Canada is a perfect study destination for international students. We’ve curated a list of ten most sought-after careers in 2020. To help you make an informed decision, with each field, we’ve also mentioned other important things such as present annual tuition fees at the top three universities, and the average salary in 2019 with respect to them. let's continue :

6. Utilities Manager

• Annual tuition fee at Mohawk College (Advanced Diploma in Energy Systems Engineering Technology): CAD 17,562
• Annual tuition fee at Carleton University (Bachelor of Engineering in Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering): CAD 39,798
• Annual tuition fee at Saskatchewan Polytechnic (Diploma of Power Engineering Technology): CAD 16,700
• Average annual salary: $99,918

These people plan, direct, and control the operations of utility companies offering services such as the distribution of electricity, water, heating oil, natural gas, as well as, water treatment and waste disposal/recycling. As a utilities manager you may be able to find employment in heating fuel distribution companies and in private and public sector utilities. Since the term “utilities” covers a broad range of services, your job responsibilities will depend on the specific field you choose to work in. 

Electrical power distribution managers handle the operations of various electrical power distribution systems such as transmission stations, generating stations, and distribution networks. You may also need to plan and direct a municipal electrical power establishment’s distribution activities. If you choose to work as a water supply manager, you’ll be responsible for managing the water purification process, filtration, and pumping operations, as well as, scheduling and overseeing the plant equipment maintenance. As a natural gas supply manager, you’ll handle the distribution of gas to consumers and monitor supply inventories. Waste systems managers need to deal with solid/liquid waste collection and disposal systems. As a petroleum product distribution manager, you’ll be planning and directing the distribution of various heating oil products to regional storage sites and retail distributors.

To become a utilities manager, you’ll need to obtain a college diploma or bachelor’s degree in the appropriate discipline you want to work for. For instance, if you want to work as a water supply manager, you should get a degree or diploma in water resource technology. Similarly, electrical power distribution managers need to have a degree/diploma in electrical engineering. In some cases, it may also be possible to demonstrate appropriate work experience as a substitute for educational qualifications. You should also note that several years of supervisory experience in a utilities operations department related to your chosen field is required to work as a utilities manager. In addition, a professional engineer certification is a general requirement for managers of utility operations that deal with transmission and distribution of natural gas, heating oil, and electrical power. You may also need to obtain a professional license from an appropriate regulatory authority before start working as a utilities manager. Depending on your occupation, licensing can be voluntary or compulsory. You can check out this link to see if you are into a regulated occupation in your territory or province and what is the regulatory authority that you need to contact to complete the certification process.

7. Construction Manager

• Annual tuition fee at George Brown College (Advanced Diploma in Building Renovation Technology): CAD 14,330
• Annual tuition fee at Centennial College (Graduate Certificate in Construction Management): CAD 14,140
• First year tuition fee at St. Clair College (Diploma in Construction Engineering Technician): CAD 15,234
• Average annual salary: $83,909

Construction managers tend to deal with two different aspects. First, the technical aspects of construction projects and second, the administrative duties associated with construction project management such as regulatory compliance, budgeting, employee management, etc. Therefore, to become a construction manager, you need to obtain a diverse range of skills and knowledge backed by high-quality training. The usualjob responsibilities of these people include planning, organizing, managing, and evaluating the activities of a construction department within an organization or a construction company. 

It’s important to understand that for construction managers, it’s essential to be able to clearly understand the company’s financial position so they can figure out ways that help it run profitably. Therefore, a good understanding of developing marketing plans and managing finances is a must-have quality. Another unique skill that’s required to be a successful construction manager is a robust understanding of the bidding process. In addition, since these are the people who guide a contracting business or a construction department toward the most profitable projects, it’s essential for them to develop an effective network of the best tradespeople. Apart from these, one of the most crucial skills for any construction manager is the knowledge of how to motivate and inspire a team while cultivating an environment of mutual respect, trust, and dedication to quality standards.

Generally, to become a construction manager, you need to obtain a college diploma in construction engineering or a university degree in civil engineering. And depending on your career goals, you may also need to earn a master’s degree in project management. In addition to these, it’s generally required to have many years of experience working in the construction industry including as a field superintendent or construction supervisor. You may also need to obtain a trade certification such as the Gold Seal Certification offered by the Canadian Construction Association. A Gold Seal not only demonstrates your expertise as a skilled professional but with it, you’ll be able to work as a construction manager across Canada as well.

