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General FAQs
1. What is the difference between a CHA Learning “program” and a “course”?
Programs are longer in duration than courses. Courses may be taken individually, whereas programs must be taken as a whole to qualify for program certificates.
2. How long will it take to complete the program or course?
Completion time varies by program/course. Please refer to the specific At-A-Glance section of each program or course for details.
3. When can I get started?
Health Information Management is the only program with set start dates (every September). All other online courses and programs are open for enrolment at any time during the year. You will get access to the material within 5-7 business days of making your tuition payment—and you can get started immediately afterwards.
4. Are all CHA Learning programs/courses delivered online?
Almost all of our programs are delivered entirely online. Some programs are delivered in-person, and some also require practicum placements; these are clearly labelled as such.
5. Are any CHA Learning programs/courses self-guided?
We offer three self-guided courses: Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology, and Pathophysiology.
All other programs/courses are supported by faculty.
6. What should I know about practicums and field placements?
Only two of our programs require practicum or field placements: Health Information Management, and Food Service and Nutrition Management. In most cases, students must arrange practicums for themselves.
7. Why should I take a CHA Learning program/course, instead of a similar course offered through another school or organization?
For more than 65 years, CHA Learning has been a trusted provider for healthcare learning. We are proud to have helped tens of thousands of health professionals be successful in their health leadership careers. Moreover, our long-standing history has helped us develop a strong understanding of the needs and challenges of our students who wish to improve their skills. We partner with leading industry experts to ensure that our programs and courses address the most up-to-date, relevant issues that Canadians face today; and we provide training in a flexible, online, collaborative environment that supports students balancing work with home life.
8. Will these courses prepare me for work after graduation/completion?
Because students receive up-to-date, practical and relevant training and instruction from professionals in their field, many graduates find CHA Learning courses and programs beneficial to their career. That said, we cannot guarantee students employment upon completion of any course or program.
9. When I finish my course or program, will I receive a certificate?
Upon successful completion of a course or program, certificates are mailed to students through Canada Post. Processing a certificate may take 4-6 weeks.
10. What kind of support does the faculty offer?
Faculty members are your first point-of contact for questions related to program/course content, assignments, exams and quizzes. They are also responsible for marking your assignments, discussion questions and examinations.
11. Can I take more than one program or course simultaneously?
While students may take more than one course at a time, it is not recommended before first speaking with the Admissions and Achievement Coordinator. Contact us at: chalearning@healthcarecan.ca with any questions you may have.
Online Learning
12. I’m new to online learning. What resources are available to me?
Many of our students have never taken online courses or programs before, so we have created useful videos and resources to review when you first get access to your course or program material. We cover topics like submitting assignments, participating in discussion forums, and completing quizzes and exams.
If at any time you are uncertain about how to complete an activity, we offer support via e-mail and phone. Moreover, most of our programs have dedicated faculty who are available to provide support on program materials.
13. Can I take my exams online?
Yes. Depending on the program or course, you may need to find an invigilator/proctor to supervise. This information will be shared with you when you begin the program or course.
14. What is the Learning Gateway?
The Learning Gateway is where you access your program/course materials, submit assignments, complete tests and quizzes, and participate in forum discussions. You can access the Learning Gateway by logging in to your student account.
15. Who do I contact for technical support?
If you are having trouble accessing the Learning Gateway or the courses within the gateway, please contact us. If you have other technical support questions, related to your course materials, please get in touch with your education consultant or Student Relations Coordinator.
Application Information
16. What are your application requirements?
Programs are longer in duration than courses. Courses may be taken individually, whereas programs must be taken as a whole to qualify for program certificates.
17. What are the application deadlines for your programs/courses?
Applications are only required for the Health Information Management and Food Service and Nutrition Management programs. Some courses may require enrolment documents to be submitted after payment is received (e.g., a resume). Please refer to the “Requirements” tab in the program or course page for more detailed information.
18. Do I need to have experience in healthcare to take any of your courses or programs?
While it may not always be required, we suggest students have experience in the field they are studying in—either in the form of volunteer work or employment. Please refer to the requirement of the specific program you are interested in to ensure you meet all of the application or enrolment requirements.
Tuition and Fees
19. How much do your program and course tuitions cost?
Tuition costs vary, depending on the program or course you want to take. Please refer to the “Costs” tab of your desired program or course page for specific information.
20. Are there any extra fees?
All tuition and textbook prices are listed on the specific program or course page. In some instances, textbooks are purchased outside of CHA Learning; these details are shared with students after they have enrolled. Click here to review administrative fees.
