Campus

Newnham, Seneca International Academy

Duration

2 Semesters (8 Months)

Credential Awarded

Ontario College Graduate Certificate

School

Seneca Business

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This program is offered in Seneca's flexible delivery format. Using innovative learning spaces and technology, professors teach students in a classroom or lab and broadcast in real time to students attending remotely. In flexible courses, students have the choice of coming on campus or learning online.

Learn more about Seneca’s program delivery options.

About the Program

This eight-month graduate certificate program prepares you to become specialized in one of the fastest growing sectors in financial services. The curriculum will equip you with a skillset for working in client-facing and behind-the-scenes roles with banks; trust companies; insurance companies; and investment, wealth management and financial planning firms. You will also learn to manage your personal finances, provide financial advice to the public and pursue industry-demanded certifications.

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

• communication
• critical thinking
• financial planning
• interpersonal and relationship skills
• teamwork and collaboration

Work Experience

Field Placement

To support your learning, a field placement work experience must be completed. This experiential learning opportunity will provide you with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you learned in a financial planning setting, while also gaining valuable work experience.

This experience requires you to engage in a minimum of 140 hours of financial planning-related employment activities during your studies. The field placement experience is an unpaid or paid position that is available to students who are in good academic standing with Seneca and who meet all identified requirements prior to participating in the field placement experience. While eligibility for participation does not guarantee that a field placement position will be secured, students are supported every step of the way by Seneca in locating, applying and obtaining a field placement experience with industry partners. 

As an alternative to a field placement, you may complete an industry project that allows you to demonstrate your learning while gaining experience that will help you improve your employment opportunities.

Your Career

When you graduate from this program, these are the types of career options that you can explore:

• employed and self-employed financial services professionals
• personal bankers
• financial advisers/planners
• investment representatives
• insurance agents/brokers
• financial planning support associates

Professional Certifications

Successful completion of this program is the first step in obtaining the following industry certifications and designations that are in high demand:

• Canadian Securities Course (CSC®)
• Certificate in Financial Services Advice (CFSA)
• Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation
• Qualified Associate Financial Planner™ (QAFP™) designation
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation

Students enrolled in this program have the opportunity to complete the Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) — a prerequisite for employment in many areas of the financial services industry. Successful completion of the CSC and this program will allow students to obtain their Certificate in Financial Services Advice.

Graduates of this program will be eligible to proceed to the following steps on the pathways to certification:

• step two of three on the pathway to PFP® certification
• step two of five on the pathway to QAFP™ certification
• step three of six on the pathway to CFP® certification

Pursuing these certifications requires the completion of additional courses, examinations, and/or work experience, all of which involve additional costs.