Classification of Instructional Programs, 2011

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The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2011 is now available. This classification replaces CIP Canada 2000.

CIP is used to classify programs of study according to their field of study. The program being classified could be, for example, that of a current student or of a recent graduate. CIP is also used to describe the field of study in which a person obtained his or her highest certificate, diploma or degree.

CIP Canada is based on the Classification of Instructional Programs, which was originally developed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the United States. CIP Canada 2011 is the product of a joint-revision effort involving Statistics Canada and NCES. These two agencies conducted separate national consultations with users of CIP. Through these consultations, areas were identified where updates were required to clarify class boundaries, to update information or to incorporate new programs. The two countries reached an agreement on all revisions: on new classes, on the classification of new programs and on the restructuring of some series. All new and revised class descriptions were developed jointly, except those for classes appearing only in CIP Canada. This collaboration allowed the two national versions of CIP to be revised in a way that maintains the high degree of comparability between Canadian and U.S. educational data, and facilitates a common approach to future classification revisions.

In this revision, 271 new instructional programs have been added. These include Disability studies and Game and interactive media design, as well as some Canada-only classes such as Rehabilitation assistant, Combined laboratory and X-ray technology and Registered psychiatric nurse/nursing.

CIP Canada 2011 was used in the National Household Survey 2011 to classify the field of study of respondents' highest certificate, diploma or degree obtained. Data on this topic will be released in June 2013.

The Classification of Instructional Programs, Canada, 2011 (Catalogue number12-590-X, free), is available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

For more information, contact Debra Mair (613-951-2923, fax: 613-951-8578; standards-normes@statcan.gc.ca), Standards Division.