Frequently Asked Questions

AEC offers seven career programs in cybersecurity, cloud computing, IT, office administration and healthcare office administration. All of them can be completed online from anywhere in Alberta.

Diploma hours include a 100-hour practicum.

It depends on the work you want to do:

• Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity Specialist Diploma (52 weeks), or the shorter Security Analyst certificate (24 weeks).
• Cloud computing: Cloud Engineering Diploma (44 weeks).
• Healthcare office work: Medical Office Assistant Diploma (44 weeks).
• IT support: PC Technician (18 weeks) or IT Professional (22 weeks).
• Office administration: Digital Office (18 weeks).

Not sure yet? Book a free information session and our Admissions team will help you compare programs.

Yes. Every AEC program can be completed online from anywhere in Alberta. You'll have optional live classes and one-on-one help from your instructors.

No. IT experience isn't an admission requirement, and our tech programs start with the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced topics.

Online students log in to our learning platform every day and complete at least 20 hours of training per week. This is set out in your enrolment contract and course outline.

Yes. Many AEC students keep working while they study. You can plan your 20 weekly training hours around work, family and other commitments.

Every program starts on the first Monday of each month, so you can begin any month of the year. Your program ends on the Friday of its final week.

For example, a Cybersecurity Specialist student starting Monday, October 5, 2026 finishes Friday, October 1, 2027.

1. Book a free information session with our Admissions team.
2. Complete your enrolment forms and admission assessment (if needed).
3. Meet with a Financial Advisor about tuition, Student Aid and payment options.
4. Sign your enrolment contract and get ready for your start date.

All applicants must be 18 or older. You can qualify with:

• an Alberta high school diploma or equivalent,
• the AEC admission assessment, or
• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5.

The same requirements apply to every program.

Yes. If you're 18 or older and don't have a high school diploma, you can apply as a mature student. Mature students complete the Wonderlic or AEC admission assessment.

Yes. We review your previous education as part of your application. Your credentials may need to be assessed by IQAS or WES.

You can meet the English requirement with any one of these:

• CLB level 5,
• a high school diploma taught in English,
• one year of post-secondary study in English, or
• IELTS Academic 6.0, with no band below 5.0.

Yes. You may be able to transfer up to 50% of your program through previous education, work experience or current industry certifications. There's a $100 assessment fee for each course reviewed.

Yes. Alberta Educational Centre is a licensed private career college in Alberta.

There's no registration fee. Diploma students also arrange their own practicum insurance, and the cost depends on the provider.

Yes. All AEC programs are approved for Alberta Student Aid. Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons can apply for government loans and grants. Alberta Student Aid decides who qualifies and how much they receive.

Yes. A Financial Advisor will walk you through the application, explain what documents you need and help you understand your funding options.

Yes. You can pay in four instalments, or in stages as you move through your program. If you need a different arrangement, you can ask a Financial Advisor about a custom plan.

Refunds follow Alberta's private career college rules:

• Within 4 business days of signing your contract: you get a full refund of tuition paid.
• After training starts: AEC keeps 25% of tuition if 10% or less of the program has been delivered, 60% if up to half has been delivered, and 100% after that. Anything you paid above that amount is refunded.
• Refunds are paid within 30 days.
• E-books can't be refunded once they're purchased.

To withdraw, give AEC written notice. Your enrolment contract has the full terms.

Yes. AEC pays for up to five industry certification exams, depending on your program. Admissions can tell you which exams your program includes.

Exam vouchers are usually valid for 12 months, so plan to book your exam within a year.

When you're ready. Some students write an exam right after finishing the related course, and others take extra time to prepare. Your instructors will help you get ready.

Yes. AEC is an authorized Certiport and Pearson VUE (CompTIA) test centre in Calgary, open to the public. Exams run Monday to Thursday, 10 am to 3 pm. Book through Certiport or Pearson VUE. Exam fees vary by exam.

Yes. Generative AI Foundations is a stand-alone course for $450. Contact us to register.

The three diplomas (Cybersecurity Specialist, Cloud Engineering and Medical Office Assistant) include a required 100-hour practicum. Certificate programs don't include one.

The practicum is unpaid and can be done full time or part time.

Near where you live. Our Practicum Coordinator works with you to find a placement that fits your location, schedule and program.

• Pass all your courses.
• Keep your attendance at 80% or higher.
• Have your fees paid.
• Submit your practicum paperwork.
• Arrange your own practicum accident and liability insurance. The cost depends on the provider.

Your Practicum Coordinator will keep working with you to find another suitable placement so you can finish your program.

Yes. Every AEC program includes a voucher you can use to buy a new laptop or upgrade your current one:

• $800: Cybersecurity Specialist, Cloud Engineering, Security Analyst
• $500: Medical Office Assistant
• $400: IT Professional, PC Technician, Digital Office

A laptop or tablet that can run Microsoft Office 365. A phone isn't enough.

Your courses, e-books and learning resources are all online. Depending on your program, you may also get access to software, virtual labs and certification practice materials.

Yes. Studying online doesn't mean studying alone. You'll have one-on-one instructor help and optional live classes throughout your program.

• Admissions and Student Aid guidance
• Academic support and student advising
• Practicum coordination (diploma programs)
• Career and job-search preparation

Usually, yes. The pass mark is 60%. Your instructor may offer a rewrite after reviewing the material with you. You get one rewrite per test, and up to two rewrites per program. External certification exams follow the certifying organization's own rules.

Career preparation includes resume writing, job-search strategies, mock interviews, communication skills and workplace expectations, alongside your technical training.

No. Alberta law doesn't allow career colleges to guarantee employment. We focus on job-ready skills, industry certifications, practical experience and career preparation to make you a stronger candidate.

These are the rates AEC reported for April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026:

The Cloud Engineering Diploma, Cybersecurity Specialist Diploma and Medical Office Assistant Diploma.

Whether you can study depends on your immigration status and current Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rules. AEC staff can't give immigration advice, so please check your eligibility with IRCC. Our International Admission Representative can answer questions about our programs.

No. AEC doesn't provide student housing.

An official Alberta Educational Centre diploma or certificate, depending on your program, plus an official academic transcript.