AQ/ABQ Courses

Register Here for Winter/Spring Online courses 

Registration remains open!

• RETURNING Nipissing student - Online Registration Instructions
• NEW AQ student - Online Registration Instructions

Course Schedules

Online

• Winter/Spring 2022​​​ - Registration extended
• Spring/Summer 2022 - Registration opens March 2, 2022
• Fall 2022 - Registration opens July 13, 2022

Onsite

• Winter 2022 (Timmins) - Cancelled

Course Descriptions

Click on the links below to view the courses we are accredited to offer in each group:

• Group 1 – Additional Basic Qualifications (Schedule A - OCT)*
• Group 3 - One-Session Qualifications (Schedule C - OCT)*
• Group 4 - Three-Session Qualifications​ - Part I, II, III (Specialist) (Schedule D - OCT)*

* Candidates who register in an Intermediate or Senior ABQ course must submit an official undergraduate transcript and meet the course prerequisite requirements in order to be reported to the Ontario College of Teachers. ​

Language Proficiency Tests​​ 

Testing Dates for our Spring/​Summer 2022 Online Session:

• March 1 - March 11, 2022 
  • (French - EDUC-0010 SS800, Spanish - EDUC-0011 SS800, German - EDUC-0012 SS800, Italian - EDUC-0013 SS800)
• March 14 - March 25, 2022 
  • (French - EDUC-0010 SS801, Spanish - EDUC-0011 SS801, German - EDUC-0012 SS801, Italian - EDUC-0013 SS801)
• April 4 - May 6, 2022 
  • (French - EDUC-0010 SS802, Spanish - EDUC-0011 SS802, German - EDUC-0012 SS802, Italian - EDUC-0013 SS802)

Please note that online registration will be accepted between the dates of February 15 - May 1, 2022.

Academic Withdrawal and Tuition Refunds

To withdraw from a course, students must either withdraw on-line via WebAdvisor OR submit a withdrawal letter to the attention of the Office of the Registrar prior to the deadline date (above). After the Office of the Registrar has processed this request, the student is officially withdrawn and may be eligible for a credit of a portion of tuition fees to their account. A mark of “W” (Withdrawn) or “F” (Failed) may appear on a student’s academic record, depending on the date that the withdrawal request has been received. All Course Withdrawals are subject to a non-refundable cancellation fee.

Note: Discontinuing attendance in classes, failure to login to an on-line course, failure to submit any assignments, notification to the instructor, or stopping payment on a cheque, do not constitute official withdrawal.

Course withdrawals after the course begins: $200 non-refundable cancellation fee

The withdrawal date is considered the date the student withdraws using WebAdvisor or the date the withdrawal letter is received in the Office of the Registrar. If a credit remains on a student's account after all fees are paid, a refund cheque will be issued. Refund cheques are generally processed 4 to 6 weeks after a student has withdrawn and are mailed to the permanent home address. Payments made online through WebAdvisor by credit card will be refunded to the credit card. Students will receive a tuition refund (less the applicable cancellation fee) up to the date specified in the table above. Students who withdraw after the specified dates will not be eligible for a tuition refund.

Language Proficiency Tests​​ 

French Language Proficiency Test

• Online registration begins February 16, 2021

Spanish Language Proficiency Test

• Online registration begins February 16, 2021 

German Language Proficiency Test

• Online registration begins February 16, 2021 

All students must register online using WebAdvisor at: webadvisor.nipissingu.ca

• RETURNING Nipissing Student - Online Registration Instructions 
• NEW AQ student - Online Registration Instructions

For registration in In-Service Education courses, applicants must:

