Diploma in Advanced Plumbing Technology

at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Canada

Captioners and court reporters are highly skilled professionals who can capture speech at speeds of 225 words per minute (wpm) and higher. Using an electronic shorthand machine and sophisticated computer technology, reporters translate a conversation virtually simultaneously to the printed word.

Being a captioner or court reporter is a profession like no other. It is exciting to meet the challenges when no 2 days are alike and when you learn new and fascinating information every day.

NAIT offers the only captioning and court reporting program in western Canada to be approved by the National Court Reporters Association - a 35,000 member organization based in the United States. Consequently, the program is well-regarded and graduates obtain employment not only across Canada and the United States, but around the world.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
In the Captioning and Court Reporting program, you will learn how to write machine shorthand at 225 words per minute (or faster). This will allow you to work as a court reporter, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) provider or broadcast captioner.

You can expect to learn and develop:

• The ability to write machine shorthand verbatim at 225 words per minute with 95% accuracy
• Proficiency with computer-aided transcription software
• Comprehensive English skills
• An extensive understanding of criminal and civil law
• Interpersonal and leadership skills

The healthcare industry continues to see a rapid increase in the usage of advanced medical diagnostic and therapeutic equipment to provide the highest level of patient care possible. As our dependence on high-tech equipment and technical expertise required by medical professionals increases, so have the technology-related risks to patients and clinical staff.

Biomedical engineering technologist careers have evolved to help manage technology-related risks in the health-care industry through the entire lifecycle of medical devices, including specification, inspection, calibration, repair and maintenance, and technical troubleshooting.

The Biomedical Engineering Technology program will provide you with fundamental knowledge and hands-on experience with electronics, microcontroller applications, computer network systems and medical imaging systems. You'll also become familiar with medical laboratory practices, anatomy, physiology and health technology management.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant training
The Biomedical Engineering Technology program will provide you with the skills of an electronic technologist with a specialized focus on biomedical equipment technology.
In your first year of study you will learn about electronics, microcontroller programming, math and computer systems. 

• Biomedical instrumentation
• X-ray and diagnostic imaging equipment
• Medical laboratory instrumentation

Supplementary courses in anatomy and physiology and medical equipment management complete the medical specialization.

Co-op
Students may be eligible to participate in a one semester co-op placement between their first and second year of training. Successful co-op students work in a program related, industry position and gain advanced job-readiness skills. Acceptance into co-op requires successful completion of first term coursework with a GPA of 2.3. 

Cybersecurity is essential to protecting organizations, networks, applications and users from a world of online threats. You will gain advanced operational skills and security strategies to defend against attacks and manage risk. You will also learn about the technical, legal and political issues regarding cybersecurity.

What You Will Learn
Advanced cybersecurity skills
The Cybersecurity post-diploma certificate will establish you as a leader with essential skills in a high-demand field.

Through the course of this 10-course program, you can expect to learn how to:

• Operate cybersecurity services and defend against existing and emerging threats targeting organizations and their assets
• Adapt and align information security strategies to an organization’s goals
• Manage cybersecurity governance programs that meet organizational, regulatory and industry standards
• Demonstrate leadership through critical thinking, communication, ethics and ongoing professional development that supports an organization’s cybersecurity
• Interpret and apply cyber risk management at operational and strategic levels
• Apply forensic principles to investigate security incidents
• Use penetration testing techniques to simulate a cyber threat and identify vulnerabilities

The Electrical Installations Technology diploma is your pathway to apprenticeship, and a unique opportunity to get the technical and career essential skills you need to succeed in the electrical industry.

The program focuses on theory and hands-on training required for the installation, repair and maintenance of electrical systems in residential, commercial and industrial environments. This program also teaches career essential skills such as communication, professionalism and collaboration, which will help you pursue a career in the Electrical Installations Technology field.

The Electrical Installations Technology diploma offers a direct pathway into trades training at NAIT without having to first be a registered apprentice.

Industry-approved training
A career in the electrical industry calls for an understanding of both technical knowledge and career essential skills. Learning outcomes for this program include:

• Understanding of industry standards, legislation, policies and practices
• Ability to:
  • Identify safety hazards
  • Explain, discuss and apply electrical theory and mathematics
  • Install, analyze and maintain rotating, static and solid-state electrical equipment and controls
  • Design, interpret and convert drawings and schematic diagrams for electrical installations
  • Communicate effectively using written, verbal and graphical means
  • Navigate, interpret and apply applicable sections of the Canadian Electrical Code Part 1 for electrical installations

The program content and structure aligns with Alberta Credential Framework expectations. This 2-year diploma program provides you with immediate opportunities for employment in the field of electrical installation. After completing the program, you will be eligible to enter into an apprenticeship and complete apprenticeship hours to receive a journeyperson’s certificate.

NAIT's Construction Engineering Technology program will provide you with a broad knowledge of the management, estimating and technical aspects of construction, with a primary focus on commercial and residential buildings and related support industries.

You'll develop your drawing interpretation, detail sketching and site surveying skills. You'll also be shown the ins and outs of project planning, contract administration and sub-trade coordination so you can advance your career into site leadership and project management.

