The duration of a gerontology course can vary greatly, depending on the type of course and the chosen training provider. To date, there is no federally regulated training course for gerontology, so it is up to the schools themselves to determine the content, duration and structure. The duration varies between a few months and three years. Here is a brief overview of the different types of courses:

• Certificate course: between one and three years part-time
• CAS: usually about one semester part-time
• DAS: usually about three semesters part-time
• MAS: usually about four semesters part-time
• Bachelor: six - eight semesters full-time
• Master: four semesters full-time

Anyone wishing to attend a CAS, DAS or MAS course in gerontology is interested in a course in the tertiary continuing education sector. This means that the requirements for students are different from those for other qualifications, such as a Bachelor's or Master's degree. For a Certificate, Diploma or Master of Advanced Studies, professional experience is essential. In most cases, at least two years of practical experience in a field related to the degree program is expected. It is not uncommon for CAS, DAS and MAS to also require a university degree or comparable qualification.