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Dual Credit for high school students

Dual Credit programs and courses let you earn high school and college credits at the same time! 

Academic Dual Credit

At College of the Rockies (COTR), academic dual credit courses are available through any of the five umbrellas outlined by the Ministry of Education; Business, Humanities and Arts, Science and Health, Technology and Engineering, and Trades Training. The College of the Rockies' dual credit page outlines possible pathways and courses for students to explore. When you successfully complete a COTR course, you will receive 4 high school credits and 3 post-secondary credits.

Why take Dual Credit?

You can save time and money by taking Dual Credit programs and courses offered through Youth Train in Trades (YTIT), Academic Dual Credit, or Early Childhood Education (ECE).  You will be a college student while you're still working on completing high school.

YTIT opportunities are available in many trades apprenticeship courses and trades foundation courses including, but not limited to, Automotive Service Technician, Carpentry, Electrical, Hairstylist, Heavy Duty Mechanics, Professional Cook Training, Industrial Mechanics (Millwright) and Welding.

Each school district offers different choices.  Some classes are held in a high school, others at COTR and sometimes both locations are used. You can choose to take one individual course offered in the evening after school, or a full-time program that runs in parallel to your school timetable. There are also online courses available.

How do Students Benefit?

YTIT introduces high school students to selected trades training programs in British Columbia.

• Students enrolled in an YTIT program receive their post-secondary trades technical training.
• Depending on their program choice, YTIT students can earn up to 32 post-secondary institute credits towards high school graduation.  Upon successful completion of the YTIT program, students receive level I (and sometimes II) technical training credit from Skilled Trades BC (STBC) along with high school credits towards their graduation

ECE introduces high school students to the Early Childhood Education certificate program. 

• Providing the knowledge and skills needed to provide high quality child care and education in a variety of settings for children from 30 months to age 12.
• Successful participants of the program will be eligible to apply for licensure to work as ECE (Early Childhood Education) Assistants.
• With flexible online delivery, once working, students can build onto the 13 credits in the Child, Youth, and Family studies academic stream to pursue full certification in Early Childhood Education, Education Assistant or Human Service Work. 
• With the ECE Dual Credit you will gain 16 high school credits toward graduation, an educational qualification for work in an entry level position as an Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA), 13 post-secondary credits, Early Childhood Education (ECE), and 7 of these post-secondary credits are applicable in any one of the CYFS certificate programs.
• ECE Dual Credit Program Overview
• Early Childhood Education Dual Credit Semester - Winter 2026 - College of the Rockies

Costs

The cost of your COTR tuition may be covered by the school district. You need to have the dual credit courses in your school plan before Grade 12. You will be responsible for the application fee, textbooks, and any personal safety gear or other supplies that may be required.

*There are textbooks available for The Child, Youth and Family Studies Dual Credit/ECE.

Plan ahead

You need to have the dual credit courses in your school plan before Grade 12. Schools must have the dual credit courses in MyEd in September for funding purposes. Reserved YTIT seats fill up quickly, and admission into programs usually includes an interview process as well, so don't leave this to the last minute. A great time to start asking questions is while you're in grade 10 or 11, so you can be ready to take advantage of these Dual Credit opportunities when you're in grade 12. It might even be possible to get started while you're in grade 10 or 11, so talk to your high school counsellor!

Certification

Students that successfully complete an YTIT program typically get credit for their level one technical training (in-class) component of their trades training program.  Each training level is composed of technical training (in school) and work-based training (hours on the job).  For a list of trades training requirements see the Skilled Trades BC Website.

Students that successfully complete the ECE Dual Credit program will complete the program with an Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA) certificate. 

If you have any questions about a YTIT, Academic Dual Credit, or ECE program, please contact,

Laura-Lee Phillips (she/her)
District Principal of Early Learning and Child Care 
School District No. 5, 940 Industrial Rd. No. 1, Cranbrook, BC V1C 4C6
Office: 250-417-2053
Email: laura-lee.phillips@sd5.bc.ca 

Tristan Taylor
Regional Transitions Coordinator
College of the Rockies, 2700 College Way, Cranbrook, BC V1C 5L7
Office: 250-489-2751 x3380      Cell: 250-581-2382
Email: ttaylor@cotr.bc.ca

To apply please contact your high school counsellor.