Professional Credentials

We offer a range of credentials and certifications that can help you move up in your career. Explore our range of areas and find the certification that is right for you. 

Police Leadership

The demanding schedule of police work can make professional development difficult. But to stay on top of your fast-moving profession—and ready yourself for the next step in your career—you need to build your skillset and strategic perspectives.

Our online police leadership certificates are flexible and offer you the ability to study around your schedule. Only three courses are required to complete your first certificate, putting a respected university credential well within your reach.

Certificates

Our certificates are ideal for those with or without prior university experience. You can earn the Certificate in Police Leadership in one of the five concentration areas.  If you feel that you need to improve your writing skills before engaging in the Police Leadership Program, you may want to consider the online Writing Skills for Academic Study course.

• Administration
  This certificate will be of benefit to those wishing to attain positions that involve administration and supervision, as well as those already in those roles feeling like they need more knowledge and skills in terms of budgeting and HR management.
  
  Successful completion of the two courses within this concentration, plus the Leadership course, will qualify the student for a Certificate in Police Leadership: Administration. 

• Law & Justice
  Greater education of police officers in terms of ethics, risk management and human rights issues serves to increase the professionalism of policing. This certificate will be of interest to officers of various ranks and career goals.
  
  Successful completion of the two courses within this concentration, plus the Leadership course, will qualify the student for a Certificate in Police Leadership: Law and Justice. 

• International Policing & Security
  This certificate will be of benefit to those wanting to gain a greater understanding of global issues and insights into how they make an impact domestically.
  
  Successful completion of the two courses within this concentration, plus the Leadership course, will qualify the student for a Certificate in Police Leadership: International Policing and Security. 

• Service Delivery
  This certificate will be of benefit to those interested in understanding new policing models and strategies being used to respond to the demands of modern police organizations, and how to use evidence-based policing research to inform management and decision-making.
  
  Successful completion of the two courses within this concentration, plus the Leadership course, will qualify the student for a Certificate in Police Leadership: Service Delivery.
  
  
• Supervisory Skills
  This certificate will be of interest to those preparing to become better communicators and supervisors, as well as current supervisors who want to improve their skill set.
  
  Successful completion of the two courses within this concentration, plus the Leadership course, will qualify the student for a Certificate in Police Leadership: Supervisory Skills.

Note: late registrations are only accepted with the permission of the Program Director.

Courses

We offer a broad range of courses in specific aspects of police leadership. You can register for them individually or as part of a certificate.

• Evidence-Based Policing
  Learn to use research evidence strategically to inform management and decision-making. This is a 12-week course.
  
  
• Leadership Dynamics (Replaces Police Leadership and Management Development)
  Develop your leadership skills by examining the five practices of 'exemplary leadership' and explore the concept of credibility and its role in leadership and development of relationships. This is a 12-week course.
  
  
• Ethics in Action (Replaces Ethics for Police Leaders)
  Examine how professional ethics apply to individuals and organizations and its role in leadership. This is a 12-week course.
  
  
• Global & Domestic Terrorism
  Draw on the latest terrorism thinking and research from a variety of academic and other sources to develop a broad understanding of terrorism as a complex social phenomenon and a challenging domestic and global security problem. This is a 12-week course.
  
  
• Interpersonal & Intercultural Communication (Replaces Communication Skills for Police Personnel)
  This 12-week course brings together the best theories and practices of communication between people in society.
  
  
• Coaching Skills for Leaders (Replaces Managing Police Performance)
  Coaching is comprised of a set of skills and a series of steps that help others become better at their jobs. There are many leadership styles that experts cite and describe; this course specifically examines the coaching leadership style. This is a 12-week course.

Local Government

Master the fundamentals of how local governments work and propel your community and career forward, whether you’re new to the municipal landscape or seeking to advance your current position. Our online certificate programs boost your confidence, broaden your knowledge of civic affairs, prepare you for professional designations, and—perhaps most importantly—equip you to better serve your community.

Certificates

• Associate Certificate in Local Government
  This associate certificate is intended to give those who work in the technical fields of local government a broader understanding and a working knowledge of the history, organization, challenges and opportunities for local government.
  
  
• Local Government Administration
  Completion of this six-course certificate will enable students to better serve the needs of their municipal council, manage service delivery more efficiently, improve their opportunities for advancement and generally conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism.
  
  
• Law & Ethics (Concentration)
  Gain an appreciation of the legal framework within which municipal government must operate and to help students understand when there is a need to seek the advice of a legal professional. It also includes a course on freedom of information and privacy foundations.
  
  
• Financial Administration (Concentration)
  Gain the foundational skills you need to budget and administer tax-payer funds wisely. This certificate can be completed in under two years and consists of six courses.
  
  
• Citizen Engagement & Consultation (Concentration)
  This certificate will provide an intellectual overview of why citizen engagement represents the foundation of democracy and how it can be implemented in a practical way in local government.
  
