Certificate in Educational Assistant

at NorQuest College - Edmonton Campus Canada

The Early Learning and Child Care certificate program prepares graduates to provide quality child care in a wide variety of settings and to plan appropriate activities for the children in their care. Knowledge of child development, family dynamics, play, and program planning will equip you to support the healthy development of children through child-centred learning experiences.

Practicum/Work Experience

• This program includes two practicums totalling 400 hours.

To meet Alberta's growing needs in health care, the demand for licensed practical nurses is increasing. NorQuest College's Practical Nurse program, one of the largest in Canada, will prepare you to become a professional practical nurse educated to give high-quality care to clients in a variety of health-care settings.

What to expect from the program
Students are more likely to be successful in this program if they:

• are physically and emotionally able to manage workplace demands
• have access to a vehicle to travel to complete their clinical practice
• have access to a computer and Internet, and basic computer skills
• are able to demonstrate professional and ethical behaviour

Indigenous Studies Diploma program was approved by Advanced Education to launch in Fall 2021! NorQuest is proud to be the only post-secondary institution that offers this diploma in the Edmonton area and, in fact, in the province!

The Indigenous Studies name reflects on the subject of study that covers a wide range of Indigenous knowledge including culture, history, arts, and Indigenous ways of being and knowing. This diploma program offers learners the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the cultural, historical, social and political experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. 

Indigenous Studies is designed for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to explore Indigenous ways of knowing and learning, treaties agreement, culture, and health and wellness. Students will be trained through experiential learning, land-based learning, and theory-based courses. 

The full-time diploma program will run over 6 terms and can be completed in 2 years of full-time study.
Students will be involved in experiential learning through a Land-Based Learning course in term 3 of the program. Through land-based teaching, learners will develop and experience Indigenous ways of knowing through storytelling, language, traditional teachings and personal reflection, to show the resilience of Indigenous people. 

In addition, the diploma offers students an optional Community Service Learning course in term 6. Students who choose this optional course will have a unique opportunity to get to know their community, to work with an Elder or Traditional Knowledge Keeper, and to participate in a range of activities that develop skills in critical thinking, leadership, ethical decision-making, social consciousness, community engagement, and governance. 

Graduates of the program will have the knowledge and skills to work with Indigenous peoples, communities, and organizations or to transfer to university to continue their education. 

Many of the courses are university transfer, allowing for course-by-course as well as block transfer agreements with universities across Alberta and beyond. 

Current understandings include a block transfer agreement with the University of Alberta’s Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) and course-by-course transfer to their Bachelor of Arts, Native Studies program. Courses from this program will be available in Open Studies as well.  

NorQuest’s Health Care Aide program is among the largest in Canada and prepares you to be part of a health-care team in a variety of different settings, providing frontline care to clients in need of assistance.

Student Success
Students are more likely to be successful in this program if they:

• Are physically and emotionally able to manage workplace demands
• Have access to a vehicle to travel to complete their practicum
• Have access to a computer and basic computer skills
• Applicants should review the job requirements listed below and assess your ability to fulfill the demands of the health care aide occupation.

As a health care aide, you must be able to:

• Work day, evening, and night shifts any day of the week
• Be on your feet for extended periods of time
• Bend, squat and lift up to 40 pounds to move clients who have minimal body strength
• Function effectively in stressful situations
• Perform all skills independently

The Health Care Aide Workplace Education option is offered throughout Alberta in partnership with health-care employers. Consult your employer if you are interested in this program option.

Practicum/Work Experience
This program includes four practicums totalling 800 hours.

The Interdisciplinary Therapy Assistant diploma program prepares students to work in today's interdisciplinary health care systems. This program will provide students with a strong occupational and physical therapy assistant background, and incorporate essential assistant-level skills in speech language therapy and therapeutic recreation. Equipped with skills in these four rehabilitation disciplines, students will be prepared to meet industry demand and work in various general therapy, rehabilitation, as well as discipline-specific positions. If you enjoy helping people and want a career assisting patients to overcome injuries, or impairments, this diploma program could be for you.

The program delivers theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills using a balance of discipline-specific and interdisciplinary courses.

Program graduates will be prepared to:

• Communicate and collaborate as a valuable member of a client-centred interdisciplinary health-care team
• Assist with effective physical therapy and occupational therapy practice by providing safe and competent care across client populations
• Support other rehabilitation disciplines, including therapeutic recreation and speech-language pathology
• Demonstrate effective professionalism, leadership, and reflective practice skills

Applicants are requested to review the job requirements listed below and assess their ability to fulfill the demands of the therapy assistant occupation. As a therapy assistant, you must be able to:

• Work shifts and weekends
• Be on your feet for extended periods of time
• Use your knees, back, and arms to assist clients
• Lift 30 pounds
• Touch and provide care for clients of all ages, cultures, and genders
• Manage time and resources in a busy work setting
• Communicate and collaborate effectively in a team
• Enjoy working with people

The Child and Youth Care program is designed to prepare students to support children and youth who have experienced social, behavioural, and emotional challenges. Focused on diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous culture, the program teaches students the foundational skills of child and youth care practice, as well as perspectives and strategies for supporting all children and youth in culturally respectful ways.

Students will learn the impact of physical and emotional experiences on youth and families and the importance and strength of diversity and difference, and developing professional practice. The program will train students for the child and youth care worker roles through theory-based courses and hands-on practicum experience.

Graduates will have the knowledge and skills to support children and youth in navigating lived experiences, including helping at-risk children and youth with family processes, access and success in education, physical and mental health, and addictions.

Practicum/Work Experience

• This program includes three practicums totalling 600 hours.

