According to the General and Vocational Colleges Act, Cegeps are corporations whose main responsibility is to implement preuniversity and technical programs of study, leading to a diploma of college studies (DCS). These are programs which have been authorized by the Minister responsible for Higher Education. Colleges can also devise and implement, on certain conditions, technical study programs leading to an attestation of college studies (ACS).
There are 48 Cegeps, including Champlain Regional College, with three campuses, and the Cégep regional de Lanaudière with three constituent colleges.