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Dual Credit Policy

Last updated on September 2, 2026

Date came into force or revised

August 2026

Status

New

Policy statement

Students in dual credit can earn Grade 12 elective credit and post-secondary credit by completing eligible post-secondary courses. Boards of Education and Independent School Authorities (Boards/Authorities) can receive funding from the Ministry of Education and Child Care (the Ministry) for facilitating these courses and supporting participating students.

Rationale or purpose of policy

Dual credit supports the intellectual, human and social, and career development of students. Whether exploring subjects or pursuing a particular pathway, students who participate in dual credit are better positioned to graduate from high school and transition to further post-secondary study.

This policy establishes the conditions under which students may receive Grade 12 elective credit for completed post-secondary courses and Boards/Authorities may access funding for delivering those courses.

Authority

School Act s.75 (6) and (7), s.82(3), s.82.2, s.82.4

Graduation Program Order s. 10

Policy in full

Course eligibility and recognition of credit

Boards/Authorities can award dual credit for courses that meet all the following:

  • appear on a post-secondary transcript
  • result in credit towards a post-secondary credential
  • involve a partner that is a post-secondary listed as a BC institution in the British Columbia Transfer System, or a SkilledTradesBC designated training provider, or Le Collège Éducacentre

Dual credit courses can be delivered on a post-secondary campus, in a high school, online, or elsewhere, such as in the local community, or in a combination of any of the above.

Dual credit courses can contribute to the number of elective and Grade 12 credits needed to graduate. Other graduation requirements cannot be fulfilled by dual credit courses.

In most cases, each post-secondary course should be awarded 4 high school-level credits.

Should a post-secondary program of study not include identifiable courses (such as with some trades training programs), 4 credits should be reported for approximately every 120 hours of learning. Consideration can be given to learning activities expected to occur outside of class.

For reporting and transcript purposes, schools must assign all credits earned at a post-secondary provider a letter grade and percentage.

Boards must not charge students for reviews of transcripts.

Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses are ineligible.

Funding requirements

Boards/Authorities can receive ministry operating grant funding for each eligible course taken by a student who meets all the following

  • is school-aged, as defined by the School Act
  • is in grades 10 to 12
  • starts the course before June 30 of Grade 12

For each eligible student, the Ministry will fund:

  • any number of dual credit courses that are required for a single post-secondary credential; and
  • up to three dual credit courses that are required for a different post-secondary credential(s)

Boards/Authorities are expected to include dual credit courses within the September data collection schedule. In circumstances where this was not possible, dual credit courses may be included in the February data collection schedule.

To receive funding for dual credit courses, Boards/Authorities must

  • maintain an agreement with the post-secondary partner
  • pay for students’ post-secondary tuition costs
  • provide dual credit students with post-secondary transition support

Boards/Authorities may choose whether to pay any associated fees and book or equipment costs. At the same time, Boards must observe their hardship policies, and Boards/Authorities are expected to implement and continuously improve stigma-free practices to better support students for whom costs would be a barrier to participation.

Procedures related to policy

Boards/Authorities are required to follow the procedures below for dual credit programs.

  • Establish, review, and renew agreements with eligible post-secondary partners
  • Document student and course eligibility
  • Keep a record of dual credit courses taken and confirm that funding requirements are met
  • Report dual credit courses for funding through the Student Data Collection schedule
  • Record courses using the dual credit course codes in the BC Graduation Program Handbook of Procedures
  • Keep record of payment for the post-secondary tuition costs of dual credit courses
  • Keep a record of communication with each dual credit student that may include support offered or provided as well as descriptive feedback
  • Assign the appropriate high school level credits to the post-secondary courses completed
  • Assign all dual credit courses a letter grade and percentage
  • Keep a copy of the student’s post-secondary transcript

The Ministry also recommends that Boards/Authorities follow the steps below when planning and delivering dual credit.

  • Feature dual credit in strategic planning and dedicate resources accordingly
  • Form partnerships with post-secondary providers, and others, such as neighbouring school districts
  • Consult with local First Nations and seek advice from Indigenous Education Councils to ensure that the needs, interests, and perspectives of Indigenous students are reflected in planning and delivery
  • Ensure Indigenous students have equitable access to dual credit options, and appropriate supports
  • Ensure students with disabilities or diverse abilities and those from varied cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and personal backgrounds—including students who have no immediate family members with post-secondary experience—have equitable access to dual credit options and appropriate supports
  • Provide prospective and enrolled dual credit students with post-secondary transition and career counselling, course options, and course transferability information
  • Coordinate with post-secondary partners to ensure that dual credit participants have the benefits and support of both the K–12 and post-secondary systems

Resources

The following resources provide additional details and are updated from time to time.