The finance career offers an array of opportunities and many different career paths. This field is excellent for future entrepreneurs and professionals seeking self-employment or job stability. Whether you are already in the finance field or aspiring to be, continuing your education and expertise in it is paramount to your career growth. Take a look at these courses that will help you take the next step in your financial career.  

Certification Courses  

In order to be qualified to work in many financial services positions, you must first be certified. These certifications allow you to further your financial career and expand your expertise in the field. 

Canadians Securities Course  

This course will help prepare you to take the CSC® exam and attain your CSC® designation. This the perfect starting course for those wishing to enter the industry and requiring the appropriate certification for that. Thanks to Ashton College’s partnership with the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) students will receive a 10% discount on CSI registration and textbooks! After successful completion of the course and exam, students can also apply for a mutual fund license.  

Canadian Investment Funds  

If investing is the financial service you want to focus on, this course will help take you where you want to. The Canadian Investment Funds course provides students with in-depth knowledge on mutual funds. It provides a solid background while also allowing students to see where their interests in the field will take them. Most importantly this course is delivered in partnership with the Investment of Financial Services Education (IFSE) Institute and their standards which allow students to have the appropriate education necessary to excel in their CIFC exam.  

LLQP: Harmonized Life License Qualification  

Insurance, especially life insurance, is an especially important thing to have. If you are wanting to enter the insurance route of finance, this course is the perfect first step. It will prepare you for the provincial insurance regulator’s licensing exam. 

Financial Risk Manager  

Finance can be an intense and competitive field. With every investment and financial decision there is a risk, which is why a skilled risk manager professional is a key asset. The Financial Risk Manager Exam Prep gets you ready to write the FRM exams, both part 1 and part 2. The prep course covers the Foundations of Risk Management, the tools used to assess financial risk, quantitative analysis, financial markets and products, and valuation and risk models. 

Financial Planning  

Like with anything else, finance requires a great deal of planning in order to receive an optimal result. This necessitates a financial planner, familiar with a multitude of knowledge on benefits, taxation, laws, etc. As well certification is paramount for employment as a financial planner. Luckily, Ashton College’s partnership with Advocis and accreditation by FP Canada means students fulfill the education requirement needed to take the CFP ® or QAFP ™ exam through FP Canada. QAFP™ certification demonstrates a financial planner’s competence and commitment to the highest ethical standards of responsibility and requires CFP 1 through 12 to be taken. The Certified Financial Planner® designation is the most widely recognized financial planning designation in Canada and worldwide. CFP designation requires course 13: Advocis Advanced Curriculum to be taken, as well as CFP 1-12.  

Continuing Education  

As important as certification is expanding your professional repertoire. Continuing your education allows you to add to your resume and your expertise in the field. It also helps you take power and agency in your own business, helping you have greater oversight in your business.  

Canadian Income Tax   

Taxes are a central part of finance. Being able to properly complete your own taxes when you own a business is a great tool to have. Also being able to complete the taxes for other individuals and businesses will also aid your portfolio. Through this course you will learn the  basic rules and principles of filing personal and business income tax and learn about different features within the tax software available on the market. 

Payroll  

As an employer you will also be responsible for the proper payroll of your employees. This is a key part of any business, and one that cannot afford any mistakes. This course will provide you the key knowledge about governmental benefits and agencies, as well as deductions and payroll calculations.  

Overall, the finance field is wide and allows professionals to find and specialize in their specific niche. Whether you are a business-owner, looking to become an entrepreneur or wanting to expand your knowledge in the finance field, Ashton Colleges multiple financial services courses will help you take the next step in your financial career.  

Written by Maria Veras

When thinking about a career change or first starting a new career, there usually is a great number of questions on one’s mind. This can be especially true in a big field such as human resources. If you are curious about Human Resources Management or want to learn more about the field, here are the 4 things you should know about human resources.  

1. Human Resources is Always Changing

As the world shifts and changes, so do many job fields. Perhaps this effect is no greater than in the human resources field. Dealing with the dynamic world of employee and company relations means that a human resources employee must always stay up to date on both the field and the world around them. What does a new government policies mean to your company? How do current world events affect the conversations happening within the company? Not solely does social change impact human resources, but technological change heavily does as well. As remote work becomes more popular and accessible, managing employees in different spaces and even different time zones is a skill that needs to be cultivated. This may be challenging to some but to others who enjoy change it is a welcome challenge.  

