The ITA Board approved a policy for designating training providers to deliver specific ITA programs in 2005. After designing and piloting the ITA Designation process in 2006, since then ITA has been assessing and recognizing training providers who meet the rigour of an ITA Designation review. ITA Designation applies to the delivery of specific programs by training institutions. For private training institutions, the designation review process is designed to inform and compliment the Private Career Training Institutions Agency's (PCTIA) registration and accreditation processes.
The designation process reflects the ITA's mandate to support the development and delivery of quality industry training programs in BC. It gives assurance to students and industry that high standards are met with regard to training facilities, instructor qualifications, curriculum, assessment processes, and general operations. When a training institution is designated by the ITA to deliver an ITA program, this means that the institution has met basic quality standards that apply to all institutions as well as quality standards specific to the program the institution is delivering.
Application Process:
ITA administers the designation process for all training providers.
In order to streamline the process for most private training providers, ITA shares the outcomes from the designation review process with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA). Private training providers operating in BC must be in compliance with all PCTIA regulations in order to apply for ITA Designation.
The ITA Designation of training provider programs is one of the tools that ITA is using to align training outcomes in programs delivered around the province with validated industry standards and labour market needs. For more information regarding ITA Designation, please refer to the list of Designation Questions and Answers below or contact ITA at designation@itabc.ca for more information about ITA designation.
Familiarize yourself with the ITA Designation guidelines before determining if you are ready to begin the process to have a program reviewed for designation. After reviewing the guidelines, you can begin the process by completing and submitting the Designated Trainer Application Form.
Designation Question and Answers:
Why has ITA introduced a designation process for training providers?
Traditionally, apprenticeship training standards were enforced through a framework with public post-secondary education institutions and through contracts with a small number of non-public training providers. Part of ITA's mandate is to expand training in existing and new trades and promote a broader system of industry-driven training. As new training programs are being developed by industry and approved by ITA, the interest among private training institutions in delivering new and existing programs has increased substantially. ITA wants to ensure that there is a transparent process in place to approve or "designate" training providers' delivery of industry training programs.
Return to Top
Where can I find out more information about ITA and the ITA designation process?
A guidelines document outlining the process to achieve Designation and an application form to start the process to pursue designation are available above. You can also email designation@itabc.ca for more information about ITA designation.
Return to Top
How is the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA) involved in this process?
PCTIA participated in the development of the ITA designation process but the designation process is administered solely by the ITA. When private trainers are applying for ITA Designation, they must be in compliance with PCTIA regulations and ITA will communicate with PCTIA to ensure that trainers maintain compliance.
Return to Top
Which training institutions must go through the ITA training provider designation process?
All non-public training institutions offering trades programs that fall under the authority of ITA must go through the ITA training provider designation process. This includes institutions accredited and registered by the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA), those trainers exempt from PCTIA legislation, and trainers who have previously delivered industry training programs under contract to ITA. Public post-secondary institutions and public high schools may also pursue ITA designation through the same process.
Return to Top
What are the fees and costs associated with Designation?
ITA has established the Designation review process as a cost recovery service. Training providers are expected to pay the direct costs associated with the process in three stages. The initial non-refundable application fee is $350. which must be submitted with the application. After receiving the application, ITA staff will determine whether a curriculum review, site visit and program audit are required. In most cases, all three of these stages of designation will be required. If an institution is using ITA developed or recognized curriculum, a curriculum review may not be necessary. After receiving the application, ITA staff will provide a quote to the institution outlining the anticipated costs through these stages of Designation review. In most cases the total cost will be in the range of $1500.-$2000. plus travel and minor expenses. Payment of this amount excluding travel and expenses is due before the Designation review proceeds. After the review is conducted, the training provider will be invoiced for the actual travel and expenses less any amount remaining from payments made against the quote of anticipated costs. Training providers will receive the results of the review after ITA receives payment of this final invoice.
Return to Top
As a private training provider, when must I be designated by ITA to continue offering trades programs or introduce new trades programs to my offerings?
