The Academic & Career Entrance (ACE) program provides an Ontario grade 12 equivalency diploma to access college programs, universities, and apprenticeships.
Can’t get into college because you don’t have your high school diploma? Is it hard to find a job because you need your Grade 12? Get your Grade 12 equivalency and open new doors!
Confederation College’s Academic & Career Entrance (ACE) program can help. This certificate gives you an Ontario Grade 12 equivalency diploma to apply for college and some universities (including Lakehead University), as well as apprenticeship programs.
Many employers also accept the ACE Certificate in place of a high school diploma, so you can apply for jobs that require a Grade 12. Courses include ACE Math, ACE Communications and a choice of two others from a list including biology, chemistry, physics and computers.
Upgrade your skills, gain a well-rounded education, find a better job, apply for college or become an apprentice; there are many pathways no matter what your dream may be.
Top Highlights
Learn in an adult atmosphere
Learn at your own pace – schedule school around your busy life
Courses are available all year during days, evenings, and online through Distance Education
FREE! – Costs are 100% funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities – Employment Ontario
Subsidies are also available for transportation, childcare & other barriers to education
Returning to school as an adult was intimidating, but Confederation College’s supportive staff and flexible learning options gave me the confidence to succeed and take the next step in my education.
I used to be a student who didn’t care about grades—this program changed everything. The support from the teachers was incredible and helped me turn my life around.
The Academic Upgrading program gave me the tools I needed for post-secondary success. The support from staff and instructors helped me stay focused and confident throughout my journey.
After 32 years out of school, the Academic Upgrading program helped me find my way back. With their guidance and support, I advanced quickly and went on to graduate with honours in Human Resources.
The following 2 intakes share the same admission requirements:
Any Time (ACE (FT))Any Time (ACE (PT))
Admission Requirements for Domestic Students
Admission Requirements
19 years of age or older (some exceptions may apply)
Resident of Ontario
Eligible to work in Ontario
Applicants are admitted to this program based on program eligibility requirements and assessment results.
Admission Requirements for International Students
This intake is not available for international students.
Student Accessibility and Essential Program Requirements
Confederation College is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive learning environment and will provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and College policy.
Students who require accommodations are encouraged to engage with Student Accessibility Services and are responsible for initiating and participating in the accommodation process. Accommodation is a collaborative process involving the student, Student Accessibility Services, faculty, and the Academic School. Requests for accommodation are considered on an individual basis, and the College will work with students to identify reasonable accommodations that provide equitable access to learning while maintaining the integrity of the program.
Students are expected to demonstrate the essential knowledge, skills, professional behaviours, learning outcomes, and competencies required to successfully complete their program. While the manner in which these requirements are demonstrated may be accommodated where appropriate, the essential requirements themselves must still be achieved.
For programs involving laboratories, field work, clinical placements, aviation environments, trades training, equipment operation, simulations, community placements, or other environments where health and safety are critical, accommodations must also be consistent with applicable legislation, professional standards, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and workplace safety obligations.
In some circumstances, a requested accommodation may not be reasonable or possible where it would:
Fundamentally alter an essential program requirement, competency, or learning outcome.
Compromise the health or safety of the student or others.
Conflict with provincial or federal legislation.
Conflict with the requirements of an external regulatory, licensing, accreditation, or professional body.
Prevent the student from demonstrating competencies required for safe and effective professional practice.
Note
Where a particular accommodation cannot be provided, the College will work collaboratively with the student to identify whether an alternative accommodation can appropriately address the student’s disability-related needs while maintaining essential program requirements.
Courses
Note
This page is MANUALLY maintained to be able to better show the groupings of course choices.
UM 602 ACE CORE MATHEMATICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: (AU) UM 401 CO-REQUISITES: none
This course is intended to review and develop mathematical and algebraic skills as a preparation for college level math courses. Topics covered include laws of exponents, manipulate polynomials and solve equations, interest calculations, business applications. Identify and describe properties of common distributions of data, and to construct and interpret statistical graphs.
UM 600 ACE BUSINESS MATHEMATICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 CO-REQUISITES: None
This course is intended to review and develop mathematical and algebraic operations related to finances, as a preparation for college level math courses. Topics covered include exponential expressions, equations, and functions; simple and compound interest; arithmetic and geometric sequences and series; and annuities. Students will use the technology including calculators and computer spreadsheets.
UM 601 ACE TECHNICAL MATHEMATICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 CO-REQUISITES: None
This course is intended to review and develop mathematical and algebraic skills as a preparation for college level math courses. Topics covered include a variety of computations; integers, exponents, proportions, square root, order of operations, basic and intermediate algebra and equations. Additionally, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the application of formulas for the perimeter, surface area and volume of various shapes, and are also expected to graph relationships using a variety of methods.
UE 601 ACE COMMUNICATIONS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: (AU) UE 401 or sufficient score on Communications Assessment CO-REQUISITES: None
This course is designed to prepare students for college level communications courses. Course will help students develop more advanced oral and written communication skills, reading comprehension skills, and computer skills; extract information from films, broadcasts and presentations; and perform well-defined, multi-step digital tasks.
This course is designed to prepare students for university level oral and written communications skills, reading comprehension skills, and computer skills. Students who achieve the learning outcomes will be able to read continuous text, extract information from films, broadcasts and presentations, interact with others, write continuous text, use digital technology, manage learning and engage with others. Completion of ACE Academic Communications provides credit exemption from CS007 Persuasive Writing.