1. register for the course on-line using Nipissing University Web Advisor;
2. provide a photocopy of their Ontario Certificate of Qualification, Interim Certificate or equivalent documentation;
3. Additional Basic Qualification courses (Intermediate or Senior) - provide an original official transcript confirming the completion of an approved undergraduate  degree from an accredited university and that the course subject prerequisites are met;
4. Part II courses - provide proof of completion of Part I. This proof must be either an Ontario Certificate of Qualification (or a photocopy), or a letter from the Ontario College of Teachers verifying their eligibility for the course. No other documentation is acceptable for this purpose. In addition, applicants registering in Part II courses must submit evidence of at least one year of successful teaching experience in Ontario certified by the appropriate supervisory officer, or of at least one year of successful teaching experience outside Ontario certified by the appropriate supervisory official (Statement of Experience form);
5. Part III courses - provide proof of completion of Part II. This proof must be either an Ontario Certificate of Qualification (or a photocopy), or a letter from the Ontario College of Teachers verifying their eligibility for the course. No other documentation is acceptable for this purpose. In addition, applicants registering in Part III (Specialist) courses must submit evidence of at least two years of successful teaching experience, including at least one year of experience in Ontario in the subject area of the course, certified by the appropriate supervisory officer and, if some of the experience was outside Ontario,  by the appropriate supervisory official (Statement of Experience form);

Please note: It is the student's responsibility to meet certification requirements as stipulated by the Ontario College of Teachers.

These policies and procedures are for Professional Development courses other than Master of Education courses.

Academic Withdrawals and Refunds

To withdraw from a course, students must either withdraw online using WebAdvisor OR submit a letter of withdrawal to the attention of the Office of the Registrar (see IMPORTANT DATES tab for deadlines and tuition refund eligibility). The withdrawal date is considered to be the date the student withdraws using WebAdvisor or the date the withdrawal letter is received by the Office of the Registrar. A mark of “WDR” (Withdrawn) or “F” (Failed) may appear on a student’s academic record, depending on the date that the withdrawal request has been received. All course withdrawals are subject to a non-refundable $200 cancellation fee.

The Withdrawal Date is considered to be the date the student withdraws using WebAdvisor or the date the withdrawal letter is received in the Office of the Registrar. If a credit remains on a student's account after all fees are paid, a refund cheque will be issued. Refund cheques are generally processed 4 to 6 weeks after a student has withdrawn and are mailed to the permanent home address. Students will receive a tuition refund (less the applicable cancellation fee) up to the date specified on the Important Dates tab. Students who withdraw after the specified dates will not be eligible for a tuition refund.

Note: Failure to submit payment for a course, discontinuing attendance in classes, failure to login to an on-line course, failure to submit any assignments, notification to the instructor, or stopping payment on a cheque, do not constitute official withdrawal.

Academic Dishonesty

The University takes a very serious view of such offenses against academic honesty as plagiarism, cheating, and impersonation. Penalties for dealing with such offenses will be strictly enforced. The full Nipissing University Policy on Academic Dishonesty can be found here.

Associate Teacher Tuition Credit

Teachers who have served as Associate Teachers for Nipissing University’s Bachelor of Education candidates during their practica, are given tuition credit vouchers in appreciation for their support. If a teacher wishes to use the tuition credit voucher toward an Additional Qualification course, they must submit the voucher with their paper registration form in order to have the credit applied. Vouchers are non-transferable.

Assignment Submission Process

Individual assignments are to be submitted as directed within the assignment or as directed by the instructor.

Attendance and Mandatory Class Discussion/Participation

In order to be reported to the Ontario College of Teachers, all AQ/ABQ courses require a time commitment of 125 hours. Throughout the course, full attendance and regular class participation is required. This pertains to distance courses as well. If an exceptional circumstance arises and you absolutely must miss an onsite session, you must contact your instructor and notify them of your absence, in advance. Make up work will be required.

Online Courses

The Ontario College of Teachers requires that all AQ/ABQ courses require 125 hours of work by the student. Your online time must reflect what your attendance would have been in a face-to-face format. That means that you should plan on spending 10 to 15 hours of work per week on this course. Course instructors will be tracking and monitoring your time online as well as the quality of communications and interactions.

While flexible, participation in asynchronous course discussion is mandatory and participation must be active and ongoing throughout the course. Candidates are expected to be online every two to three days (at a minimum) throughout the course. It is not acceptable to wait until the last day to post. You need to provide time for others to respond to your posts. In order to get the most of your learning experience, it is important to contribute ideas and knowledge and actively engage with the course content. Discussion postings will not simply be evaluated on the number of postings you make. Your posts must be substantive, well constructed, and demonstrate your comprehension of the course material. You must be prepared to support your opinions with evidence from your readings or experience.