  
• Community Economic Development (Concentration)
  This certificate will equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide leadership in community economic development within a local government setting.
  
  
• Human Resource Administration (Concentration)
  Learn how to make good hires and develop peak performance in your organization. Designing appropriate jobs, making good hires and developing peak performance is more likely when the municipality has someone dedicated to this effort that has the knowledge, skills and mandate to perform this function. 

Advanced Certificates

• Executive Certificate in Local Government Leadership (Strategic Alignment Imperative)
  The Strategic Alignment Imperative is focused on helping senior administrators and elected officials navigate complex community and organizational challenges. Students will be awarded the Executive Certificate in Local Government upon completion.
  
  
• National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration
  This is an advanced certificate that requires the completion of a first level certificate or equivalent. This advanced certificate places greater emphasis on leadership and decision making and is intended to develop or enhance leadership capabilities.
  
  
• National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration for Alberta Students
  Students entering the NACLAA program for the first time or those transferring from another institution will receive their certificate from Dalhousie University.  Completion of NACLAA Level I and Level II from Dalhousie University provides the academic component for certification as a Municipal Manager in the Province of Alberta.

Fire Leadership

Today’s fire service needs leaders—professionals equipped to meet challenges and inspire change. Get what you need to step into a more advanced role through Dalhousie’s internationally recognized Fire Service Leadership Program.

Our courses build on your technical knowledge. You’ll develop administrative, leadership and critical thinking skills that will make an immediate difference to your job and career. You’ll be ready to navigate obstacles and create strategic plans to bring your organization into the future.

Dalhousie University has been a leader in fire service leadership and management development for more than 25 years. Offered 100% online, you’ll have access to leading experts and resources when and where it works best for you. Our program offers:

• access to experienced fire officials and experts

• actionable learning for immediate impact on your job

• the knowledge you need to take on more senior roles

• the courses required to gain professional certification

Certificates

Built for members of modern fire services, our certificates give you the knowledge and skills to get ahead in your profession.

• Fire Service Leadership (Prerequisite to the Certificate in Fire Service Administration)
  The Certificate in Fire Service Leadership (CFSL) provides fire service officers with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the fire service and add management education to their technical training. The CFSL has been offered across Canada since 1996. It is a prerequisite for the Certificate in Fire Service Administration (CFSA) and includes three required courses:
  • Station Officer: Dealing with People
  • Station Officer: Dealing with New Operations
  • The Environment of the Fire Station
    
    
• Fire Service Administration
  Specialize by choosing from five areas of concentration, including leadership, strategic planning, operation planning, emergency management and human resources. To obtain the certificate, students must complete nine courses (six required courses). Students are required to obtain some breadth of understanding in fire service administration.

Required Courses:

• Fire Department Human Resource Management
• Municipal Finance
• Fire Service Law
• Program Evaluation and Statistics
• Fire Service Strategic Planning I
• Fire Suppression Management
• Fire Prevention Management

Visit the program website at dal.ca/fire for a list of all courses, including electives.

• Incident Command
  A specialized certificate for experienced incident commanders exploring the latest research and techniques. The first course in this two-course certificate program introduces research theory that attempts to explain how the size up is conducted through recognition-primed decision making. The second course introduces the more social and political aspects of incident command research and builds on the psychological aspects developed in the first course.
  
  
• Theoretical Foundations of Incident Command: Thinking
  Theoretical Foundations of Incident Command: Acting (the above course is a prerequisite to this course)

Certification

• Fire Officer lll and lV Certification
  Leveraging courses from across our certificates, our certification programs provide all of the courses required to gain certification by both IFSAC and ProBoard – a important step toward professional promotion.

The Dalhousie Fire Management programs have received Fire Officer III and IV accreditation through the Nova Scotia entity, Nova Scotia Fire Service Professional Qualifications Board (NSFSPQB).

At least one Dalhousie University College of Continuing Education course must have been taken in September 2013 or later. All required Dalhousie University College of Continuing Education courses must have a minimum grade of 70% to qualify.

To discuss certification qualifications before applying and to access the necessary application form(s), please contact our Program Director, Grace Temani, at Grace.Temani@Dal.Ca. She will be pleased to assist you.

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist

The CEBS program offers three highly renowned designations in Canada covering all aspects of benefits and pensions:

• CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist) - The premier designation in benefits and pensions, considered the standard of excellence in the industry
• GBA (Group Benefits Associate) - a specialty designation focusing on life and health care and other group benefits
• RPA (Retirement Plans Associate)- a specialty designation focusing on all aspects of retirement plans

CEBS features a unique partnership with leading academic institutions. In Canada, the International Foundation shares the honour with Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In the U.S., CEBS is cosponsored by the International Foundation and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Each course requires successful completion of an exam. All courses can be self-studied. Optional online classes are also available. Contact our Registration team for more information at ccereg@dal.ca. 