21. What is the difference between a CHA Learning “program” and a “course”?
Programs are longer in duration than courses. Courses may be taken individually, whereas programs must be taken as a whole to qualify for program certificates.
22. Do CHA Learning programs and courses qualify for OSAP or bank loans?
CHA Learning programs currently do not qualify for Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding. The main reason for this is the distance-education nature of our programs, which do not meet the criteria of having 20 hours of instruction time per week. Moreover, OSAP does not offer funding for e-learning in Ontario.
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities is currently reviewing the policies and procedures behind OSAP.
In our experience, our programs do not qualify for similar student loans from banks or other institutions. However, we encourage you to contact your financial institution directly to determine eligibility for financial assistance.
PLAR / Prior Learning Assessment Recognition
23. What does PLAR mean?
PLAR refers to the possibility of exemption from specific courses, based on previous learning you may have done.
24. Could I be eligible for exemptions? How are PLARs determined?
CHA Learning considers PLAR applications for Health Information Management and Food Service and Nutrition Management. Please refer to the Requirements tab in each of these pages for more detailed information.
25. I completed a program/course with CHA Learning. Will I be eligible for PLAR exemptions in a new CHA Learning program or course?
This may be possible, depending on the program or courses you have completed and the ones you are interested in. For more information about PLAR eligibility, contact the Admissions and Achievement Coordinator at: chalearning@healthcarecan.ca.
International Students
26. What is an international student?
We consider students “international” if they reside outside of Canada while completing a course or program. If you complete the coursework and live within Canada, you are considered a Canadian student.
27. I didn’t study in Canada. Will my international education be enough to qualify for my course/program of choice?
You only need to submit transcripts if you are applying for the Food Service and Nutrition Management or Health Information Management programs.
If you completed your education outside of Canada, you must verify and validate the education through services such as the World Education Services. You can also contact your local college or university for more information on international credential evaluation services.
Other/Miscellaneous
28. Do you issue student cards?
We do not currently issue student cards. Your student number can be found on your acceptance letter.
29. What if I decide a certain course or program isn’t right for me; can I get a refund?
Depending on the program/course and timing of cancellation/withdrawal, you may be eligible for a refund. Please refer to the Withdrawal & Cancellation Schedule for information about the implication of withdrawals on tuition fees.
30. Can I postpone my studies at any time?
Depending on the program/course, you may be able to postpone your studies from six months to one year. For more information, refer to our Academic Postponement Policy.
31. How do you define plagiarism?
Plagiarism is the act of taking another person’s writing, conversation, song, or even idea—and passing it off as your own. This includes using information from websites, books, songs, television shows, email messages, interviews, articles, artworks or any other medium. Whenever you paraphrase, summarize, or take words, phrases, or sentences from another person’s work, it is necessary to indicate the source of the information within your paper using an internal citation (e.g., such as APA referencing).
32. When will final grades be available?
For most programs and courses, grades for individual assignments are available two weeks after they are submitted. Final grades for final exams and course completion are available 2-4 weeks after completion.
33. What is a statement of marks?
The statement of marks provides your final grades for courses you have completed. This is not the same as an Official Transcript, which includes the signature of the Vice-President, Learning and Development.
34. How can I update the information I have on file?
You can update your information by logging into your account on our website. Please note: all updates must occur on the www.chalearning.ca website, as doing so on your Gateway profile will not work.
Tax FAQs
35. Am I eligible for a Tax Credit?
HealthCareCAN will provide all eligible students with the appropriate tax credit documentation for income tax purposes. HealthCareCAN will issue T2202 Forms or Official Tax Receipts to students who have been in a program or course a minimum of three weeks and paid a minimum of $100.00 in tuition expenses. Please reference the Tuition Tax Credit Schedule for a summary of eligible programs and courses. Students who audit courses or programs are not eligible for tax receipts.
36. What information is included in my Official Tax Receipt?
On the Official Tax Receipt you will find your contact information, student ID, name of the program/course(s) purchased, year of purchase, and the amount paid.
37. Why am I not eligible for a T2202 Form?
Only programs that are registered with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada are eligible for the T2202 form. You can use the Official Tax Receipt on your income taxes.
38. Why do I need to submit by SIN number?
Only students in the Health Information Management program (Full and Part-Time streams) are required to submit their SIN. As of 2019, all designated education institutions are required to provide the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) with SIN on Form T2202 (Education and Textbook Amount Certificate).
To learn more about this, click here.
For more information on Tax Receipts, please see our Tax FAQ.
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