Students who do not meet the attendance and discussion requirements will not be successful in the course and will not be reported to the Ontario College of Teachers.

Auditing

Auditing of Additional Qualification courses will not be permitted.

Course Hours

Six-credit courses (full courses) require a total of 125 hours of work.

Confirmation Of Registration

A letter of confirmation of registration will be sent to all email addresses on file, stating the course(s) into which you have been accepted and registered. The letter will also specify what additional documentation, if any, is required.

Course Cancellations

In the event that the University cancels a course, registered students will receive a full refund of their fees or may be placed in an alternate course if one was indicated at the time of registration. Refunds are processed in the Student Financial Services office.

Course Dates

Nipissing offers courses, throughout the year, in a variety of course formats. See Important Dates.

Course Extensions (Incompletes)

Please recognize that Additional Qualification courses involve a significant workload.

Extensions will generally not be granted except in truly extenuating circumstances. Course instructors are contracted to teach for a period of time specific to each course and will not be asked to instruct or mark past the closing date of the course.

University Policy on Incomplete Grades

In exceptional circumstances, a student may request consideration for an Incomplete grade (INC). Such requests must be submitted in writing, through the Instructor to the Dean, together with the reason and supporting documentation for the request.

Any student assigned an Incomplete grade must complete all course requirements within one month after the end of the course. If after that period the course is not completed or the Dean has not granted an extension, a grade of zero will be assigned to those components not completed.

In no way does this regulation supersede any deadlines for term work set by the instructor within the time span of the course.

Course Evaluations

Course evaluations are distributed to students in all courses. Although completion of the questionnaire is voluntary, students are asked to take the time to complete and submit this questionnaire. The data gathered from these evaluations is treated very seriously and allows the university to assess and improve courses and instruction. The questionnaires are anonymous and results are not shared with instructors until the final grades have been submitted. Evaluation results are processed and summarized one month following the completion date of the course so students should ensure that they are submitted within that timeframe. Comment sheets that are completed by students remain sealed and are viewed only by the instructor and are not viewed by administrative personnel. They are sent to the instructor once grades have been submitted.

Course Identification

Unless otherwise designated in the course description, a course whose fourth digit is 0 or 5 will have the value of six credits, and courses, whose fourth digit is a 1, 2, 6, or 7, will have the value of three credits.

Course Load

Course load is not restricted. Students who choose to take multiple courses simultaneously should make themselves aware of the workload that will be expected. Students will be expected to meet all course expectations and deadlines for each course.

Current Teacher Candidates from other Ontario institutions

As a teacher candidate from other Ontario institutions you are welcome to take an AQ or ABQ with us.

Current Teacher Candidates from institutions outside Ontario

Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate teacher candidates from outside of Ontario until an Ontario College of Teachers certificate has been issued.

If your situation is not addressed in the two paragraphs above, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@nipissingu.ca or 705.474.3450 ext. 4600. We can provide you with guidance based on your unique circumstances.

Teachers who are not, or do not intend to become certified with the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) are also welcome to contact us for information on eligibility.

Feedback

Feedback on all assignments must be provided within 14 days of the submission deadline.

In all online courses, feedback on all assignments will be posted to the student’s inbox within 14 days of the assignment deadline. Weekly feedback on discussion questions and participation will be posted to the learner's inbox within 7 days of the end of the online week.

Finance Service Charges

Any student who issues a cheque for payment to Nipissing University, and whose cheque is returned to the University for any reason, will be subject to a service charge of $45.

An interest charge at the rate of 1.5% will be assessed monthly (19.56% effective annual rate) on all student accounts with balances outstanding after the relevant due date for fees incurred. Interest will not be waived for late payments.

Grades

Student grades in each course will be based upon the coursework and class participation. The course instructor will inform students of the basis of assessments specifying the relative weight of assignments, class discussion and participation, etc. All assignments (including discussion participation) must be completed to receive a final grade. The instructor is required to return all written work submitted for evaluation purposes. A minimum grade of 60%, in the course, is required by the Ontario College of Teachers, to be reported to them for entry on student’s certificate of qualification. Upon course completion, with a minimum grade of 60%, students who are certified teachers, and members in good standing, will be reported to the Ontario College of Teachers for the appropriate additional qualification or additional basic qualification.

