FAQ about Academy Canada in General
A. We’re a little biased but we think that there are tons of reasons. Academy Canada has been delivering respected job-readiness training since 1985. We have prepared more than 30,000 alumni for specific careers that are in demand; they have gone on to build great careers across Canada and around the world. The college recruits highly qualified faculty and staff to support all students (regardless of their needs) in a supportive well-equipped learning environment. With monthly start dates you won’t need to wait to begin your career. Programs are offered half-days to allow students to either work or care for families while enrolled. There are several funding sources available to help students finance their education. Many of these allow students to attend school at virtually no cost to them.
Most importantly, our grads get great jobs, earn excellent money and enjoy what they do. What else can you hope for?
A. 15. There are three multi-program campuses in St. John’s (2) and Corner Brook as well as 12 Adult Basic Education Learning Centers in Conception Bay South, Placentia, Bonavista, Deer Lake, Baie Verte, St. Anthony, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Sheshatshiu, Natuashish, Lab West, Nain and Hopedale.
A. The college has been operating since 1985.
A. Yes. All Academy Canada programs, instructors and facilities are fully approved by (and registered with) the provincial government’s "Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DOEE)" and "Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development". A list of regulations governing career colleges can be found here. Apprenticeship trades programs are accredited by the Provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Board. An explanation of the accreditation process can be found here while a list of our 17 accredited apprenticeship programs can be found here. As well, all facilities meet provincial building and accessibility codes to ensure safety and student comfort.
A. There are two types of post-secondary schools in NL. Public schools (College of the North Atlantic and Memorial University) are government-owned and receive taxpayer subsidies to operate. Independent or Private Colleges are owned and operated by private companies, unions or, in one case a municipality. Independent schools must be licensed by government and are overseen by their legislation/guidelines that ensure that quality training is being delivered. They do not receive any taxpayer subsidies to operate.
A. That’s a very personal question. The answer depends on many things, including your desire to fit in, your attitude and approach. A large percentage of our students come to Academy Canada with significant life experience. In fact, over half of our students are 26 years+. Most of them excel in their training and fit in very nicely. Very often they become our school leaders! By immersing yourself in college life we are confident that you will make the college your home.
FAQ about Programs
A. While program offerings evolve over time, we are currently offering 35 diploma programs in the fields of “Construction, Trades and Mining”, “Justice”, “Business, Travel and Computers”, "Health and Personal Care", “Creative Studies”, “Animal Care and Nature” and “Adult Basic Education”. Click here for a full list of Diploma programs. All programs are evaluated and approved by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Programs are full-time and range in duration from 2-24 months. They are introduced into our school in one of three ways; they are either:
- Researched, designed and maintained by the Academy Canada Curriculum Department or
- Leased from a third-party College or
- Designed and maintained by the provincial government (in the case of Apprenticeship Trades, Personal Care Attendant, and Adult Basic Education programs).
Academy Canada’s Corporate and Contract Training Division also offers a wide range of programs tailored and delivered specifically around the needs of clients. Call Jackie White at 1.800.561.8000 for more details.
A. There are starts in various programs every month (except December and August). Most programs start 4-6 times per year. Adult Basic Education classes start every Monday. Click here for a full list of start dates
A. Academy Canada programs are developed around a standardized set of courses that all students must be completed. There are no electives.
When students start, they are assigned to a specific group and, unless they experience difficulty, stay with that class for their entire program.
The college will develop the course order and daily class schedule. Daily schedules are typically 5-6 hours (Monday-Friday) and can be held between 8am-5pm. In very rare circumstances, night classes running to 8:30pm may be required. We try to minimize “down time” between classes as much as possible and put them back-to-back wherever possible.
A. Our programs are designed for full-time delivery. Unfortunately, part-time studies are only available in special circumstances.
A. We do not yet offer full programs online but are working on it! Within many programs there are a number of courses that can be done online using our World Classroom Distance Learning platform. It takes a very user-friendly and flexible approach to training. You can learn more about World Classroom courses here.
