Continuing Education

Palliative Care - Multidiscipline

Graduate Certificate
In Class Learning
Plan # P0067
Start date: Fall / Winter / Spring

About This Certificate | Program Delivery | Career Opportunities | Certificate Benefits | Obtaining Your Certificate | For Further Information

About This Certificate

 This certificate is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of all health care providers who are working with or caring for those individuals living with a terminal illness.

This certificate is aligned with the "National Norms and Principles of Practice" that have been developed by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association.

The “National Norms and Principles of Practice” developed by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association has been used as a basis for all of the courses in this certificate program.

Program Delivery

Individual courses are open to all students whether or not they are working toward the certificate.

Prerequisites may be required for these courses. Please refer to individual course descriptions for specific requirements.

Important Notes

PALL 1001 - Palliative Care - Introduction is a prerequisite for all other courses. All courses must be completed before registering for the Field Placement (PRAC 1007).  Students are required to complete a Police Clearance Certificate and a Niagara College Communicable Disease Surveillance Form prior to beginning the clinical placement.  Please allow at least two months for processing time.

Students who have successfully completed the Introduction to Palliative Care offered by the Hospice Association of Ontario (HAO) may apply to the Advanced Standing Department for an exemption for PALL 1001.

Certificate Requirements

Either a College Diploma or University Degree, preferably in a related discipline (as determined by the College), or an acceptable combination of related work experience and post-secondary education in addition to the courses required by this certificate (as determined by the College). These documents must be presented to the Registrar's Office with the Application to Graduate.

Career Opportunities

This certificate prepares individuals for rewarding work in palliative care.

This program is intended as an enhancement and enrichment program for people who already work in healthcare or human service areas.

Graduates of this program may combine their previous education with this certificate to move to an area in healthcare, social service, pastoral care, the funeral industry, bereavement counseling, and other areas where they can specialize in palliative care.

Graduates may become members of Palliative Care teams in hospitals, long-term-care, group homes, hospices, community care agencies, and other areas where the needs of palliative care clients are addressed.

Possible career paths include:

  • Palliative Care healthcare provider in a hospital
  • Palliative Care healthcare provider in long-term-care
  • Palliative Care healthcare provider from a community agency
  • Palliative Care Social Worker
  • Palliative Care Bereavement Counsellor
  • Funeral Home assistant
  • Palliative Care healthcare provider in a hospice
  • Palliative Care Pain and Symptom Management Nurse Consultant
  • Palliative Care Nurse Educator
  • Elementary, High School, or College/University Counsellor with palliative care education and skills for student grief counseling
  • Palliative Care Visiting Volunteer
  • Palliative Care Day Care Worker
  • Respite Worker

Certificate Benefits

This certificate provides the knowledge and skills for working in this highly specialized area of palliative care. Although graduates may specifically work in palliative care units, teams, and hospices, they may also choose to work in other areas of healthcare and human services.

For example, if a nurse graduate determines that he/she would rather work as a nurse on a surgical floor, or a clergyman graduate decides to run his/her own church rather than become the hospital pastor, they both will find that they are much better prepared for dealing with death and dying issues which arise during the course of their jobs.

The graduate will always continue to utilize the knowledge and skills that he/she developed during the palliative care program.

The life skills that are taught throughout the program will help in all areas of the graduate’s professional work and in his/her own life.

Obtaining Your Certificate (Application for Graduation)

Upon completion of all requirements, the student must complete an “Application For Graduation” form available from the Registrar’s Office.

If the student wishes to have their certificate presented to them at convocation ceremony in the Fall, there is a $25 fee.

Application, accompanied by fee (if applicable) must be forwarded to Registration and Records, Office of the Registrar before the application deadline.

For further information, contact:

Niagara College Registrar’s Office
Email: registrar@niagaracollege.ca
905-735-2211, Ext 7500

For Further Information

Niagara College Continuing Education
Email: ce@niagaracollege.ca
Web: www.niagaracollege.ca/ce
Phone: 905-735-2211, ext. 7510.