Alberta Learning Information System (ALIS)
Finding updated information about potential careers your students may be interested in is easy, thanks to the Government of Alberta. The Alberta Learning Information System (ALIS) will provide you with the information needed when making decisions about careers and the training necessary to achieve employment in a profession that interests your students. This website contains information on career planning, scholarships, occupations, post-secondary programs and the application process. ALIS focuses on Alberta institutions and job information.
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship training has certainly been an under-appreciated sector by Career Counselors in the past...but no more! Alberta's industries are hungry for technical skill sets that only come with apprenticeship training. For students who are superior "hands-on" learners, apprenticeship is an excellent choice! As well, salaries in trades continue to rise while they stagnate in other areas...An apprenticeship is a post-secondary education program that combines work experience, on-the-job training and technical training.
Students seek out a journeyman in the trade of their choice willing to sponsor them as an apprentice. An apprenticeship training period can last between one and four years, depending on the trade chosen. 80% of an apprentice’s education takes place on the job and the remaining 20% is done at an approved college or technical institution.
Apprentices are required to write an industry exam at the end of each period of training. When the student has met all the requirements of the program, a Journeyman Certificate is granted. The Apprenticeship program is a mutually beneficial arrangement. The apprentice has a mentor willing to teach the technical skills and to provide practical training in a working environment.
The Journeyman has the opportunity to train employees in a manner that will provide them with skilled staff who will help build their business. This is a link that will take you to a list of all recognized trades in Alberta...the amount of trades that a student can choose from is quite stunning! http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-occupations/trades-occupations-list/
Many colleges offer pre-employment programs for students who are interested in a trade but unable to secure an apprenticeship. For example, Lakeland College's pre-employment electrician program gives the student the skills and information necessary to become an apprentice in the electrical field. Graduates with an attendance record of 90 percent or better are eligible to write the first year Alberta Apprenticeship Exam if the student meets trade entrance requirements. These programs are expensive but do give the student an edge when seeking an apprenticeship. Just a reminder that there are many scholarships available to students who wish to pursue a trade!
Apply Alberta
The Apply Alberta system was put in place to simplify the post-secondary application system for students applying to colleges and universities in Alberta. Students can apply to multiple institutions using information they input only once. This is important because there are application fees that must be paid to the post-secondary institutions, usually using a credit card. Convenience aside, one of the benefits of using the Apply Alberta website is that a student can order their official transcripts to be sent to the institutions to which they are applying for FREE!
Ordering the transcripts are part of the step by step process they will go through using this website. Before they begin this process, it is recommended that you give the student an updated Course Mark Inquiry (CMI). This can be obtained from the high school. This CMI contains all of the courses a student has been awarded credit for by Alberta Education. It also has a student's Alberta Student Number, which Alberta Education assigned to them. A copy of the most recent report card is needed if midterm marks are requested.
Link to a list of participating post-secondary schools.
Link to the step-by-step application process.
Career Inventory
Xello is an interactive career planning tool that students, teachers and parents can access online. With this program, students create a profile of their academic life to date that will help them explore different career options, create portfolios, and determine what courses they need to embark on a desired career path.
Student accounts are active from year to year so throughout high school students can continue to update information. If your school uses Xello, you will generate usernames and passwords for your students. This link will take to you to the login page on the Xello website.
Scholarships
Education is expensive. Many parents start saving for their child's education early and can pay for all or part of it reducing, or eliminating, the need for student debt. Helping students find scholarships can also ease the financial burden post-secondary attendance can create. Scholarship opportunities can be found in many different places. Looking for scholarships offered by the institutions where students wish to apply is usually a good starting point. Students coming out of high school are eligible for early enrollment scholarships or scholarships pertaining to their area of interest.
The myth that scholarships are only available to students with a high academic average has long been "busted." Many scholarships require students to demonstrate a strong volunteer spirit and community involvement. Encourage students to track and record their volunteer experiences. Scholarships can have very specific parameters. For example, scholarships may be available only to students who live in a certain area of the province. They can even be specific to children of parents who belong to certain organizations or places of employment. The ALEXANDER RUTHERFORD SCHOLARSHIP is available to all students in Alberta who meet the criteria.