Courses
Education Pathway online courses include both self-directed and live class components. Self-directed (asynchronous) course components offer you the flexibility of completing the modules at your own pace, while scheduled live tutorials provide experiential learning via a web conferencing platform.
Assessments include individual and group work that support the development of oral and written submission skills before the IRB divisions.
There are 4 live, mandatory tutorials in total: one each in Immigration Division (ID), Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), Refugee Protection Division (RPD) and Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) courses. Tutorial attendance is mandatory and there is no make up for tutorials.
Please check the Course and Live Tutorial Dates schedule prior to selecting a group.
You must successfully complete each course in the order that they are listed below.
Foundations of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) – 3 weeks
- Legislation and Administrative Law, including the principles of procedural fairness and natural justice
- RCIC obligations to the IRB and under the Code of Professional Conduct
Foundations of the Immigration Division (ID) – 5 weeks
- Overall process and rules for Admissibility Hearings and Detention Reviews
- How to help a client appear before the ID and make the relevant applications and submissions
- How an ID Member conducts hearing and make decisions
- Possible remedies for a client who receives a negative decision
Foundations of the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) – 5 weeks
- Jurisdiction of the IAD and the process for helping a client appeal a decision of the ID or a visa officer
- How to collect relevant evidence and prepare clients and witnesses for an appeal hearing
- How an IAD Member performs their review and makes decisions
- Legal issues encountered at the appeal
Foundations of the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) – 5 weeks
- Jurisdiction of the RPD and the process for helping a client claim refugee or protected person status
- How to collect relevant evidence and prepare clients and witnesses for an RPD hearing
- How an RPD Member performs their review and makes decisions
- Legal issues encountered at the RPD
Foundations of the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) – 5 weeks
- Process of appealing a decision of the RPD
- How to prepare an appellant’s record, write a memorandum, apply the rules for new evidence on appeal, and prepare for RAD hearings regarding new evidence (as applicable)
- How a RAD Member performs their review of the evidence and makes a decision
- Possible next steps if the appeal is rejected
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes are aligned with the Essential Competencies for RCICs:
| Unit/competency # |
Competency |
| Unit 1 |
Apply foundational knowledge of the Canadian legal system, immigration and refugee legislation, regulations, policies, and case law, as they pertain to the representation of clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada. |
| Unit 2 |
Manage client cases before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada. |
| Unit 3 |
Conduct research of current, relevant and reliable information, legislation, policies, and case law to develop legal argument and strategy. |
| Competency 5.2, 5.4 |
Prepare for an appearance before each of the four divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada. |
| Competency 5.3 |
Present arguments before the four divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada. |
| Competency 8.1, 8.2 |
Use effective oral and written communication strategies when interacting with clients. |
| Competency 9.2 |
Evaluate options critically to solve problems, issues and challenges as they pertain to cases before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada. |
Questions?
For questions about the Education Pathway, contact sp-ps@college-ic.ca.