2. Supporting Employees is Key

As a Human Resources professional, you will be one of the main people in charge of promoting employees’ rights and supporting their career processes. Human Resources really is a field focused on people and human interactions. If helping others is something that is important to you, then this will be the right fit. You may support employees by promoting their career growth via offering continuing education courses or outlining career paths.  

3. New Talent is Everything

While managing current employees is one of a human resources manager’s major responsibilities, finding and hiring new talent is everything. New talent can bring fresh ideas and innovations to the company, and so hiring the right people is paramount. It can also be very competitive recruiting qualified professionals for your company versus another. That is why you must assess candidates who would be highly valued assets to your company, based on their experience, portfolio, connections, etc. It takes an analytical and fast-acting professional to do this, and some would very much enjoy such a task. 

4. Room for Specialization

There are many duties that fall under the human resources category. Management, payroll, conflict resolution, training, developing policies and strategies, these are all part of the human resources field. This means that as a human resource professional you can easily find what niche you best fit into. While you may not enjoy doing payroll, you may love resolving conflicts between employees and fostering a better work environment. When first starting off in human resources or if you are in a smaller department, you may indeed have a wide range of responsibilities. However, there are great opportunities for expansion and specialization, aided by taking continuing education courses.  

You can never know everything about a specific field but learning the key elements of it helps with deciding whether or not it’s right for you. If this list has perked up your interests in human resources, apply today to the Human Resources Management Diploma Program. 

Written by Maria Veras

Every field has a certain set of characteristics that make its professionals best suited for their roles. Finding what qualities you have, such as patience or kindness, and contrasting that with what different professions require is an excellent way of finding a career that best suits you. Discovering your professional calling is a challenging task, and sadly many people never truly find a career that they feel was made for them. As well switching career from one that is not a great fit is also a terrifying task. However, reflection is an excellent way of achieving the end goal of professional self-actualization.  

Today let us focus on Health Information Management, a booming field with immense potential for many career options. If you have been considering entering the Health Information Management field, continue reading to see if you can see yourself in these character traits. 

Communicative 

Great communicators are able to both effectively share information, as well as effectively take in information. It takes a great listener to be a great communicator. Communication skills are hugely important to Health Information Management professionals. The field requires a lot of communication between health professionals, such as nurses, doctors, etc. Feeling comfortable and confident to be able to reach out to other professionals is important. As well as being able to effectively communicate often complicated data to the public can fall under your job description. Translating medical jargon and making it accessible to the public can be complex but having excellent communication skills will help with that.  

Analytical  

Some people have an intrinsic ability to quickly assess situations. Having analytical abilities is perfect for Health Information Management professionals as part of their work requires proper collection and preparation of healthcare data. Not only is it understanding the data, but also what that data means from a business perspective. It is a matter of providing the best for the patient as well as the healthcare system overall. Having a mind that is able to make quick calculations is important for that.  

Compassionate 

This characteristic is key to any professional working in the healthcare field. While it is important to separate your emotions from your work to a certain extent, having compassion and passion for helping others is an integral part of the Health Information Management field. There may be times where you must speak to patients, and your compassion will help with more difficult conversations. As well you may act as an advocate for multiple healthcare policy issues and speak to government officials and other heads of organizations. Your compassion will highlight the urgency of these issues. 

Collaborative  

As stated above, there is a lot of collaboration related to the Health Information Management field. Whether that is connecting with other health care professionals for inquiries or working on team projects, if you excel working with others you will surely fit in great. Being able to share your ideas while also taking in other’s thoughts can be a hard act to juggle, but group leaders and collaborators are able to do this well. 

Overall, there are many characteristics that you may naturally possess that make you suited for a career in Health Information Management. If you have related to the entries on this list, look no further than this fantastic career program to help you where you want to go professionally.  

Written by Maria Veras

Digital Marketing is an incredibly fast-growing and evolving field. Thanks to advances in technologies and platforms, this field has great opportunities for growth and connects to almost every industry. There is actually a shortage of skilled digital marketing professionals, due to the digital skills gap. Careers in digital marketing are varied with many distinct roles involved. There are many sought after skills that allow professionals to seek great careers in the field. Continue reading to find out which skills will help you get ahead in your career. 

