A Canada-based private career college is offering a faster and easier way for aspiring Filipinos to study and eventually work and reside in the world’s second-biggest country.
The East Coast International College, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia (one of Canada’s 13 provinces/territories) is inviting qualified Filipinos to consider enrolling in its Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) program, a caregiving vocational course that shall be completed in its campus.
The opportunity was announced during a recent local press briefing hosted by the Oxford International Education Group (OIEG), which has acquired the East Coast International College. OIEG is an international private education company with campuses in the UK and North America.
The CCA program is open to Filipinos between the ages of 20 to 54 years old who are seeking a rewarding career in the health sector in Canada, particularly in Nova Scotia, which has a growing requirement to fill vacant jobs in the healthcare industry.
Continuing care assistant
“A Continuing Care Assistant is somebody who helps support people who are not able to help or support their selves. They support individuals living in elderly care homes or those who for whatever reason may have disabilities and need extra care at home or in a care facility,” OIEG Chief Commercial Officer Andy Caldwell explained.
OIEG Chief Commercial Officer Andy Caldwell
“Currently, there are not enough continuing care systems in Nova Scotia. In fact, the area has a gap of about 2,000 care assistants now. That is expected to grow to about 2,500 in the coming years. The population is old and becoming more elderly. That prompted the Nova Scotia government to work with colleges to help fill the gap,” he added.
CCA is a full-time, 40-week caregiving program that provides knowledge and skills training through a strategic approach. The first few weeks are spent in classrooms, with only 20 to 24 students. Students then undergo training in a supervised placement before going back to a classroom setup. They will eventually proceed to a less supervised placement.
To qualify for a CCA certification, the students must pass an exam, which they can take for up to three attempts. After successfully completing the program, the certified CCAs can work in Nova Scotia and possibly attain Permanent Resident (PR) status in two years.
Program cost
The entire CCA certification program could cost about $20,000—payments can be installed but shall be completed by the end of the 40-week period. The tuition fee covers three sets of uniforms. Textbooks, mandatory certificate subjects or courses, and an exam fee (can be initially free). The students can even opt to take part-time jobs while completing the program if they need to earn their allowances. East Coast International College even offers to refund the tuition cost if the newly certified CCA fails to land a job for a specified period.
Upcoming CCA program start dates are on November 5, January 9 (2023), April 3, and September 11. OIEG will also extend guidance and assistance when securing documentary requirements like visas from the Canadian embassy.
“Our acquisition of East Coast International adds a new cap to our sterling performance in the education sector globally. OIEG has a long experience in providing education opportunities to people all over the world while East Coast International’s CCA program delivers person-focused care to individuals. Our matching competencies should enable our combined strengths to deliver learning without border and without limits,” says Caldwell.
To learn more about the Continuing Care Assistant program of East Coast International College, click this link.
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