The Construction Engineering Technology program works with a program advisory committee made up of industry experts who ensure the program provides students with the knowledge and skills currently required by employers. The program is also accredited by the Canadian Construction Association Gold Seal Certification program and by the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET).

Environmental Monitoring & Assessment students investigate the impact of human activities on air, water, soil and vegetation, and gain a solid foundation in environmental sampling, assessment and laboratory skills. Students learn how to monitor and assess environmental quality, apply principles of quality assurance/quality control, manage waste, and reclaim and remediate land. Graduates may conduct environmental site assessments, collect samples from surface and ground water, air, soil and waste, or analyze samples for pollutants in an environmental lab. They work with industry, consultants or government on land and water remediation and reclamation, and investigate environmental issues for various research groups.

Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
During the first semester, you'll acquire skills and knowledge in the general sciences of biology and chemistry, communications, ethics, botany, zoology, genetics, and lab techniques and calculations.

You'll then be trained in the following areas
Field Skills:

• Perform field analysis of soil, vegetation and water quality
• Monitor air pollutants
• Collect environmental samples from air, water, soil, plants and waste for further lab analysis
• Conduct environmental site assessments – ESA (Phase I - III)
• Maintain and calibrate field equipment for environmental sampling

Additional Skills:

• Design and manage group-based projects
• Measure effects of pollutants on the environment by studying toxicology
• Use current solid and hazardous waste treatment technologies and monitoring systems
• Use legislation and standards related to environmental issues
• Employ pollution prevention and pollution control technologies
• Use quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) principles to obtain accurate data
• Generate and keep detailed log books
• Compile and manage data using MS Office
• Write reports, perform literature reviews, and prepare and give presentations

Chemical Engineering Technology is a two-year diploma program that prepares the graduate for employment in the hydrocarbon and chemical processing industry (downstream petroleum industry). The program deals with the processing of oil, natural gas and bitumen into final products such as motor gasoline, diesel or jet fuel, propane, butane, utility gas and others. The program includes the study of the production of secondary petrochemicals such as ethylene, vinyl chloride, methanol and others.

Veterinary medical assistants provide support to clients, animal health technologists and veterinarians. Duties may include administration, animal handling and support with nutritional and pharmaceutical products. They also assist with record keeping and other clinical procedures and tasks.

This 1-year certificate program will provide you the skills and confidence you’ll need to work in a front-line position as a veterinary medical assistant in private veterinary clinics, livestock centres and animal shelters. In addition to classroom instruction, you’ll get in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in animal clinics across Alberta.

Good attention to detail? Thrive on a fast pace and heavy workload? These are important traits of people interested in this program. If you are a people person and enjoy helping them with their animals, this program is a good fit for you.

What You Will LearnCareer 
Hands-on, industry-relevant training
To work as a veterinary medical assistant, you will need to have a genuine interest in animals and their welfare. It’s important to understand that you will need to be comfortable working with a variety of animals, both large and small.

After a year of classroom instruction, your clinical placement will give you hands-on experience at an animal clinic where you’ll get a taste of what your future career could look like. Travel may be necessary as some placements are outside of Edmonton.

You will also regularly support the animal health technologists at the NAIT Animal Clinic. 

As a student in the program, you can expect to spend on average:

• 26 hours per week attending classes over the course of a semester 
• 15 to 20 hours per week studying and completing class assignments

The Digital Media and IT (DMIT) program is multi-disciplinary in its approach. Spanning a range of career opportunities from business analyst to visual designer, this innovative program allows you the ability to meet industry demand while developing skills aligned with your individual talents and inclinations.

The IT Business Analyst area of emphasis will show you how to translate business requirements into a language that IT developers can use to create software and hardware solutions.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
In the IT Business Analysis area of emphasis, you will learn how to help organizations determine their needs, identify problems and plan and implement IT solutions to those problems. You will learn how to design effective and efficient business processes, and how to clearly communicate business strategy and IT development plans.

You will also learn how to:

• Elicit business and software requirements directly from stakeholders
• Document requirements using industry-standard tools and templates
• Map and evaluate business processes
• Manage business analysis activities

Co-op Opportunities
As a result of DMIT's close connection with industry, various co-op opportunities exist for students in the DMIT program. Many companies offer our students paid co-op positions that provide direct experience in specific areas of study. Co-op is also seen as a staffing strategy for many organizations.

Accounting is the foundation for business, ensuring profitability and a source for strategic decisions. If you’re someone that enjoys detail-oriented, analytical work, this field will provide a challenging career.

In this program you’ll learn financial theory and develop technical expertise in accounting. In our hands-on classroom environment, we will teach manual accounting techniques as well as current software applications so you can stay competitive in an ever-in-demand industry. You’ll also benefit from managerial courses that will expand your knowledge and prepare you to work in supervisory positions.

Are you up for the challenge? Pursue a career that’s driven by data and critical to the success of business.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
In the first year of the program, all business students take the same 10 foundational courses in order to gain core business knowledge. In the second year of studies, you will take the required courses to get a specialized accounting diploma upon graduation. 

We foster skill development in personal and corporate taxation, external auditing and accounting information systems with an understanding of quantitative analysis techniques and creating connections to financial data.

Our accounting diploma program focuses on: 

• financial accounting
• internal and external auditing 
• data analysis 
• taxation 
• managerial accounting 
• budgeting