The Disability Studies program is a two-year diploma that will develop the skills needed to effectively work in supporting individuals with disabilities across their lifespan. Individuals with developmental disabilities need support in early intervention, community settings, schools, recreation, and employment opportunities. A skilled workforce is needed to help people with disabilities achieve their goals and effectively participate as members of the community.

Disability service workers can work in a family or community setting in teams or independently to support individuals and their families. Graduates will create, implement, assess and modify plans to help utilize individuals’ strengths and abilities to increase avenues for meaningful participation in the community and society.

Accounting technicians are involved in the day-to-day practical work of accountancy and play a key operational role in producing reliable financial information. They may also perform a wide range of finance roles, from accounts clerk to financial controller and beyond.

Graduates from this program will have the basic theory, technical knowledge, computer competencies, and skills to enter the accounting field at an entry-level position. Our program equips graduates to perform financial accounting, budgeting, costing, and tax returns. The work experience component of the program allows you to gain hands-on experience in the field.

What to Expect as an Accounting Technician

• Accounting technicians are involved in processing invoices, recording receipts and payments, payroll, bookkeeping, auditing external and internal work, and preparing and checking ledger balances and other monthly and yearly accounts. They also handle company expenses, control budgets, prepare financial transactions, and use computerized accounting systems. Accounting technicians usually work regular weekday hours in a comfortable office environment.
• Accounting technicians can work on their own, in a large accounts team, or alongside professional accountants. While they are not accountants, they can perform many of the same functions and are qualified to take accounts beyond the trial balance stage, as well as prepare full financial accounts. There is always a strong demand for these skills in industry.
• Self-employed accounting technicians provide a range of accounting services to businesses, which may include advising on budgets and taxation issues, calculating end-of-year accounts, and consultancy.

NorQuest College offers an approved and accredited two-year full-time Social Work diploma program with a multicultural focus. As its mission, the program emphasizes the value of human diversity and teaches the practice of social work within an anti-oppressive framework that is supportive and empowering.

As a social worker, you may have the ability to improve the quality of life for yourself and for others through self-reflection and offering resources, services, and opportunities for your prospective clients. In addition, you will be prepared to create social change through your work and professional activities.

Program themes include:

• Competency working in different cultures
• Social work practice that recognizes and deals with oppression
• Awareness of cultural displacement issues
• Awareness of personal abilities and resiliency
• Spirituality
• Community practice
• Holistic practice
• Practice in specialized settings

Students in the Social Work program can expect to develop knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Social work foundations
• The helping process
• Social policy
• Assessment and interviewing
• Social work models and practice
• Working with groups
• Working with families and communities
• Mental health
• Abuse, violence, and addictions

The Social Work diploma program teaches students the value of human diversity in the context of Indigenous and multicultural knowledge and practices within an anti-oppressive and ethical framework that is supportive and empowering.

Practicum/Work Experience

• This program includes two practicums totalling 700 hours.

Build the skills you need to thrive in a dynamic business world and choose from five specializations in the second year—Management (entrepreneurship or business operations), Accounting, Human Resources Management, Finance, or General Studies—in which you will develop a core understanding of business fundamentals for any career you choose.

Specialization
Applicants can apply directly to the specialization of their choice. Specialization courses are usually taken in year two.
There are five specializations for the Business Administration program; each provides a flexible and dynamic core understanding of business fundamentals with a wide assortment of job opportunities:

Accounting specialization
Graduates with an accounting specialization have an aptitude for numbers and enjoy problem-solving. They are able to look at the overall big picture while determining the bottom line. They are prepared to work with companies in financial, computerized tax, and cost accounting areas.

Human Resources Management specialization
Graduates with a human resources management specialization will know how to improve corporate culture and increase employee productivity. They will be confident in creating performance management policies, employing effective hiring and retention practices, reviewing and recommending employee compensation packages, creating hiring selection criteria, and applying employment law.

Management specialization
Graduates with a management specialization are becoming increasingly important to business in our competitive economy due to their strategic planning and analytical skills. They assist companies in integrating planning and development strategies using problem-solving techniques and consensus building. Leadership, marketing, and financial information are also studied.

• Entrepreneurship focus: for students who are interested in starting a business of their own or who wish to help a newly formed business grow. It provides a thorough understanding of what is required to start and maintain a sustainable venture. Students will acquire the tools necessary to identify opportunity, assess entrepreneurial potential, produce a business plan, organize, promote, and finance a business, and prepare a marketing and sales structure.
• Business operations focus: for students who are interested in how businesses supply, produce, and distribute goods and services in the most efficient and profitable way possible. Students will learn how to plan, control, and optimize business systems and techniques to deliver projects on time and on budget. Learning how to assess and improve productivity throughout an organization will make these graduates a valuable asset to any organization.

Finance specialization
Graduates with a finance specialization will be well positioned for work opportunities in banks and any financial services organization. As a financial professional, this program prepares students in the areas of financial planning, principles and industry standards, financial products and services, tax and legal implications, managing risks, and building financial customer service sales and expertise.

• Financial services focus: for students who are interested in securing a role in a bank where they can serve customer needs for saving and borrowing. Students will learn principles of personal finance and banking including consumer and business lending, credit management and financial services selling and ethics.
• Financial planning focus: for students who are interested in helping people achieve their financial goals. Students will gain technical knowledge in personal financial planning, Canadian investment funds, insurance and taxation

General Studies
Students may elect not to have an area of specialization. These students would take the common first-year courses, then choose 10 additional courses out of all Year 2 courses offered.

Practicum/Work Experience
This program includes an optional paid co-op placement totalling 640 hours.