About this program

  • Credential Awarded: Certificate
  • Campus: NOTL / Online
  • Delivery Length: 12 Hours/Weekly (180 Hours Total)

Overview

Learn to speak effective English for your career in business, health or technology.

Niagara College offers Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT) courses to qualified new Canadian immigrants who already have experience or training in business, health sciences, human services or technology. These are free part-time courses with online and in-class instruction.

These practical and innovative English language courses will help you understand technology workplaces in Ontario, clearly and effectively interact with colleagues, clients, supervisors and stakeholders, and develop strong interviewing, networking, and career-building communication skills.

Highlights

  • This program is free to qualified new Canadian immigrants, and made possible through funding from Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Colleges Ontario.

  • Take one of three streams: Technology English, Business English or Health Sciences English, and focus on the English language training that is important to your career.

  • This is a part-time program that runs 12 hours per week. Six hours will be in-class and 6 hours will be on-line. Students must complete 180 hours to receive the part-time certificate.

  • Learn important skills in English, including: understanding workplace culture in your occupation/sector; how to interact effectively with colleagues, clients and supervisors; give and receive information by email and telephone; and interview and network effectively.

For more information about Occupation-specific Language Training programs, visit https://co-oslt.org/.

Educational Opportunities
  • ACE Certificate
  • Essential Skills for Employment
  • Postsecondary studies at the college level
  • Pre-apprenticeship, Apprenticeship and Skills Training programs
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Admission Requirements

  • You must be a a permanent resident of Canada or a convention refugee/protected person to take advantage of this program.
  • This program requires previous study in English to at an intermediate level (Canadian Benchmarks 6 to 8).
  • Proof of your Secondary School studies or above from Canada or from your country of origin.
  • Qualified candidates will be asked to attend an interview as part of the selection process.
  • Applicants must have experience or training in a related occupation (see "Previous Experience" below).

Previous Experience

Applicants must have experience or training in one of the following occupations, depending on the stream selected:

Business English
  • Running your own business
  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Hospitality
  • Sales and marketing
Health Sciences English
  • Nursing
  • Personal support work
  • Dental hygiene
  • Medical radiation technology
  • Sleep technology
Technology English
  • Engineering (electrical, electronics, mechanical, industrial, and information)
  • Architecture
  • Environmental technology
  • Computing technology
  • Information technology
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Availability

Workplace Communication Skills for Health Care – Online Delivery

Program Dates: April 6th 2026 – July 18th 2026

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How to Apply

If you are interested in becoming an Occupation-Specific Language Training (OLST) student, please click the “Apply” button below to complete the Immigrant Language Training Application form.

Apply

For additional information, please contact:

<!– Allison Radko, Immigrant Language Training Programs
Phone: 905-641-2252 ext. 4188
Email: [email protected]–>

OSLT: [email protected]

If you are eligible for this program, you must attend an interview as part of the selection process.

Newcomer Resources

For more information and resources visit the main NC Newcomers to Canada webpage.

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OSLT, funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Colleges Ontario

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After practicing medicine in Colombia for more than eight years, my biggest fear when I arrived to Canada as a skilled worker was the language barrier. I was afraid it could interfere with my project of being a Health Care Provider in Canada.

When I enrolled in the ELTE program at Niagara College, I met a committed team and other inspiring immigrants full of enthusiasm and energy and kept me motivated to pursue my dream. Not only have I improved my language skills, but I also gained a better understanding of Canadian culture. Moreover, the passion of teachers and staff helped me to build my professional network through the placement and they accompanied me when preparing for the Canadian Medical Council Exams, IELTS test, and university interviews. In addition, the experience with the Newcomer Programs at Niagara College gave me rich feed-back about my resume and my personal statement. With all this support, I was confident to participate in a very competitive process, looking for a medical residency position.

To believe in our-selves and to persevere is key for success in Canada. However, it was after the ELTE Full Time program at Niagara College that I was able to recognize how valuable I am for Canadian society, and with the tremendous improvement in my communication skills, I am proud to say I have been matched to a Family Medicine Program in Canada.

Cristina Alzate, OSLT for Healthcare Professionals Graduate

Once I left my home country and arrived in Canada, the challenges started.

I identified the main key to achieving the next steps was learning the language. For that reason, I focused on learning English as a second language. This process took me a considerable amount of time. As soon as I learned English, the doors of amazing opportunities were open to me.

Niagara College was my coach as an effective institution to develop my skills and get involved in the Canadian culture. It has also offered me the OSLT course in business and then the ELTE full-time program. Nowadays, I am enrolled in the first year of the Protection, Security & Investigations – Customs Border Services program to continue my post-secondary education.

I am deeply grateful to Niagara College for the right support and preparation that an immigrant needs. Niagara College gave me the tools to build a new life, and it is preparing me in my second career to be ready for the front line in a Canadian community.

Felipe Rivera, OSLT Graduate
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