Entry requirements
Students are requested to have one of the following pre-requisites to qualify for enrolment into a Canadian Tourism College Adventure Diploma or Certificate program: 1. Grade 12 graduation from a Canadian High School or an equivalent level institution Worldwide; 2. Successful completion of the Government Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D); 3. Apply as a mature student, be over 19 years of age and successfully complete the Canadian Tourism College Entrance Exam with a passing grade of 65%. In addition, CTC recommends the following personal attributes: to like working with people, to have a positive attitude, to be enthusiastic, to be responsible, to be willing to learn and to be ready to take on new challenges and ideas. Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status is required. International students are required to possess a valid Study Visa by the program start date. International students are also required to have sufficient accident and medical insurance to cover any injuries or illnesses that may occur during the educational term. International students and local students where English may not be their first language are required to be able to write, converse in the English language and have a high level of reading ability. Recommended assessment levels are any one or more of the following: TOEFL score paper based 490 TOEFL score computer based 163 TOEFL Internet based 57 IBT TOEIC Test 720 Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) Successful completion of grade 12 English from a Canadian High School or Community College Successful completion of the CTC English Assessment with a passing grade of 65% Successful completion of ESL from a recognized English Language School If English is not the first language, we would like to recommend registration into CTC's 4-week English For Tourism Certificate program. If more comprehensive ESL training is required, please contact an Enrollment Coordinator at CTC so we can make arrangements for some online ESL training through CTC or assist in arranging ESL classes at a partnership school. Physical Ability Students must possess good health, excellent physical fitness and be able to swim. For the safety of all students and staff, students unable to meet the physical demands of field training may be subject to dismissal from the program. British Columbia Driver's License Students wishing to pursue the optional Class Four Drivers License must have a valid class Five British Columbia Drivers License and meet the application requirements as defined by the Motor Vehicle Branch of British Columbia. The Class 4 examination and license fee is approximately $160.00 Canadian dollars. Students may also be required to complete a medical examination prior to applying for this License and are responsible for any fees applicable to this examination. Student enrollment contracts: At time of enrollment, students will meet with the enrollment coordinator or communicate by correspondence or telephone to discuss the program of choice, preferred start date, financial arrangements and eligibility criteria for admission. Once the student has made the decision to join CTC, the contract of enrollment is completed at which time the Enrollment Coordinator will discuss and explain the Declaration Terms as well as the Refund Policy as per the guidelines as stated by the Private Career Training Institutions Agency of the Province of British Columbia, Canada as noted on the Enrollment Contract. Special Requirements: There may be individual or special requirements for particular Travel & Tourism programs at CTC such as the Adventure Tourism programs and the Pre-Employment Flight Attendant program. Please refer to the pre-requisites noted in the specific program outline for more details or consult with a CTC Enrollment Coordinator.
Course description
Full-time
Diploma: 46 weeks – 1335 hours
The Adventure Tourism Business Diploma is a unique and exciting way to achieve business competency along with professional practical skills training. This interesting and diverse Diploma has something for everyone and caters for short and long term business & career planning for each and every student in their own unique and individual way. From all perspectives, this is a great opportunity to embrace all aspects of Adventure Tourism from working in the front line to making the balance sheet and income statements workable and profitable. The focus of the Adventure Tourism Business Diploma is not just about learning client needs in a natural setting, it seeks to explore and demonstrate key competencies that are critical for success at all levels of the business from strengthening interpersonal skills to making more effective and successful decisions.
This Diploma is a one stop shop for all your needs today and everyday thus enabling many more future options to be considered as you grow and develop naturally through your exciting and challenging career. Adventure Tourism is one of the fastest growing areas and accounts for 9% of the total number of jobs within the tourism sector. Undertaking the Adventure Tourism Business Diploma with Canadian Tourism College makes perfect career and business sense, why? Because learning with the market leader in Adventure Tourism and the worlds only certified Internet and Computer literacy program coupled with cutting edge business training equals truly prepared industry professionals to take on the business challenges of tomorrow. Want to know more? Join us and experience what many in the Canadian Adventure Tourism Industry describe us as, “quite simply the best there is, in every way”.
Internet and Computing Specialist Certification (IC³)
This program is the world's first validated standards-based training and certification program for basic computing and Internet knowledge and skills. Successful completion of IC³ ensures you have the knowledge and skills required for basic use of computer hardware, software, networks, and the Internet. IC³ is the gateway to advancement in education, employment, or other certification programs. IC³ is divided into three parts: Computing Fundamentals, Key Applications and Living Online.
Microsoft Office Specialist (Office Specialist)
This program is the only comprehensive, performance-based certification program approved by Microsoft to validate desktop computer skills using the Microsoft Office programs:
Microsoft Word (Specialist & Expert)
Microsoft Excel (Specialist & Expert)
Microsoft Outlook (Specialist)
Microsoft PowerPoint (Specialist)
Microsoft Access (Specialist)
The Office Specialist program provides computer program literacy, measures proficiency, and identifies opportunities for skills enhancement. Successful candidates receive an Office Specialist certificate that sets them apart from their peers in the competitive job market. The certificate is a valuable credential recognized worldwide, as proof that an individual has the desktop computing skills needed to work more productively and efficiently.
The Office Specialist program is offered at two levels of certification: Specialist and Expert. Specialist is an introduction to the computer application, whereas Expert is an advanced level of the corresponding computer application.
Psychometric Assessment
Psychometric profiling is considered to be one of the most effective methods of learning key skills predictors in human behavior. Included in the program is an opportunity to participate in a profiling predicator assessment tool which reveals unique individual traits and predispositions allowing for understanding, growth and learning. Its uniqueness and accuracy methodology creates opportunity for improvement in team work, individual problem solving and conflict management along with leadership and motivation factors.
