Terms Used in Career Mapping

Terms Found on the Individual Occupation Profile Page

Note: Not all these terms are used on each occupation profile page. The terms used apply explicitly to the information needed to understand what is required to access a specific occupation.

Employer-Led Path: After post-secondary studies are complete, additional training is needed. This training is provided by the employer. Therefore, employer-led training and/or targeted work experience is needed to access this occupation.

Management Path: Leadership, management and/or supervisory skills & training are needed. These abilities are normally developed over several years.

Portfolio Path: A portfolio that showcases your skills, competencies and work experience is needed. A key feature is being able to demonstrate to employers how your post-secondary education transfers into workplace skills. Appropriate examples of workplace related skill development may include experiential learning, Co-op Education, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) assignments, part-time employment or internships.

Regulated Path: For public safety the law requires a licence, certificate, or registration with a regulatory body to work in or use the title of the occupation.

Suitable Skills Path: The ability to demonstrate suitable skills and/or work experience is needed. This may include relevant part- or full-time paid employment, student work placements, and/or self-directed learning.

Wayfinding Advice: This field is sometimes added to the Education-for-Employment and Employment Entry Need to Know sections. It is simply advice intended to help students find their way through the post-secondary system or transition from education to employment. It is used when there is a unique situation or set of circumstances that students should be aware of.

Terms used to illustrate where programs are in terms of access to specific occupations

Launch: The program meets minimum post-secondary education requirements for the occupation. Employers may have additional “entry requirements” for the occupation but the educational requirement is met.

Build: This section shows occupations that are within reach with more post-secondary education and/or work experience. Advice is provided to help plan for attaining additional education or work experience.

Hybrid: The post-secondary program is not an exact fit for this occupation, but will be seen as a competitive asset. However, personal interest and learning, experience and/or training outside of the credential may be required for this occupation.

Underemployed: Occupation does not require a post-secondary credential at this high of a level. This information may be helpful to learn early in the program planning stage.

MBA Pivot: Enables graduates with Non-Business Degrees to transition into an MBA Degree with appropriate grades and work experience.

Education Reset: A separate unrelated credential is needed to access a specific occupation. Prerequisite Courses plus Credential(s) Needed: This alerts students that some qualifying courses are

needed to be accepted into the desired credential(s).

Career Mapping Glossary of Terms

Associate Degree: a two-year program of study where all of the courses are fully transferable into the third year of a Bachelor’s Degree. This typically involves the completion of 20 courses.

Bachelor’s Degree: a four-year degree that is made up of at least 40 courses or 120 credits & includes either a Major or Honours program.

Certificate: a program made up of 10 academic courses. Normally made up of one year of studies. Diploma: a program made up of 20 academic courses. Normally made up of two years of studies.

Doctorate Degree: the highest level of education in most faculties. Typically, you must complete a Master’s Degree before acceptance into a doctorate program.
Honours: involves more specialization in a subject than offered in a Major program. Entry and continuation require high academic standing. The number of total credits needed is usually greater than a Major degree program.

Major: involves specialization in a single subject on top of breadth requirements for a degree. This typically involves appropriate first- and second-year prerequisite courses & at least 10 courses in a specific subject at the third- and fourth-year levels.

Master’s Degree: a graduate degree that you enter after a Bachelor’s Degree and normally before a Doctorate degree. The minimum admission requirement to this degree is typically a 3.0 (B) grade point average.

Prerequisite Course: a course you must complete to qualify for entry into a specific program.

Professional Studies: a program entered after having completed part or all of an undergraduate degree that allows you to train for a specific professional field such as Dentistry, Medicine, Community Planning or Law.

University Transfer: all courses in the program transfer to the next credential level.