To be admitted to a program leading to an attestation of college studies (AEC) the candidate must have a level of education deemed sufficient by the college and that meets one of the following conditions:

• the candidate interrupted his studies for at least two consecutive semesters or one school year;
• the candidate is covered by an agreement concluded between the college and an employer or by a government program;
• the candidate has completed at least one year of post-secondary studies spread out over a period of one or more years.

To be admitted to an AEC designated by the ministry, the applicant must also have a high school or high school vocational studies diploma and meet one of the following conditions:

• the program will help the applicant to acquire technical training in an area for which there is no existing program leading to a diploma of college studies;
• the program is covered by a concluded training agreement between the ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport and a Quebec governmental ministry or organization.

As well, to be admitted to an AEC designated by the ministry, the applicant must have a high school vocational diploma and the program to which the applicant is applying will help him acquire a defined technical training by extending the vocational training offered in high school.

Furthermore, to be admitted, one must, if required, meet specific program conditions or courses selected, that is, to have passed high school pre-required courses and or all other prerequisite or required admission conditions; failing this, a candidate could be required to take one or a few remedial courses. Finally, specific conditions of the college must be met.

Article 4 of the RREC (L.R.Q., c. C-29, a. 18)