Advanced Education and Training

Manitoba’s registered private vocational institutions are governed by The Private Vocational Institutions Act and Manitoba Regulation 142/2023. This provides consumer protection and ensures the training provided gives students the skills and knowledge relevant to their chosen field of employment.

The Private Vocational Institutions Act is available online for viewing or printing.

Private vocational training providers in Manitoba are required to register with the Private Vocational Institutions Branch if they offer at least one vocational program with both:

• at least 40 hours of instruction and training are provided
• the total amount of fees charged to a student for the program exceeds $3,000

Some schools are exempt from registration under The Private Vocational Institutions Act.  It is the school’s responsibility to confirm with the Private Vocational Institutions Branch whether their program requires registration or is exempt.

Schools must submit a pre-screening form to the Private Vocational Institutions Branch in order to review the proposed program:

Pre-Screening Form

Until an institution has been registered (or exempted), it is a violation of the act to deliver or advertise the delivery of vocational programs. An institution cannot enrol or collect tuition from students, until the registration and program approval process is complete or an exemption letter has been received.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the act may be used as grounds to refuse either:

• an application for registration
• an application for re-registration of an institution
• approval of a program

The Private Vocational Institutions Branch will review the pre-screening information and provide your school with instructions for the next steps in the process, including applicable forms:

• An Application to Register a Private Vocational Institution, along with the required supporting documents, is used to assess your ability to be a responsible operator.
•  An Application for Program Review, along with the required supporting documents, is used to assess the quality and labour market demand for the program you are proposing to deliver. You are required to register at least one program before you can be registered as a private vocational institution.

All application forms must be completed electronically and submitted to Private Vocational Institutions Branch via email, along with the required supporting documentation. Registration fees can be mailed or dropped off.

Once all documents are received, the process of reviewing the program begins. This can take from three to six months. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. You can avoid delays by ensuring your application is complete before submitting it.

Registration and assessment fees are collected under The Private Vocational Institutions Act and Regulation, M.R. 142/2023 as follows:

Registration fees:

• $300 – institution plus one program of instruction
• $300 – each new program of instruction

You can submit your fees as a bank draft, cheque or money order, made payable to the Minister of Finance.

• You must submit Training Completion Fund reports, listing all students enrolled in each program. You must also remit 0.5 percent of the total tuition.
• You must complete forms as required for changes to current program costs and content, changes to shareholders, and offering of new programs.
• You must renew registration at the time specified by the Director, complete with the renewal fee.
• Annual site inspections are compulsory.

Sexual Violence Policy

PLEASE NOTE: The Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Act came into force on April 27, 2017. The act requires that all private vocational institutions develop and implement policies that prevent and respond to sexual violence. Anyone applying to register a new private vocational institution must include a copy of their policy with their application for registration.

Manitoba Post-Secondary Sexual Violence Policy Guide

The Manitoba government has developed a guide to assist post-secondary institutions in developing their sexual violence policies, as required under The Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Act. This guide outlines all of the requirements under the act, as well as best practices regarding awareness, prevention and responding to sexual violence on campus.

Every four years, the institution must undertake a comprehensive review of the policy that includes consultations with students.

If a student has a complaint about a private vocational institution, it is their responsibility to attempt to resolve any conflict by contacting the institution’s administration. The student has a limitation period of one year from the date of the alleged offence to submit a formal written and signed complaint to the Private Vocational Institutions Branch describing their concerns.

The Private Vocational Institutions Branch does not function in an advocacy role on behalf of either the student or the institution. Instead, it assumes the role of facilitator between the parties to ensure compliance with the Act and the Regulations. All complaints are confidential and information regarding the complaint, investigation and resolution are provided only to the parties involved.

The Private Vocational Institutions Branch will:

• determine whether the complaint is valid
• confirm that the date of the alleged incident falls within the one-year limitation
• determine whether the complainant has met with the administrator of the private vocational institution

If there appears to be grounds for a formal complaint, the Private Vocational Institutions Branch will:

• request that the complainant place any concerns in writing to the institution, with a copy to the Private Vocational Institutions Branch
• if necessary, schedule an appointment for an interview with the Registration and Performance Advisor from the Private Vocational Institutions Branch
• request documentation (example, a copy of the enrolment contract and written permission from the complainant to access information pertaining to his/her student record on file with the institution)
• work with the complainant and the institution to resolve the conflict, where possible

While an investigation may result in some action being taken against an institution, the Private Vocational Institutions Branch has limited authority to pursue a full tuition refund on behalf of a complainant.

Please note that anonymous, frivolous and unfounded complaints are not pursued.