Instructors

Multiple sections and instructors may be established for courses based on anticipated enrolment and the established enrolment cap of 20 - 25 students for distance education courses and 36 - 40 students for on-site courses. Students are placed in courses in the order in which their registrations are received. Due to the volume of registrations received by the university, and the established enrolment caps, it is not possible for students to request a specific instructor.

Late Assignments

Students are expected to meet all assignment deadlines throughout the course. These commitments are just as important in online courses as they are in a face-to-face class. All assignments are mandatory and must be completed to be successful in this course.

If, due to exceptional circumstances, you find yourself unable to meet an assignment deadline, you are required to notify your instructor in advance. The course instructor will consider the reason provided and has the discretion to negotiate an assignment extension. A medical certificate may be requested. The instructor is not obligated to accept a late assignment if they were not notified in advance of the due date. Late penalties will be applied.

Assignments submitted after the due date may lose 5% of the maximum point value for each day late. Please be advised that if you wait until the last day of a module to post in the discussion board, full marks may not be granted because sufficient opportunity for other students to respond was not provided. Discussion posts are expected to be substantive and relevant. Specific information regarding discussion expectations is included within each course.

Learner Accountability (Online Courses)

Students are accountable for submitting all assignments on time, in the proper format, to the proper tool/location. The instructor may deduct points for improperly posted assignments.

No Extra Credit

There is no opportunity to earn "extra credit" in any Additional Qualification course. Course grades are based on completion of the required assignments and class participation only.

Release of Final Grades

Final marks are withheld from students who have an outstanding account at the University or Library, and such students will forfeit their right to appeal grades. In addition, reporting to the Ontario College of Teachers will be withheld for those students who are in financial arrears to the University, who have not submitted the required admission documentation, or who have not returned borrowed University course material. This could result in courses being ineligible for addition to a student’s OCT certificate.

Final grades will not be released by the university until after the official completion date for the course, even in situations where coursework has been completed prior to that date. Once approved by the Dean and verified by the Office of the Registrar, students can access their grades on WebAdvisor.

Reporting to The Ontario College of Teachers

Upon completing courses, with a minimum grade of 60%, students who are certified teachers, and members in good standing, will be reported to the Ontario College of Teachers for the appropriate Additional Qualification or Additional Basic Qualification. To be reported, students must have submitted all required documentation and must not be in financial arrears to the university. Students must provide an OCT registration number and a date of birth in order to have their course reported to the Ontario College of Teachers. The Ontario College of Teachers also recommends that students provide a SIN number.

Qualifications are reported in a batch upload to OCT usually within two to three weeks of the closing date of the course. Sufficient time is required for all grades for the session to be submitted by the instructors and to be verified by the Dean of Education. Qualifications will not be reported on an individual basis in advance of the batch upload nor will a qualification be reported until after the official closing date of the course. Students should inform the In-Service Education Office if the course does not appear on their Certificate of Qualification within three months of the official course completion date. Although rare, there are occasions when reports get missed. In those situations, it is possible to manually send the report to the Ontario College of Teachers.

Transcript Of Records

A transcript-processing fee is included in the course registration fee for AQ courses and one official transcript will be mailed to students once the report has been sent to the Ontario College of Teachers. Requests for additional official transcripts must be made through the Office of the Registrar. The fee for a transcript is $15, payable before the request is processed. Transcripts must be requested in writing or in person; telephone requests will not be accepted.

Waiting List Policy

Course enrolment limits are of two basic types:

• The first type is simply the capacity of the lecture room/classroom in which the class is scheduled to meet and can only be increased by relocating, if possible, to a larger room.
• The second type is one that has been approved by the Dean of Education for pedagogical reasons. Approval is required from the In-Service office in order to raise the limit.

