OCAS stands for ‘Ontario College Application Service’ and it is the centralised platform for applying to schools and government agencies in the province. The OCAS programs and services are available in English and French to make it accommodating to more applicants looking for reliable and up-to-date information to apply to high school, college, or the government. Many high school students who are about to finish their secondary school and obtain their OSSD rely on OCAS Canada, but the platform is also useful to individuals looking to enrol in graduate certificate programs!
Once you get your OCAS login credentials, you will be able to have access to a range of programs and use the application centre to sign up for your preferred program. There are many different programs to choose from and you can explore them by category, such as Arts and Culture, Business, Finance, and Administration, Computers and Telecommunications, Agriculture, Engineering and Technology, Media, Transportation and Logistics, and Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources. At the OCAS website, you can also find a list of schools offering those programs.
Take note that admission requirements will vary from one college to another. There are program-specific requirements, too. So, it makes sense to do further research on OCAS programs to find out what you should do to improve your chances of getting admitted.
That said most programs and schools require students to have an OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma) or equivalent. Graduate certificate programs will be looking for a prior university, or college certificate, or a degree or diploma for admission.
Mature students may also look into OCAS for programs that can fulfill their objectives for further study. Besides requiring an OCAS login, they need to go through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition to have their knowledge and skills evaluated. The results of their assessment can be treated as academic credit, whether they are upgrading, pursuing education, or retraining in any Ontario college after having workforce experience.