Graphic Design  

Design is a key part of marketing. Creating content that is eye catching to viewers will provide traffic and growth. While there are designated graphic designers in the industry, having graphic design skills will heavily aid your resume and help you stand out. Knowing how to work on different platforms such as Canva or Adobe Photoshop means that you can help provide not only design skills but a designer’s eye to different projects. It is also good to create a portfolio with your work to show employers your talents. 

Video Editing  

Through the rise of social media, video content has been a major part of marketing. Being able to edit videos is an important skill to cultivate. Knowing different video editing software and familiarizing yourself with different video formats will help enhance your digital marketing skills. For example, knowing what makes for effective video content on TikTok versus on YouTube is an important distinction. Therefore, understanding the different social media platforms is also paramount.  

Copywriting  

If you are a great writer, digital marketing might be the perfect field for you. Catchy slogans and captions are often written by a professional in the marketing team. There are many different styles of writing in marketing, for example writing for a campaign versus a social media caption. Being a diverse writer who is able write in multiple styles effectively is a fantastic skill to cultivate.  

Data/Analytics  

Where the past entries on this list have focused on the more creative endeavors within digital marketing, knowing the analytical business side to the field is just as important. Understanding business data will allow for better decision making on what marketing is working and what is not. Knowing how to break down analytics on both social media platforms and other analytical tools such as Google analytics will make you a desired professional in the field. You can also learn these skills through Ashton College’s Digital Data Management and Analysis course. 

Planning and Strategy  

Strategy is an absolute necessity in marketing. Without a plan for success, it is quite difficult to achieve success. Being a good planner and problem solver will allow your organization to channel your limited resources into a strategy that will provide the best results. What type of marketing is most effective? Is it social media or email marketing? Being able to not only focus on the big picture but the small parts that make up that picture will set you apart from other Digital Marketing professionals. If you are wanting to further cultivate this skill, this Digital Marketing Strategy and Planning course will help provide you with more knowledge on the topic.  

Closing Thoughts 

Digital Marketing is a field that values a diversity of skills. By expanding your knowledge, you can become a highly valued employee in the field. Ascend to the next level of your digital marketing career today. 

Written by Maria Veras

When someone mentions careers in the health field, many times the first thoughts are doctors, nurses, counsellors, etc. However, as the healthcare industry evolves so do the tools that are critical to providing the best care. One key part is health information and how that is organized, to provide patients privacy and the right information. If you are interested in both technology and healthcare, look no further than the Diploma in Health Information Management. This career program combines the teachings of biology, technology, and security to provide a fantastic career for students. 

What is Health Informatics? 

Health Informatics, also known as Health information systems, combines informational science, computer science and healthcare and relies on information technology. Health information professionals organize and analyze health records to improve healthcare outcomes. A patient’s medical history is key to ensuring an accurate diagnosis and treatment, which is why the storage and organization of such information is so important. Professionals in this field are critical to ensuring smooth communication between different health channels and healthcare personnel by building communication protocols in their facilities. The field is wide and so far, covers these fields: 

• Data informatics 
• Decision support systems 
• Telemedicine, 
• Ethics 
• Consumer health informatics 
• International healthcare systems 
• Global health informatics 
• Translational research informatics 
• Home care 
• Information security 
• Data privacy 
• Artificial intelligence 
• Healthcare 

Health Information field  

This is a continuously growing field. As medical technology advances so does the need for skilled health information workers. There is an estimated 0.8 percent growth in the years 2021-2026, and a 1.8 percent growth in the years 2026-2031. This means a great outlook for prospective jobs in the health information management industry. As a Health Information Management professional, you can be employed by both public and private institutions, expanding your job prospects. The Health Information Management Diploma provides a great foundation for professionals to enter the field, while also having the potential to upgrade their education if they choose to. 