Students who attempt to register for a course and discover that it has reached full enrolment may, if they desire, be placed on a waiting list that will be established by the Office of the Registrar. Students will be placed on the list on a first come – first served basis. If a space becomes available, the vacant position will be offered to students in the order in which they appear on the list. Students who are not on the waiting list will not be offered a position in the class.​​

Forms

AQ/ABQ Courses

• Statement of Experience Package - for Part II and Specialist AQ courses
• Conditional Admission Form (This form is used only for teachers who have recently completed the prerequisite course through another provider and qualification does not yet appear on their Certificate of Qualification through the Ontario College of Teachers.)
• Waiver Agreement (Non reporting to OCT agreement)​

Native Language Statement of Fluency

• Letter of Attestation (Native Languages, Part I)

Other Forms

• Academic Petition Forms
• Link to OCT Memorandum regarding successful teaching experience

Course Delivery Options

Course​ Access

For online courses, students will login to Blackboard using their WebAdvisor username and password. Course access instructions can be found online at Learning Integrations & Training: E-Learning. Access will normally be provided 1 to 2 business days prior to the course start date.

Online Courses

There are many advantages to completing courses in this environment: flexible hours in completing course work, interactive discussion boards, and chat rooms that allow you to communicate with educators across the province and beyond. Students develop a much broader awareness of issues and practices in education on a provincial, national, and global scale.

Blackboard Learn is an easy-to-use, interactive browser-based learning management system that enables candidates to communicate with professors and peers, as well as complete and submit work online, from any computer with an Internet connection.

Students do not require prior online course experience in order to successfully complete a Blackboard course successfully. For more information please visit Learning Integrations & Training: E-Learning

On-site and Blended (Partial Distance)

On-site courses are delivered by face-to-face classroom delivery.

On-site courses are usually held on Nipissing campuses or at easily accessible schools in areas across the province. On-site courses are subject to minimum enrolments and these may vary by location.

In some situations, courses may be offered through a blended format, which means a combination of on-site and on-line delivery.

On-site and blended courses are offered in regions throughout Ontario and may include areas such as: Brantford/Waterloo, York region, Simcoe County, Muskoka, North Bay, East and West Parry Sound, Ottawa, Renfrew County, Sudbury, Manitoulin Island, Sault Ste. Marie/Algoma, and Timmins.

Library Services

Information about available services provided by the Harris Learning Library may be accessed at: http://www.eclibrary.ca

Standards For Written Work

Depth of Scholarship

Assignments should represent the learner’s careful, thoughtful efforts to cover the key elements of the topic thoroughly.

Originality of Ideas and Research

All assignments must demonstrate a unique, creative approach to the problem being studied and represent the original work of the learner.

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

Assignments should display the learner’s understanding of the theories and concepts relevant to the topic. Learners should form their arguments by taking competing concepts and theories into account.

Use of Literature

Assignments should be grounded in appropriate, adequate, and timely academic literature.

Clarity and Logic of Presentation

Assignments should present ideas in a clear manner and with a strong organizational structure. Coverage of facts, arguments, and conclusions should be logically related and consistent.

Grammar and Adherence to APA Format

The rules governing the grammar and usage of standard Canadian English must be followed, and language should be clear, precise, and appropriate for the intended scholarly audience. When formatting and composing assignments, including citations and reference pages, learners must follow the guidelines described in the latest edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. In addition, learners are expected to use APA-formatted in-text citations and references to document the use of sources in their discussion posts.

Learners should refer to the APA manual as a guide for applying APA style appropriately and consistently.

Textbook Requirements

There are no AQ or ABQ courses that require a textbook.​​

General Inquiries about Courses and Offerings, Application, Registration and Admission Procedures

In-Service Education Office

Email: inservice@nipissingu.ca
Tel: (705) 474-3461 Ext. 4217
Toll Free: (800) 655-5154 Ext. 4

Account Balances, Charges and Fees

Finance Office

Email: finance@nipissingu.ca
Tel: 705-474-3461 Ext. 4419/4294/4370

Technical Assistance

Technology Services

Email: techsrv@nipissingu.ca
Tel: 705-474-3450 ext. 4342

You can access Blackboard directly by going to https://learn.nipissingu.ca

Spotlight on our AQ/ABQ Facilitators