Conflict Resolution
This training will help develop skills in coping with conflict in an office environment. You will learn how to recognizing the needs of difficult people in a one-on-one or group setting develop non-threatening ways to start a dialogue, analyze people’s responses to non-stressful and stressful situations, develop strategies on how to handle conflict and develop strategies on how to have an optimum outcome that would satisfy all parties involved in conflict.
How to Lead a Meeting
In this area of training you will be introduced to a better understanding of staff meetings. You will learn the role of the Chairperson, secretary and participants in a staff meeting, how to prepare for a staff meeting, implement a staff meeting agenda, coordinate individuals so the meeting can start on time, assign responsibilities to each member of the meeting, demonstrate leadership by making sure that the meeting topics do not stray from the agenda and develop an action plan to ensure that meeting minutes are followed up on.
How to Give Effective Presentations
In this course you will be introduced to the basic steps, guidelines and errors in written, oral and visual presentations. You will learn how to explain the guidelines to a more effective presentation, identify various media to use in a presentation, evaluate the best media to communicate an idea, identify 10 key steps to making an effective presentation, demonstrate knowledge of the presentation subject matter, exhibit how the speaker is a key part of the presentation in their physical appearance, manners, and voice, avoid common errors in a presentation. You will present either a written, oral or visual presentation in class.
Study Skills
You will be introduced to a better understanding of how to study. You will learn the ability to set short-term and long-term goals and to design a plan of study that leads to short-term goals. You will also be learning strategies and techniques to improve memory retention, understanding how people learn, note-taking techniques for reading and listening, techniques for building and developing retention of daily lessons, skills in following instructions, search techniques, types of learning and use of feedback, test-taking techniques, and the ability to incorporate constructive criticism into study practice.
How to Work in a Team
In this area you will be introduced to a better way of working with colleagues in the office environment. You will learn how to explain the need for good working relationships in a work environment, differentiate effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills, utilize listening and observation skills in a case scenario, demonstrate tactful negotiation skills, explain the benefits of cooperation in an office environment, and apply problem-solving skills in a given scenario.
Adventure Tourism Fall Semester
Explorer First Aid
This course is an excellent introduction to backcountry crisis management and is ideally suited for anyone who works, plays or lives in remote areas. The emphasis is on making do with what's on hand in a wilderness environment while also learning to use basic medical supplies. This industry recognized curriculum is accepted by all outdoor agencies worldwide. The training prepares the outdoor guide to operate in road accessible areas, or to have quick and easy access to another guide with Advanced Back-Country first aid certification. Advanced Back-Country first aid certification is available in Winter Semester of this diploma program.
Leading Wilderness Trips
LWT training focuses on leading and managing wilderness trips while perfecting wilderness travel techniques. Studies in this course are primarily field-study environment. Students will be involved in navigation, group management and back country etiquette training. Training is conducted on campus and through multi-day field training sessions.
Ocean Kayaking
Ocean Kayaking will provide the student with the basic ocean kayaking skills in safety, maneuvering, equipment and self/group rescue. This training is in accordance with the guidelines of the Canadian Federation of Ocean Kayaking Educators (CFOKE) and successful graduates will be eligible to take the assistant guide exams. This module is conducted in a series of field training sessions.
River Rafting
River Rafting focuses on providing the student with the basic skills of Commercial River rafting. Graduates of this course will complete all the exam prerequisites to write the British Columbia River Rafting Guide Examinations.
Heritage Interpretation
This program follows the occupational standards set by the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC). In this course, the learner will develop the ability to identify and describe the principals of interpretation by using personal and non-personal interpretation by method and setting. To incorporate a variety of methods in program delivery, the student will use effective communication, interesting delivery techniques, know where to find information on a subject or area, prepare the content for an interpretative program, protect the natural resources and follow environment and cultural guidelines.
Wilderness Travel
Students will learn how to select clothing suited to wilderness travel based on geography, seasons, weather and type of travel planned. The learner will be able to describe and use appropriate equipment, describe wilderness travel techniques, perform orientation and navigation in the wilderness and plan a wilderness trip.
Operating a Tourism Business
This program follows the occupational standards set by the CTHRC for Operating a Tourism Small Business. Students will learn about advertisements used to promote the sales of adventure travel products and services, effective sales techniques for selling of products and services and customer service skills to promote sales and client loyalty. The student will learn about the day-to-day operations of an adventure business, accounting, cash control systems and to understand the content of an employee employment agreement.
Licenses and Certificates included in the Fall Semester
Explorer First Aid from Wilderness Alert-International Wilderness First Aid Associates Inc., Marine Radio Operators License and River Rafting Guide School certificate.
Students will also prepare for:
British Columbia Commercial Raft Guide License, Assistant Ocean Kayak Guide Exam and the Class Four Drivers License examination.
Important Note: Students enrolled in the Fall Semester who have already completed the Winter Semester, will be taking exams and studies to complete all the required certification and training for the Diploma.
Winter Semester
Advanced Back-Country First Aid
This 40-hour course builds on the foundational skills learned in the Explorer course. The focus of this high level training is on developing advanced backcountry crisis management skills, while emphasizing leadership consideration, complications and realistic problem solving. You will learn how to use backboards and oxygen, as well as air evacuation, long-term patient care, bursitis, tendonitis, eye injuries and lengthy outdoor field simulations.
This program is suited for guides that have quick and easy access to medical attention or another guide with Advanced Medicine certification.