Health Information Management Duties  

Many careers can fall under the health information management field, your specific duties will change depending on your job title. However, some of the everyday tasks you will be expected to complete include: 

• Implementing health information systems and processes in order to confirm the complete and accurate documentation of medical records 
• Working with various medical staff, including nurses and doctors, to improve the quality and accuracy of patient data 
• Code, or collaborate with coders, to ensure secure and bug-free systems for managing health information 
• Collaborate with compliance officers that regularly track audits and denials from third-party auditors and insurance companies and find trends in the data 

More about the Health Information Management Diploma Program  

Ashton College provides a fantastic two-year Health Information Management program that prepares graduates for a long, successful career in the field. If you are nervous about the more technical aspects of the field, no need to worry, this program covers a wide range of topics including medical terminology and examining health tics. Apply now to join for upcoming full-time classes starting September 12, 2022. Both in-person and live-online classes are available. Looking for more information or have any questions to ask? Join us for the upcoming live info session happening on August 30, 2022, at 2:00 pm PST. 

Written by Maria Veras

The role of a unit clerk is a very exciting career path, with plenty of variety and range in what area you work in and your daily duties. If you are hoping to gain a more specific understanding of what they actually do every day though, this blog should be some helpful insight. Getting into this career is a fairly direct route, with the first step being registration in a nursing unit clerk program such as the one offered at Ashton College. This is where you will gain the knowledge and training which qualifies you for this important job.  

A unit clerk is one of the first people to greet you in a hospital or medical care unit, sitting at a front desk ready to register patients and perform administrative and clerical duties. As a unit clerk, you could work in hospitals, medical centres, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres or psychiatric wards. There are so many options when it comes to the medical environment you could work in. They play a vital role in managing information flow in a hospital no matter what division of the hospital or healthcare clinic they are in; a unit clerk enables the entire team to function smoothly and effectively. Part of this is due to their necessary communication skills with nurses, physicians and other healthcare team members. 

What are the top 5 responsibilities that a unit clerk is accountable for? 

1. Registering patients. You will be required to enter data for the admission and discharge of patients. When they walk through the doors, they come right to your desk and you are the first point of contact when you greet them. You will get them registered, you may give them a wristband or ticket, and you will direct them to the next steps. This can be a stressful and very busy position, and an excellent unit clerk should remain calm in stressful situations and remember kindness and patience at all times. A successful unit clerk will ensure that the medical unit runs smoothly and that health protocols are adhered to.
2. Checking and ordering unit supplies and clerical duties. The unit clerk is responsible for making sure supply levels are adequate in their unit, anticipating inventory requirements, placing new orders, and overseeing receipt of the supplies. They also process healthcare bills, prepare staff time sheets, record unit meeting minutes, or update room lists. They are responsible for maintaining a safe and hygienic environment by adhering to infection control regulations. This could slightly vary depending on which unit or area you reside in.
3. Answering calls. This includes answering incoming phone calls and responding to inquiries, relaying messages, or screening them to redirect the call to the appropriate area. This could include taking down information from the call and inputting it where necessary.
4. Scheduling patient appointments and inputting data. The unit clerks are responsible for scheduling new appointments for patients for tests and treatment, as well as capturing patients’ information and inputting it into the database. This could also include performing back-ups or transferring the patient’s medical information and charts from nurses’ records to the patient’s medical records. Unit clerks need to keep highly organized to ensure that all records are accurate and kept up to date. High levels of patient confidentiality should be maintained at all times.
5. Being the main link of communication. You will be communicating with nurses, physicians, and other healthcare workers on-site. Staying organized and being an excellent listener are key skills to ensure this part of the role goes smoothly. Also being comfortable with a wide range of medical terminology and basic pharmacology will allow you to smoothly converse with staff. Along with referring any inquiries to nurses and doctors, unit clerks might interpret and report orders given by the doctor relating to patients’ dietary and medication requirements, or they could be given diagnostic, lab and patient testing orders to transcribe or process.

Ashton College’s own Tina Toal, who was a previous unit clerk and supervisor and is now one of our expert instructors in our Unit Clerk course, recently participated in an online info session talking all about the role of a unit clerk. You can watch that here to hear about her insights. 

Unit clerks spend a lot of their workdays interacting frequently with patients and other staff members, and they have a solid routine with many repetitive tasks they hold responsibility for. Being able to prioritize and multi-task are strong skills that you will improve and use in this role. You will also become more confident and comfortable in the healthcare setting, helping ensure things run smoothly in what can be a sometimes hectic and fast-paced environment. By keeping everyone informed and staying organized, unit clerks are an essential and very exciting role. If you are ready to get started on your journey in this career path, sign up for our Unit Clerk Certificate Course today! 

Written by Ashley Fazekas