Credit Union Institute of Canada Program

Dalhousie University’s College of Continuing Education partners with the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) and their education arm the Credit Union Institute of Canada (CUIC) to provide professional development courses for credit union employees at all stages of their careers. The success of credit unions has been due largely to the dedication and commitment to service excellence of credit union management and staff. In a rapidly changing financial services environment, providing service excellence to members rests increasingly on the ability of employees to learn new skills and keep pace with changes in the financial services industry.

What is the Credit Union Institute of Canada?

The CUIC is an independent, national, educational association which is part of CUSOURCE, a provider of development and learning systems to Canada’s credit unions. CUSOURCE is owned by the Canadian Credit Union Association. Established in 1972 and re-organized in 1990, the CCUA provides Canadian credit unions with professional development programs for their elected officials, management and staff.

Programs

The CUIC currently offers two professional studies programs that are co-sponsored with Dalhousie University's College of Continuing Education. Each program comprises a series of courses leading to a professional designation recognized throughout the credit union system. Some courses may be taken at approved colleges, universities, professional associations or other institutions. Others are offered directly through CCUA.

The College of Continuing Education and CUIC jointly determine the academic content and standards of the programs. The CUIC oversees all administration. Professional designations for each program are awarded jointly by CUIC and the College of Continuing Education.

General Studies Program (GSP)

The GSP is a nine-course program that provides a general overview of credit union administration and management. This program is suitable for entry-level, supervisory and middle-management employees. GSP graduates are awarded the professional designation, "Fellow of the Credit Union Institute of Canada" (FCUIC).

Management Studies Program (MSP)

The MSP is a twelve-course program that offers a mix of general and credit union-specific courses on credit union business management. This program is suitable for credit union employees in, or preparing for, middle-and upper-level management positions. MSP graduates are awarded the professional designation, "Associate of the Credit Union Institute of Canada" (ACUIC).

For more information, please contact our Student Services Team at continuinged@dal.ca.

Career Development Practitioner

Driven by today’s changing economy, the field of career development is rapidly evolving and expanding. It’s imperative for those involved – from job coaches to HR professionals – to keep pace with the changing landscape.

Our career development courses and Certificate of Professional and Leadership Studies in Career Development provide an opportunity for both new and experienced practitioners to deepen and refresh their knowledge, in line with the national framework of career development competencies. Participants emerge with the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage effective employment services for a wide range of clients.

Courses

Please note that courses can be taken individually or as part of a six-course certificate. Graduates will earn a Certificate of Professional and Leadership Studies in Career Development. Students who take individual courses will earn a course completion certificate.

• Transition Management
• Theories, Models and Strategies of Career Development
• Career Decision Making
• Supporting Career Searches
• Workplace Diversity & Inclusion

And one of the following advanced skill courses:

• Working with Mass Layoffs
• Working with Employers
• Supporting Military Members in Transition
• Supporting Individuals with Disabilities and Diverse Needs
• Supporting Individuals with Mental Health Considerations
• Indigenous Perspectives on Career Development

Leadership Development for Public Safety Communicators

Public safety communicators occupy a crucial position between emergency responders and the people they serve. You make decisions that save lives—ones that require up-to-date expertise in leadership, communication, negotiation and conflict resolution.

You’ll emerge from this program armed with:

• Leadership and teamwork skills that will immediately improve the services you deliver
• Tools to help you navigate and solve workplace challenges
• Marketable skills that position you for career advancement

Delivered through an easy-to-use online platform, you’ll study with, and learn from, colleagues and expert instructors from across Canada—at your own convenience. You’ll emerge from this program inspired, confident and ready to make an impact.

Certificate

This certificate program, designed specifically for public safety communicators, will give you a comprehensive understanding of your industry—and advanced skills to benefit your career, your organization and the public you serve. It is made up of five courses; four required courses plus one elective course of the students’ choice.

Required Courses:

• Human Resources Management
• Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication
• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• Organizational Behaviour

Electives (Choose One):

• Coaching Skills for Leaders
• Ethics in Action
• Leadership Dynamics
• Project Management Fundamentals
• Mastering Strategy
• Prior Learning Assessments

Students can apply for credit for prior learning. For credit to be awarded, the course must have comparable curriculum and rigor, been taken from a recognized post-secondary institution and have been completed within the last ten years. A grade of B or equivalent must have been earned. Contact our office for a copy of the ‘Prior Learning Assessment’ form; an assessment fee will apply. Please contact the Registration Team at ccereg@dal.ca for more details.

Medical Certificate of Death

Completion of this module will prepare nurse practitioners to complete a Medical Certificate of Death. It will assist the nurse practitioner to identify instances when completion of the certificate falls under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiners Office