8. Registered Nurse

• Annual tuition fee at Trent University: CAD 24,600
• Annual tuition fee at University of Alberta: CAD 27,000
• Annual tuition fee at University of Lethbridge: CAD 17,526
• Average annual salary: $79,976

Nurses form the biggest group of healthcare providers in Canada leading the way for healthcare optimization for all Canadians. In this profession, you’d not only be able to care for people but be able to choose from a diverse range of settings – from working with various healthcare providers to educating the future healthcare providers of the country. Essentially, nurses work in phases of health, injury, illness, and disability and hence, there is no shortage of professional development in this field. It’s important to note that you’ll be able to use the title “nurse” only when you become registered or licensed by the nursing regulatory association, college, or body in the particular Canadian province where you intend to work. In Canada, there is no national licensure or registration process for nurses and each territory and province has its own regulations. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that you meet the required standards set by the specific regulatory body, as well as, the assessment process.

To become a registered nurse, you need to have a well-rounded education and expand your competencies continually to be able to adapt to the steadily advancing healthcare system. Presently, all territories and provinces, other than Quebec, need a bachelor’s degree for registered nurses to enter the field. Entry-level registered nurses are generalists and able to practice competently, safely, and ethically regardless of the setting they are working in. In addition, a bachelor’s program essentially provides the nurses with the knowledge and skills they need to perform complex healthcare tasks. Registered nurses are expected to develop and implement diversified, effective plans for treating complex health conditions, managing chronic disease, and assisting during the transition from a healthcare facility to the community.

The post-secondary nursing program contains an in-depth study of various concepts including theory and clinical instruction in surgical and medical nursing. It’s possible to complete a bachelor’s nursing degree program in two to four years. In every province, different types of programs such as advanced, condensed, and accelerated are available to make the process easier. 

It’s also possible for IENs (internationally educated nurses) to relocate to Canada. In that case, you’ll need to complete a bridging course which will let you acquire the clinical knowledge and experience required to start nursing practice in the country. To become a registered nurse in Canada, a General Certificate of Registration is a must for internationally educated nurses. In this process, you’ll need to meet registration requirements such as proof of authorization to work in the country, completion of a nursing program which is equivalent to a 4-year bachelor’s degree in nursing or a diploma in practical nursing, nursing practice in your chosen category, completion of the NCLEX-RN developed by the NCSBN, and proof of language proficiency.

9. Financial Advisor

• Annual tuition fee at Trent University (Bachelor of Science in Financial Analytics): CAD 24,600
• Annual tuition fee at George Brown College (Honours Bachelor of Commerce): CAD 17,160
• Annual tuition fee at University of Lethbridge (Bachelor of Management in Finance): CAD 17,526
• Average annual salary: $78,416

If helping Canadians in managing their finances and meeting their financial goals is something of your interest, becoming a financial advisor is something you can look forward to. Essentially, you’ll be giving your clients advice on how to manage their money and hence, you need to be well versed in the market and knowledgeable enough to offer guidance on investment, savings, and insurance tools they should invest in. The financial advisor is an umbrella term that covers a broad variety of specializations such as financial planner, insurance advisor, bank financial advisor, mutual fund salesperson, stockbroker, etc. As the names suggest, your responsibilities will vary from one role to another. For instance, as a financial planner, you’ll guide the clients toward financial stability helping them in managing their investment and insurance needs. Similarly, an investment advisor’s role is to recommend good investments along with providing advice on mutual funds, bonds, and stocks.

Since there isn’t any official designation called “financial advisor”, you’ve to be certified to be able to offer investment advice. Most financial advisors come with a college degree in finance, economics, business, or any of the related fields such as accounting. Some common specialized degrees include BS-Finance, BS-Economics, BA-Accounting, etc. Once you’ve obtained a specialized degree, you need to focus on taking courses that would help you make a leap forward in achieving your goal of becoming a financial advisor. There are many different courses that cover a wide range of subjects such as portfolio management, asset allocation, Canadian securities industry and regulation, taxation, code of ethics, among others. 

