About
These courses have been designed to help internationally educated healthcare professionals across Canada develop the communication competencies they need to succeed in their fields. The course content focuses on patient interactions and includes other profession-specific tasks as relevant.
To ensure everyone can access these programs with minimal wait times, the same courses are offered fully online across the country in collaboration with our partners:
Course for Nurses
Communication for Nurses helps internationally educated nurses develop and enhance the communication skills they need to successfully complete complex, language-based nursing tasks in Canada and to pass the Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN).
In this course, we will help you:
- Develop the skills and strategies you need to successfully complete complex nursing tasks that require clear communication
- Demonstrate these skills and strategies in simulated, skill-specific, language-based tasks
This course is delivered entirely online and has four separate units, with each unit focusing on a specific language skill. You can choose the units you want to take, and you can take more than one unit at a time. All units are offered regularly, so you will have multiple opportunities to take them.
The Listening Unit:
- Is sixteen (16) weeks long
- Requires 6-8 hours a week to complete the online coursework by the deadlines
- Requires that you already have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in listening
- Ends with a listening assessment to provide you with an updated CLB score
- Has an instructor available to answer your questions
The Writing Unit:
- Is ten (10) weeks long
- Requires 6-8 hours a week to complete the online coursework by the deadlines
- Requires that you already have a CLB 6 in writing
- Ends with a writing assessment to provide you with an updated CLB score
- Has an instructor to give you targeted writing feedback and answer your questions
The Reading Unit:
- Is ten (10) weeks long
- Requires 6-8 hours a week to complete the online coursework by the deadlines
- Requires that you already have a CLB 7 in reading
- Ends with a reading assessment to provide you with an updated CLB score
- Has an instructor available to answer your questions
The Speaking Unit:
- Is sixteen (16) weeks long and self-directed
- Requires 8-10 hours a week to complete the online coursework by the deadlines
- Has two, 1.5-hour videoconferencing classes to attend and actively participate in
- Requires that you already have a CLB 7 in speaking
- Ends with a speaking assessment to provide you with an updated CLB score
- Has an instructor to facilitate your online classes, give you targeted speaking feedback, and answer your questions
To take any unit, you need to be:
- A permanent resident (in progress or completed) or a CUAET visa holder
- An internationally educated nurse (IEN) working or intending to work in your field in Canada
- Residing in Canada
For all units, you will also need:
- A desktop, laptop, or tablet computer with internet access, headphones, and microphone
- Suitable high-speed internet
For more information or to register, please contact:
Olha Shutikova | 902-406-3085 | healthcarelanguage@isans.ca
Course for Medical Graduates and Pharmacists
Communication Strategies for Patient Interactions helps internationally educated medical graduates (IMGs) and pharmacy graduates (IPGs) pass the licensure exams for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and develop and enhance the communications skills they need to interact with patients empathetically, respectfully, and professionally.
In this course, we will help you:
- Actively listen to patient concerns and history
- Communicate with patients empathetically, respectfully, and professionally
- Improve your communication skills and confidence to help you pass the OSCEs
This course is:
- Fully online
- Nine (9) weeks long
- Repeated; new classes begin regularly
To complete the online coursework, you read lessons, post in discussion boards, and submit assignments. You also participate in two, 1.5-hour videoconferencing classes each week.
At the end of the course, you will participate in a patient simulation session, receiving feedback on what you did well and how you can further improve your communication skills to better prepare for the OSCEs. You will also receive a listening and speaking assessment to provide you with updated Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) scores.
To take this course, you will need to:
- Spend 8-10 hours a week to complete the online coursework by the deadlines
- Attend and actively participate in two, 1.5-hour videoconferencing classes each week
To be eligible to take this course, you need to:
- Have a CLB 6666 (or higher)
- Be a permanent resident (in progress or completed) or a CUAET visa holder
- Be an international medical graduate (IMG) or an internationally educated pharmacist (IPG) intending to work in your field in Canada
- Be residing in Canada
You will also need:
- A desktop, laptop, or tablet computer with internet access, headphones, and microphone
- Suitable high-speed internet
For more information or to register, please contact:
Olha Shutikova | 902-406-3085 | healthcarelanguage@isans.ca