automotive Service Technician
- Mechanic
- Carpenter
- Construction Worker/Manager
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Pipe Fitter
- Welder
- Metal fabricator
- Forestry worker
Getting Started
- Students meet with their high school careers counsellor/coordinator in grade 10 or 11 to discuss their interest in dual credit for their grade 11 or grade 12 year.
- Careers counsellors/coordinators assist students to determine how dual credit courses will fit into their graduation transition plan, which prerequisites are required for the course/program, and the transferability of the courses.
- Careers counsellors/coordinators inform students which fees will be covered by school district sponsorship and which fees the student is responsible for paying.
- Students and their high school careers counsellor/coordinator complete the dual credit sponsorship form and freedom of information release forms:
- When forms are completed, follow instructions in the How to Apply section:
Applications are completed through educationplannerbc.ca. There are no application fees for dual credit students.
- Follow instructions in EducationPlannerBC to create an account and start the application for North Island College. View the step by step guide for assistance.
- Upload completed sponsorship and freedom of information release documents. Both must be complete and uploaded at the time of application.
- Transcripts must be submitted electronically via the BC Student Transcript Service: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/support/transcripts-and-certificates.
- If invited, admissions will send a welcome email to the student’s personal email address as well as the district/high school representative indicated on the sponsorship form. All subsequent communications will be sent to the student’s NIC email address.
Once an application is submitted, any required changes, questions or status updates should be communicated directly to NIC at admissions-cw@nic.bc.ca.
Current and Incoming Student Resources
Getting to NIC – There are a variety of ways to access NIC campuses, including by vehicle or transit. Bike shelters are available for cyclists. Find your campus below for further details about parking and transit.
As a dual credit student, you have access to all the services and supports available at NIC. To access services, students can self-refer, ask an instructor for assistance, email studentlife@nic.bc.ca, or reach out to their high school counsellor. A full list of services can be found here.
School/District Resources
Questions? Please contact dualcredit@nic.bc.ca.