Once you’ve completed your graduation and got sufficient knowledge to support your preferred path, you must take the CSC or CSI Global Education’s Canadian Securities Course. This course is offered by the CSI Global Education (known as the Canadian Securities Institute earlier) and is mandatory for those to work as investment advisors in Canada. It’s important to note that completing this course before you find an employing firm isn’t mandatory. But you’ve to complete it before being considered for a role by an employer. Additionally, you’ll need to take one of some additional courses after being hired. These include CPH (Conduct and Practices Handbook Course) andWME (Wealth Management Essentials Course). The Canadian government also gives recognition to other courses offered by other institutions such as CFA Institute, IFSE Institute, etc. In case you want to sell mutual funds, you’ve to obtain a license through the MFDA (Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada). You’ll need at least 12 months of experience working as a securities advisor during the 36 months to be able to apply for securities registration. This experience can be earned through different ways such as working in related investment fields like securities trading, investment banking, etc; employment with a registered advisor, a registered dealer, etc; working in legal, accounting, etc. Apart from passing the essential CSC exam, there may be additional exam requirements depending on your ultimate career goal. These include CIF (Canadian Investment Funds Exam), CFP (Certified Financial Planner Exam), among others. In Canada, all investment advisors have to register as a stockbroker, and depending on what you sell, you need to register with one of the two regulatory bodies – the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA) or the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC).

10. Petroleum Engineer

• Annual tuition fee at Cape Breton University (Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Petroleum): CAD 7,370
• Annual tuition fee at University of Alberta (BSc in Petroleum Engineering): CAD 24,474
• Annual tuition fee at University of Regina (Bachelor of Applied Science in Petroleum Systems Engineering): CAD 22,967
• Average annual salary: $69,549

Petroleum engineers deal with the exploration and extraction of natural gas and crude oil deposits. They also plan, design, and supervise projects associated with drilling, completion, and testing of oil and gas wells. Apart from petroleum engineering, the other main discipline that’s associated with the oil and gas industry is Geology. In petroleum engineering, you’ll be studying the origin, occurrence, accumulation, and exploration of hydrocarbon fuels, as well as, Geophysics that deals with natural science associated with the earth’s physical properties and processes. In short, as a petroleum engineer, you’ll evaluate gas and oil reservoirs to evaluate their profitability along with examining the geology or potential drilling sites, planning the most efficient way of drilling, managing the equipment, monitoring yield and developing modifications during production, etc.

Generally, petroleum engineers specialize in a specific aspect of drilling operations. For instance, production engineers are responsible for monitoring production and figuring out the ways to coax out more from an under-producing well. Similarly, drilling engineers chalk out the best ways of drilling a specific well so that it’s not only safe for people and the environment but economically efficient as well. 

In most cases, a university undergraduate degree is the minimum education requirement for working as a petroleum engineer. However, post-secondary programs such as petroleum engineering, geological engineering, civil engineering, etc are the most applicable for this field. During the course, you’ll be acquiring knowledge on rock properties, natural gas engineering, well construction, etc along with experiencing the work process on the field under appropriate supervision. Canadian universities and colleges offer different types of courses for students looking to step into the field of petroleum engineering. Upon completion of the appropriate course, you may be able to find employment under job titles such as petroleum engineer, subsea engineer, production engineer, reservoir engineer, etc. Overall, petroleum engineers play a crucial role in today’s economies by ensuring compliance with industry standards, environmental and safety regulations, best practices, and help countries move toward energy independence.

Parting Thoughts

So, this was the curated list of the ten most valued careers in Canada. Apart from these, plenty of other valuable courses are also offered by Canadian universities and colleges that would help you make a big leap forward in your career. While it’s quite understandable that studying your chosen field and making a career in Canada is both rewarding and exciting, there are some essential things that you must need to take care of to ensure that your study in the country remains a comfortable and smooth one. Let’s take a quick look at these things.

• An acceptance letter: Obtaining an acceptance letter from a DLI or Designated Learning Institution is the first step toward studying in Canada. A DLI is essentially a school that has got approval from one of the Canadian provincial governments for hosting international students. Therefore, before applying to a Canadian college or university, be sure it’s on this list.
• A study permit: A study permit will grant you the legal authorization to study at a DLI in Canada for over six months. To obtain a study permit, you’ve to furnish an acceptance letter along with proof of funds and other required supporting documents.
• Proof of funds: You need to show that you’ve got enough funds to support yourself. These funds have to cover the cost of tuition together with living expenses for the 1st year of study.
• Identity proof: You must have a valid identification issued by the government.

Just make sure that you’ve followed this checklist before you head to Canada for studying. And the outstanding educational experience in Canada would surely help you accomplish your career goals.