A. Academy Canada issues credentials for career-readiness programs at the Diploma level. Some programs also offer enhanced credentials that students may pursue post-graduation. For example, Massage Therapy grads may choose to write their Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) certification exam. Apprenticeship Trades students earn an Entry Level Diploma upon graduation. They then participate in the provincial Apprenticeship Certification program as they work toward Journeyperson status. To learn more about the apprenticeship system please click here.
Academy Canada credentials are approved by government and recognized across Canada. It is worth noting that employers have their own hiring criteria and may be looking for specific things in their recruitment process. While we cannot guarantee employment, we are very pleased that our graduates have successfully obtained employment in every province and many countries around the world.
We also offer Adult Basic Education training at most campuses. Students earn credits that are equivalent to those offered in the High School system. Upon completion of the required 36 Level III credits, students will be eligible to earn their Adult Basic Education/High School Diploma.
A. Getting started is easy. Simply call 1-800-561-8000, email info@academycanada.com, fill out a Request Infomation form on this page, facebook us (facebook.com/academycanada) or drop by one of our campuses. A friendly Admissions Officer will guide you through the process. The Academy Canada Admissions Process is quite straightforward and is explained here.
A. We want you to be happy with your choice and have staff available to provide good advice every step along the way. If, however, you decide within the first 21 calendar days of a program that it is not for you (for any reason) you can withdraw or transfer to a different program with no financial or academic penalty. If you’ve paid tuition prior to that time it will be fully reimbursed. To our knowledge, we are the only provincial college to offer such a satisfaction guarantee.
A. Many programs have mandatory work-terms that help you gain valuable work experience. While there is no obligation for employers to pay students, many provide a stipend if they do an outstanding job. The true value in the work-term is the opportunity to gain experience, build contacts and earn a reputation as a hard worker.
FAQ about the Team
A. While government requires college instructors to have a minimum of six years of experience and education in their field of instruction, we strive for much higher qualifications. Most of our instructors have more than 20 years of practical experience, advanced academic credentials and a keen understanding of their field of instruction. Some have bachelor degrees, masters, or PhDs while all trades instructors have a Journeyperson certification. As a condition of their employment, instructors must also complete a University-Level Vocational Education training program in addition to their other credentials.
A. 95% of our instructors are full-time employees. This ensures that they are always available to help students.
A. Yes. All instructors are individually approved by Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DOEE) before they can begin teaching. DOEE confirms that they possess the required educational and academic background.
A. As a condition of their employment, all instructors must complete a Diploma of Vocational Education in addition to their other credentials. They also participate in regular staff Professional Development training offered on- and off-campus.
A. Absolutely. We encourage it! Simply tell your Admissions Officer that you want to meet the teacher and they’ll make it happen.
A. Our team can support students with a wide range of needs, including:
- Career Planning – Admissions Reps, instructors and the Student Support Coordinator (SSC) offer sound advice and information to help you make great decisions.
- Financial – Student Financial Officers help you do your budget to make your resources last. In case you run short, however, and need extra support we can help with everything from part-time work advice to unlimited access to our student food bank.
- Academic – Whether you need to improve your study skills or access to a tutor we can help. If you have a learning or physical disability we have a whole suite of services we can offer.
- Personal – At Academy Canada we’re a family. We know that, from time to time, problems will come up and students need a comforting ear and solid advice. Your Campus has many people (especially the Student Support Coordinators) who want to help. If we don’t have the skills to support your specific needs we have access to a wide array of community services that we can connect you with.
- Perks – The colleges also offers a wide range amazing services to students, including access to our Hair Salons, Day Spas, Massage Therapy Clinics, Photography Studio, Animal Grooming Center, etc. Our organization also manages a licensed Daycare in Corner Brook.
For more information on Student Services please click here.
