The Immigration Consultant Course is Now Harder
If you are thinking of becoming an immigration consultant in Canada, there’s some big news awaiting you, in case you hadn’t already heard. On May 1, 2019, the ICCRC (Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council) announced that a new and tougher diploma would be phased in over the next couple of years.
If you are thinking of becoming an immigration consultant in Canada, there’s some big news awaiting you, in case you hadn’t already heard. On May 1, 2019, the ICCRC (Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council) announced that a new and tougher diploma would be phased in over the next couple of years.
Immigration and Citizenship Graduate Diploma Program (ICGDP)
If you are thinking of becoming an immigration consultant in Canada, there’s some big news awaiting you, in case you hadn’t already heard. On May 1, 2019, the ICCRC (Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council) announced that a new and tougher diploma would be phased in over the next couple of years.
Immigration and Citizenship Graduate Diploma Program (ICGDP)
The ICGDP will now be the new standard for immigration consultancy courses and will be phased in starting in January 2021 at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec. UBC will be pulling out of the program for now as they assess the new standards required.
The old course – Immigration Practitioner Program or IPP – that is currently taught at community colleges mostly in Ontario, Alberta, and BC will be phased out over the next 2 years and most IPP programs are no longer accepting new students as of August 1, 2020.
It remains to be seen how these community colleges across Canada adapt to the new and more rigorous standards that the ICCRC has laid down for students wishing to sit for the Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant Entry-to-Practice Exam (RCIC EPE). That, of course, is the exam you have to pass if you wish to be an immigration consultant in Canada.
Most institutions have updates on their websites stating that they are no longer accepting new students but some (like Ashton College in BC and Anderson College in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario) have not updated their websites. This is likely an oversight on their part and you should check with them before considering taking their course to see if it will still be accepted by ICCRC in the coming years.
Go here for a list of institutions that were certified by ICCRC under the old IPP program. Remember buyer beware – more than likely their courses are no longer accepted as preparation for the RCIC EPE. Or in some cases, like with Herzing College, they offer a lower level course (Immigration Assistant Training).
So, it’s time to move on and see what the new program for immigration consultants will look like when it starts up in January 2021 at Queen’s University.
Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law – Queen’s University
Don’t be discouraged if you wished to study in Vancouver or Calgary for example. The Queen’s University course will be offered online, and it is only a matter of time before other English-speaking institutions upgrade their curriculums and meet the new standards.
But for now, let’s take a look at Queen’s program, as it is the only English speaking one using the new standards and to which you can apply as of August 1, 2020.
Who is the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law for?
The Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law is still tailored to prospective immigration consultants but also can be of interest to the following people:
- Paralegals
- Lawyers seeking specialized training in immigration law
- University & College advisors
- HR professionals
- Immigration Settlement Organizations’ leaders
- Federal and provincial officials.
How long does the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law take?
On a full-time basis (roughly 45 hours of classes and studying a week) the program takes 2 terms. In the Canadian post-secondary system, a term is equivalent to 3 or more months of classes and exams.
On a part-time basis (no more than 3 courses per term) the program takes 4 terms.
What is the curriculum of the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law?
For the full-time program, the courses are organized as follows:
First Term:
- ICL 810 – Foundations of Canadian Immigration Law
- ICL 820 – Ethics and Professional Responsibility
- ICL 830 – Temporary Entry
- ICL 840 – Economic Immigration
Second Term:
- ICL 850 – Family Class Immigration
- ICL 860 – Refugee Protection and Trauma-informed Client Service
- ICL 870 – Enforcement – Inadmissibility, Detention, and Removal
- ICL 880 – Citizenship
- ICL 890 – Immigration Practice Management
For the part-time program, the courses are organized as follows:
First Term:
- ICL 810 – Foundations of Canadian Immigration Law
- ICL 830 – Temporary Entry
Second Term:
- ICL 820 – Ethics and Professional Responsibility
- ICL 840 – Economic Immigration
- ICL 880 – Citizenship
Third Term:
- ICL 850 – Family Class Immigration
- ICL 860 – Refugee Protection and Trauma-informed Client Service
Fourth Term:
- ICL 890 – Immigration Practice Management
- ICL 870 – Enforcement – Inadmissibility, Detention, and Removal
When should I apply for the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law?
For the January 2021 cohort the deadline for applications is October 12, 2020. So it’s soon.
How can I contact them for more info?
For further information email this address: [email protected]
