PGCert in Paralegal is a postgraduate certificate in Fire, Justice & Security programme offered by Georgian College in Barrie, Canada. The programme runs for 3 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 8,320 per semester (CAD 1,245 per semester for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Postgraduate Certificate
Field:Fire, Justice & Security
Duration: 3 semesters
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 1,245 / semester
International tuition: CAD 8,320 / semester
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
Ontario is currently the only province in Canada whose law society regulates paralegals in the province. Licensed paralegals provide legal services to the public within a particular scope of practice. In this program, you will acquire an understanding of general principles of law, theoretical knowledge and practical skills to prepare you to appear before various legal forums such as Small Claims Court, Provincial Offences Court, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and the Landlord and Tenant Board. Conflict management strategies, entrepreneurial preparedness and ethics and professional responsibility are emphasized. You graduate prepared to apply to write the Law Society of Ontario’s licensing exam to become a paralegal in Ontario.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: As an Ontario College Graduate Certificate, this programme requires a completed Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, degree, or equivalent. No minimum GPA is published; the program recommends at least two years of postsecondary education completed at a 'B' or 70 per cent average, but this is a recommendation, not a binding admission threshold. Applicants below that recommended average may still apply by submitting a 500-word letter of intent explaining their interest in the program together with a resume showing a minimum of three years of professional experience. College-diploma courses cannot be used for exemptions, and advanced standing is capped at a maximum of 40 per cent of the paralegal program's courses, granted only for prior paralegal education from a Law Society of Ontario-accredited program. An unpaid field placement of about six weeks follows the third semester, arranged by the college under Law Society of Ontario-licensed supervision. The programme page states no programme-specific language-test score; Georgian's institution-wide English Language Proficiency Requirement for graduate certificate programmes applies instead — a minimum overall IELTS Academic score of 6.5, TOEFL iBT 89 (with at least 22 in writing and 22 in speaking), or Duolingo English Test 130, from Georgian's international admissions page.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca: 1 February 2027 is the equal-consideration date for Georgian's highly competitive programs, which now covers Fall 2027, Winter 2028 and Summer 2028 entry, and later applications are assessed first-come, first-served while seats last; offers of admission for this 2026-2027 cycle must be accepted by 1 May 2027. Programs outside the highly competitive list carry no equal-consideration date and are assessed on a rolling basis year-round. International applicants apply directly through Georgian's own portal with no published closing date and are assessed on a rolling basis while seats remain, though Georgian warns a program open when applied to may close before assessment. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
