Distance Learning

[rubyalabar]

Hello everyone!

For those who are already in Canada, I just want to ask if courses/certificates/diplomas earned through distance learning like ICS are acceptable credentials to Canadian employers?

My plan as soon as I land is find a part time job and use money that I will earn from this to enroll in a distance learning course in Bookkeeping. I am planning on going this route because I am married and have a 5 year old daughter who will only go to school for 4 hours in the morning or afternoon, I don't want to pay a babysitter to watch her while I go to school as this would be an added expense.

Do certificates from distance learning institutions have any bearing?

 

[Resumeshop]

Generally speaking, credentials from public educational institutions are seen more favorably by potential employers than private ones, such as ICS. That being said, there are certainly some good private institutions out there and I know candidates with credentials from such institutions who have good jobs now. With credentials from ICS, a good CV and good interview skills, I'm certain that will be able to get a job. In order to strengthen your background even more, I would recommend checking out universities in your area that offer online courses. You don't have to do an entire degree, but coursework at a public university in addition to your ICS certificate would be another feather in your cap.

Best of luck!

 

[rubyalabar]

thank you for your advice. i have looked into online courses at universities in my area. I guess my next question is do I have to have my bachelor's degree from my home country assessed and recognized first before I can enroll?

having foreign credentials assessed and recognized can be a lengthy process and can be expensive too, so there is also some concern about this.

 

[Resumeshop]

Generally Canadian universities require the same level of education that would allow international students to study in their own country. So if you already have the credentials required to study in your own country, chances are you will be able to study here without getting your degree assessed. It would still be best to contact the university directly for additional clarification. The university will normally list the specific minimum requirements for each country on their website.

 

[Canadian Career Coach]

You may find this link helpful. Macleans is a prominent Canadian magazine that does yearly surveys on the top Canadian universities. Taking a distance learning course from one of these schools would be a valuable asset to your resume.

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2010/11/10/our-20th-annual-university-rankings/