UW 600 ACE SELF- MANAGEMENT/ SELF-DIRECTION
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: (AU) UE 401 or demonstration of ability on Communications Assessment CO-REQUISITES: None
This course provides learners with an opportunity to learn and use success strategies that can be applied in their personal, employment and academic life. The strategies will equip students with the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to become effective, confident and flexible learners and employees. This course will focus on areas such as self-reflection, critical thinking, goal setting, organizational skills, group dynamics and career/employment exploration and development. This course will expand on the oral skills developed in Speaking & Listening by including professional contact experiences with employers, program coordinators, or people working in their field of interest.
UW 601 ACE COMPUTERS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: Basic Computer Operation Skills, Basic Keyboarding Skills, Word Skills, Internet Skills
ACE Computers is an introductory computers course. No pre-existing knowledge of computers is required. The bulk of the course is focused on various Microsoft Office programs.
The units of study are:
Basic Computer Operations
Internet and Email
Word Processing
Spreadsheets
Digital Presentations
Completion of ACE Computers provides credit exemption from MC155 Microsoft Office Applications.
UC 600 ACE CHEMISTRY
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 and (AU) UE 401 or GRADE 12 Diploma CO-REQUISITES: None
This is an introductory chemistry course that provides the student with the basic vocabulary and concepts of chemistry. Topics covered include matter, the use of periodic table, bonding, nomenclature, mole calculations, concentration of solutions, acids and bases reactions, and organic chemistry.
UB 600 ACE BIOLOGY
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 and (AU) UE 401 or GRADE 12 Diploma CO-REQUISTES: None
This biology course provides learners with a strong knowledge of biology as it applies to health, social and environmental issues. Emphasis is given to analyzing problems, performing laboratory exercises and communicating scientific information effectively. The content of the course reflects the needs of many adult learners entering post-secondary college programs in health and environmental sciences. As such, it allows learners to complete 5 out of a possible 6 units of study.
Related laboratory activities, as they pertain to the above topics, may be virtual or real-time.
UP 600 ACE PHYSICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 and (AU) UE 401 or GRADE 12 Diploma CO-REQUISITES: None
ACE Physics is a rigorous introduction to physics which will enable the learner to develop a foundation in the fundamental concepts of physics. The learner will conceptually and quantitatively study and explore the topics of forces and motion; energy and simple machines; waves, sound, light, and optics; electricity and magnetism; and hydraulic and pneumatic systems. The emphasis will be on understanding the underlying physical concepts and principles, and applying them to the analysis and solution of quantitative problems related to a diversity of practical systems.
STAND ALONE SUBJECTS FOR NON-ACADEMIC UPGRADING PROGRAM STUDENTS
UW 600 ACE SELF-MANAGEMENT/ SELF-DIRECTION
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: (AU) UE 401 or demonstration of ability on Communications Assessment CO-REQUISITES: None
This course provides learners with an opportunity to learn and use success strategies that can be applied in their personal, employment and academic life. The strategies will equip students with the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to become effective, confident and flexible learners and employees. This course will focus on areas such as self-reflection, critical thinking, goal setting, organizational skills, group dynamics and career/employment exploration and development. This course will expand on the oral skills developed in Speaking & Listening by including professional contact experiences with employers, program coordinators, or people working in their field of interest.
UW 601 ACE COMPUTERS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: Basic Computer Operation Skills, Basic Keyboarding Skills, Word Skills, Internet Skills
ACE Computers is an introductory computers course. No pre-existing knowledge of computers is required. The bulk of the course is focused on various Microsoft Office programs.
The units of study are:
Basic Computer Operations
Internet and Email
Word Processing
Spreadsheets
Digital Presentations
Completion of ACE Computers provides credit exemption from MC155 Microsoft Office Applications.
UC 600 ACE CHEMISTRY
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 and (AU) UE 401 or GRADE 12 Diploma CO-REQUISITES: None
This is an introductory chemistry course that provides the student with the basic vocabulary and concepts of chemistry. Topics covered include matter, the use of periodic table, bonding, nomenclature, mole calculations, concentration of solutions, acids and bases reactions, and organic chemistry.
UB 600 ACE BIOLOGY
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 and (AU) UE 401 or GRADE 12 Diploma CO-REQUISTES: None
This biology course provides learners with a strong knowledge of biology as it applies to health, social and environmental issues. Emphasis is given to analyzing problems, performing laboratory exercises and communicating scientific information effectively. The content of the course reflects the needs of many adult learners entering post-secondary college programs in health and environmental sciences. As such, it allows learners to complete 5 out of a possible 6 units of study.
Related laboratory activities, as they pertain to the above topics, may be virtual or real-time
UP 600 ACE PHYSICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 and (AU) UE 401 or GRADE 12 Diploma CO-REQUISITES: None
ACE Physics is a rigorous introduction to physics which will enable the learner to develop a foundation in the fundamental concepts of physics. The learner will conceptually and quantitatively study and explore the topics of forces and motion; energy and simple machines; waves, sound, light, and optics; electricity and magnetism; and hydraulic and pneumatic systems. The emphasis will be on understanding the underlying physical concepts and principles, and applying them to the analysis and solution of quantitative problems related to a diversity of practical systems.
Upon completion of this program, you will be eligible to pursue employment opportunities, postsecondary education or apprenticeship training.
Pathways
Confederation College offers a variety of articulation agreements designed to help you advance your education and career. Whether you're coming to us from another institution or planning your next steps after completing your program, our pathways make your transition seamless and effective.