A. Yes. Career Counselling is available through our Admissions Team and Employment Coordinators. Student Financial Officers provide budgeting and economic planning help. The Campus Student Support Coordinator and Senior Administration are available for personal guidance. When issues go beyond our in-house expertise, we are able to refer students to a wide array of external support services
A. Absolutely. We pride ourselves on the services we offer to help people with a wide range of disabilities. They can include oral testing, quiet rooms, note-taking, extended evaluation time, etc. See your campus Principal or Admissions Officer for details. If you have a special need please notify your Admissions Officer or Principal as soon as possible so that we can put a support plan in place.
FAQ about Location
A. Campuses with multiple programs are located in:
Corner Brook at 2 University Drive.
St. John’s at 167-169 Kenmount Road, 37-45 Harding Road and 336 Logy Bay Road.
Adult Basic Education Learning Centers are located in Conception Bay South, Placentia, Bonavista, Deer Lake, Baie Verte, St. Anthony, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Sheshatshiu, Lab West, Nain, Hopedale and Natuashish.
Click here for specific campus addresses.
A. No. Students live off campus – typically at home, in apartments or at rented houses. We do have a relationship with Grenfell College in Corner Brook, however, that allows AC students to live in their on-campus housing.
A. Yes. Campuses are easily accessible by public transportation, taxis and private vehicle.
A. No permits are required. Parking is always free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
FAQ about Graduate Success
A. Yes. Our Instructors and Employment Coordinators are very involved in your career planning. They offer job search advice, resume/interview support, job leads and act as excellent references.
A. The true measure of success used by any College is the employability of its graduates. That is why Academy Canada tracks such information as well as relying on third party reports such as the Millennium Scholarship Foundation “Survey of Canadian Career College Graduates” and the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador “Career Search” publication for stats. These reports regularly show that alumni enjoy great success in finding gainful, high paying employment within their fields of study. Like everything in life, however, your chances of employment is greatly affected by your academic performance, attitude, employability and job search skills. Luckily, we can help you hone each of these factors before you graduate!
A. Absolutely! We know time is tight but we recommend students do as much volunteer work as possible for several reasons – your help is greatly needed by a wide range of community groups, it is rewarding, it looks great on a resume, it’s an excellent way to make job contacts and it will differentiate you from other grads when it comes to job search time.
FAQ about Financing My Education
A. There are several sources that students use to pay for their training at Academy Canada, including:
- Student Loans/Bursaries from government or a bank
- Government sponsorship
- Worker’s compensation sponsorship
- Scholarships
- Aboriginal sponsorship (ie Qalipu, Innu First Nations, etc)
- Insurance settlement
- RESPs
Other students use their savings, work income or help from family to pay tuitions on a monthly basis. For more information please visit the Funding Your Studies at Academy Canada page on our website.
A. Tuition fees for a full program at Academy Canada vary and range from $2,300 to $26,250. Students (or their funding agencies) are also responsible for a $30-60 compulsory fee, textbooks and any tools/equipment, if required. Many students purchase used books and tools/equipment to help offset costs. Please see your Admissions Officer for a Cost Breakdown on your specific program.
A. Tuition fees and other charges are due and payable at the beginning of each semester. If your funding will be delayed or you would like to arrange a payment plan please see your Campus Business Office. They will do their very best to accommodate your needs. All fees must be paid before you will be permitted to go on work-term (if applicable) or your transcript/diploma can be released.
A. When you register you will receive a full book and tool/equipment list. It will explain what you will need during the program.
Textbooks can be purchased from the Campus Bookstore at the beginning of each semester. Used textbooks are often available from former students.
Tools/Equipment are sold from the Bookstore for some programs. In other cases they can be purchased at reputable retailers around town. Your Instructor can provide valuable advice on what/where to buy.
A. Yes, yes and yes. Virtually all of our students receive funding from one or more of these sources.
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*Important Note: If you are having difficulty submitting this form or do not receive an email confirming your submission, please call us at 1.800.561.8000 or email us at info@academycanada.com
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