Bill 96, or Law 14, was adopted by Québec’s National Assembly in May 2022. The new law brings significant amendments to the Charter of the French Language, commonly known as Bill 101.
As of June 1, 2023, certain aspects of the new law will affect students who register in AEC programs in Cégeps.

Law 14 puts students in Higher Education, including in AEC programs, into two categories:

• Certificate of Eligibility Holders;

• Non-Certificate of Eligibility Holders.

Law 14 introduces a French language requirement to the certification requirements for Non-Certificate of Eligibility holders.

It is important to note that ALL STUDENTS who are qualified to study at a college in Québec can be admitted to an English-language college, regardless of their high school of origin or their eligibility to receive instruction in English in an elementary or secondary school in Québec.

The term certificate holders designates those students who hold, or have held at any time in the past, a Certificate of Eligibility for English Instruction in Quebec as per the Charter of the French Language.
Information on who can be deemed eligible can be found on the government’s website

If you meet the Québec government’s eligibility criteria you would already have received documentation when you were attending primary or secondary school. Regardless of if you have the document or not, you can inform the Cégep.

The term non-certificate holders designates those students who do not hold, and have never held, a Certificate of Eligibility for English Instruction in Quebec as per the Charter of the French Language.

The term English-language institution refers to institutions of higher learning given this designation as per the Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec.

Cégeps have access to review an applicant’s status and to determine if they hold a certificate of eligibility. Applicants are not required to submit their Certificate of Eligibility with their application.

Applicants who hold the Certificate of Eligibility have no added certification requirement beyond those of the AEC program.
You are not required to prove your level of French proficiency.

Under Law 14 Section 88.0.18, successfully admitted students who are Non-Certificate of Eligibility holders must prove that they have a level of French language proficiency before obtaining their AEC program certification.

The Québec government has declared that Non-Certificate of Eligibility Holders must prove that they have attained a level of French oral and written comprehension consistent with the “Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes” as follows:

• Level 7 in oral French: expression and comprehension
• Level 4 in written French: expression and comprehension

Non-certificate of Eligibility students will be required to prove their attainment of the required levels of spoken and written French through the successful completion of a DELF, TEFAQ, TEF or TEF Canada test.

Information about the Dawson College TEF testing center can be viewed here.

Further details about the test to be completed will be shared once the government releases further information. Applicants will be kept informed.

Students who are Non-Certificate of Eligibility Holders can be exempted from proving their level of French if they have any of the following situations:

1. Completed a secondary school diploma (DES) in French in Québec;
2. Completed a secondary school diploma (DES) in English and passed the Secondary 5 French as a second language course;
3. Completed a Diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) program in French in Québec;
4. Completed at least three years of secondary or post-secondary education in French in provinces/territories in Canada other than Québec;
5. Completed an Attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) program in French in Québec;
6. Completed a Diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC) or university-level diploma, in French, in Québec;
7. Completed a program abroad that is equivalent to a DEC in French;
8. Passed the OQLF examination leading to an attestation of knowledge of French appropriate for the practice of their profession;
9. Reside or have resided on an Indigenous or First Nations reservation, an establishment where the aboriginal community lives, or on Category I and Category 1-N within the meaning of “Loi sur le régime des terres dans les territoires de la Baie-James et du Nouveau-Québec (chapitre R-13.1)

For the most up to date list of exemptions, consult the Gazette officielle du Québec.

Complete this short placement test to get a sense of your level of French.

Note that you must still complete a test that is officially recognized by the government. However, the results of the placement test can help you decide how much additional training or how many additional courses might be needed to reach the required level of French language proficiency.

There are many ways to improve your French language skills so that you can prepare for the government-mandated test.

1. The Government of Québec offers Francisation (French courses) that are free for immigrants and residents living in Québec. Francisation courses are offered in various locales in the province of Québec, including Cégeps, school boards, adult education Centers and more.

2. Our institution, Dawson College, offers non-credit French courses through the Language Centre. The courses are designed according to French language standards and will help students prepare for the government-recognized French test.

Law 14 is applicable only for students starting in a new AEC program after June 1, 2023.

If you are an existing student transferring to a new AEC program after June 1, 2023, then Law 14 is applicable.

If you were required to submit a new application to re-join your program of study, Law 14 could be applicable to you. The college will inform you if this is the case.