Where designation is mandatory, ITA and the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA) have indicated that training providers must be designated to deliver programs they are offering before June 1, 2008. PCTIA reserves the right to withhold approval for any trades program that hasn't met ITA designation standards.
Return to Top
When is ITA Designation of training providers mandatory?
ITA designation is mandatory for any non-public training provider intending to claim that their program is designated by the ITA, recognized or endorsed by the ITA, associated in any way with the ITA or the provincial apprenticeship system, or that the program will lead to credit toward an ITA Industry Training Program. Institutions designated by the ITA are required, as a condition of designation, to use the official name of the ITA Industry Training Program they are designated to deliver.
ITA designation is not mandatory for training providers delivering programs that do not claim (explicitly or implicitly) any association with the ITA, or that the program leads to credit toward an ITA Industry Training Program. ITA designation is also not required for training providers offering programs that are 'refresher' or 'exam-prep' type courses, as long as, in doing so, there is no claim that completing such a program will entitle or qualify an individual to challenge an ITA examination where the individual would not otherwise be entitled or qualified to write the examination.
Return to Top
How does designation work with respect to dual credit programs?
Training providers are expected to be designated for each of the programs in a dual credit delivery unless the ITA Program Profile for one program already documents that that level will give apprentices credit in more than one trade, which is the case in some programs.
Return to Top
What are the benefits of ITA designation?
ITA designation offers a number of benefits to industry training program providers:
- Student assessments and grades from designated training providers are recognized by ITA toward program recognition and credentials. Students of non-designated private providers must challenge ITA exams, which make up 100% of the final grade recognized by ITA.
- Designated training providers may promote the program(s) they are designated to deliver as "Designated by ITA" and meeting the rigour of ITA standards. Designated training providers are permitted to show their commitment to quality by displaying the ITA program designation logo.
- Industries, employers and students have greater quality assurance of industry training programs provided through trainers designated by ITA.
- Participating in the program review for designation offers a unique opportunity for training providers to confirm that their training programs meet the provincial standards set by industry and the expectations of employers.
Return to Top
How does an institution go about becoming designated by ITA to deliver industry training programs?
After reviewing the guidelines, you can begin the process by completing and submitting the Application form above.
Return to Top
Who has been consulted on the development of the ITA Trainers Designation process?
The ITA has consulted with a number of public and private training providers on this subject. ITA has worked closely with industry, PCTIA and the BC Career Colleges Association (BCCCA) in developing the process and has also consulted with training institutions which participated in a pilot implementation of the process.
Return to Top
What is the purpose of the ITA Designating Training Providers?
The ITA believes that training institutions play an important role in the delivery of industry training in BC. The ITA has introduced a process for the designation of training institutions for the following reasons:
- The ITA has received requests from both industry and training providers that there be standards in place and a process of designation and recognition for trainers who meet ITA standards.
- The Industry Training Authority Act gives the ITA the power to designate trainers, and the ITA has a duty to ensure that designated trainers meet high quality standards and achieve their designation through a transparent process.
- The ITA has in the past and intends to continue to competitively bid training contracts. ITA Designation will provide a means for institutions to demonstrate they meet ITA standards.
- The Designation Process is designed to ensure high standards are met with regard to facilities, instructor qualifications, curriculum, assessment processes, student support, and general operations.
Return to Top
What is the difference between “Designation” and “Provisional Designation”?
Training Providers whose programs have been Designated by ITA have successfully completed an external review of their program and demonstrated that the program meets high standards with regard to facilities, instructor qualifications, curriculum, assessment processes, student support, and general operations. Programs that have been granted Provisional Designation are in the process of completing this review.
Provisional Designation is given to training providers that have made arrangements for a summative evaluation of their program and have demonstrated the program curriculum and facilities meet industry standards. Provisional Designation may also be granted to training providers that have completed a program review in which minor deficiencies have been identified and are being addressed within a specific timeframe in order to achieve designation.
Return to Top |
