This is because Career College facilitates your entry into work in Canada. Besides, it ends up being cheaper than an University Degree.

However, when you learn about this study option, you must understand how it works and its advantages. In order to facilitate your decision, we're going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the subject.

What is Career College?

Career Colleges are education institutions focused on vocational and specialized courses. Unlike university courses, which usually last four years, Career College courses tend to last from eight months to two years. 

However, most vocational courses belong to the Co-op programs, which allows remunerated internships during your stay in Canada. In fact, a great number of these institutions may help students to find an internship opportunity even before their course begins.

Due to offering more practical courses, Career Colleges have shorter period of time than the University Degrees such as Bachelor's Degree, Master's degree, PHDs, or MBAs.

How does Career College work in Canada?

Career Colleges are focused on providing students with the necessary work experience to start their careers. Because of this, curriculums are more focused on the skills that employers seek in workers.

Vocational courses are not like the typical graduation, they are usually shorter and last up to 2 years.

What are the advantages of a vocational course?

The first advantage of a Career College is the fact they have faster acceptance and study authorization processes. That is: the time between deciding on taking a vocational course, and being in Canada attending the course, is shorter than it would be for an University.

Vocational courses also tend to be cheaper because they are shorter. Another advantage is the amount of money you need to have saved in order to prove to the Canadian government that you are able to afford your time studying in the country. This is also due to the shorter duration of these courses.

Another advantage is the fact that these courses facilitate the learning of technical language within your field. Lastly, there is also the advantage that most of these courses are considered part of the Co-op programs.

The Co-op programs are part of the Canadian educational system that allows foreign students to do internships while they study. In this case, they need to find an internship that is directly connected to the subject of studies. That is: vocational courses allow you to work as you study, but in your field.

The time allowed for foreign students to work during the vocational course depends on each internship. At first, students can work up to 20 hours per week. However, they are able to work full time once their face to face classes are over, up until the end of the course.

What fields of work do Career Colleges offer?

There are Career College courses related to all fields of work. However, it is important to highlight that if you already have a graduation or post-graduation degree, a vocational course on the same subject will hardly have anything to add to your studies. This is because these courses have the same level as a graduation.

Some of the fields most searched by foreign students to study at a Career College, are:

● Information Technology (IT)

● Marketing;

● Tourism and Hospitality;

● Administration;

● Pharmacy and Nursing.

Can I work after my course ends?

The post-graduation studies program offered by the Canadian government is called PGWP (Post Graduation Work Program). This document can be obtained by Career College students, with the duration proportional to to the length of the study program completed in Canada. Thus, graduating from a vocational course can help your immigration to Canada. Besides, these courses allow you to work part time (and full time in the summer vacation) as you attend your classes.

Can Career College help my immigration to Canada?

A career college vocational course can help in the immigration process. However, for those planning on living in Canada, it is recommended to choose a vocational course that lasts up to two years.

To be sure that your career college can entitle you to receive the PGWP, you need to make sure the career college is also considered a technical school and is recognized by the Designated Learning Institutions List (DLI).

In addition, for those who plan to live in Canada, it is recommended to opt for a vocational course of maximum extension, with 2 years of studies. These courses are more likely to be considered suitable for their students to receive the PGWP at the end of the process.

Furthermore, the time you're attending a vocational course in Canada can help you improve your language skills and to improve your networking. Eventually, you may also be able to obtain a work sponsorship, which facilitates getting a work permit.

At last, vocational courses are also considered during the evaluation for the express entry program. This means a step towards permanent residency.

How can I enter a vocational course in Canada?

The vocational course entry process is the same for any type of education institution in Canada. First of all, you must be accepted into a course, then you must apply for a study authorization.

This process involves the same list of documents to get a student visa. The only difference is that the institution tends to process its acceptance faster, facilitating the process.

If you are already in Canada attending a previous stage of your studies, such as high school or a language course, you can search for career colleges in the region where you reside.

If you're currently outside Canada, it is recommended that your research is done based on the course that you wish to attend, since not all cities offer exactly what you're looking for.

Attending career college is an alternative for those who wish to immigrate in Canada, but it is also a great choice for those planning to return to their own country.

The international work experience tends to boost your resume and it helps you get better job opportunities. Besides this, investing in education is a wise life choice.