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About the program

An Ontario College Graduate Certificate in immigration and refugee case management will train students to support legal practitioners, specifically immigration lawyers and licensed immigration and citizenship consultants, in their legal practice. The program will combine specialized immigration, refugee and citizenship law knowledge with interpersonal and legal administrative support skills. Also, students will learn how to use Microsoft suite applications, Adobe, legal accounting software, and immigration case management /project management software.

Due to privacy of immigration cases, the experiential learning in this program will focus on mock interviews, case-based role play, virtual tours and workplace simulations. These experiences will provide students an opportunity to apply their knowledge to manage the operations and case files in immigration law/consulting firms, government, and non-government organizations. The program will also appeal to individuals who are currently employed in a law firm or immigration firm who wish to progress into a more senior role. The flexible delivery format will allow students who may not be able to attend in-person classes the opportunity to learn asynchronously. Potential students may have some of the skills required for career advancement, but may be lacking specialized knowledge of immigration, refugee and citizenship law or a formal credential.

This program does not qualify graduates to provide legal advice or to practice as a regulated immigration consultant or lawyer.

Course fees to complete this program total approximately *$7,750.00.

*This is the estimated amount for domestic students and may differ if students take equivalent courses. Fees are paid when registering for each individual course and are subject to change each term.

Admission requirements

  • An Ontario College Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Degree or equivalent

Note re: admission requirements

  • If your transcripts are from outside of Canada, you will need to obtain a document to document general evaluation. You can use an approved provider of credential evaluation services such as ICAS or WES, or you can request a credential evaluation through the college using the Assessment of International Credentials for Admissions and Credit Transfer online form.
  • Applicants possessing degrees/diplomas from institutions where the language of instruction was not English will be required to provide test scores as evidence of their English language proficiency. Test scores, if required, would be a minimum of TOEFL iBT 88 with no individual skill less than 22; IELTS 6.5 with no bands less than 6.0; CAEL 70 with no sub-test band scores less than 60; PTE Academic 58; CELAP (Conestoga English Language Assessment and Placement) 82 or higher; Cambridge Exams 180 (no individual score less than 170); or equivalent scores in other recognized standard tests of English.

Admission procedures

  • Apply at Ontario Colleges - www.ontariocolleges.ca
  • Final selection is made following an assessment of the admission requirements

Graduate opportunities

Pathways are possible from most Ontario College diplomas to this program, not limited to Office Administration Legal Assistant Program, Office Administration - Executive, Business, Business - International Business, Social Service Worker, and Community Settlement Services diploma programs. This program will make an excellent choice for college and university graduates with two-to-three-year diplomas and degrees from various disciplines with an interest in law-related careers, especially in the immigration law field. In addition, students in Graduate Certificate programs such as Project Management, Administrative Business Management, Human Resources Management and Global Business Management who are looking to further their studies may also be interested in this program.

For more details on related occupations, job market information and career opportunities, see the Government of Canada website: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

Program outcomes

  • Manage respectful and collaborative professional and interpersonal relationships that align with the provisions of privacy and confidentiality laws and ethical principles governing legal professionals.
  • Document and communicate information in adherence to legislation, regulation, and workplace standards.
  • Maintain currency in knowledge of immigration and refugee law, regulations, policies, and application procedures to support the legal practitioner.
  • Manage constraints, deliverables, timelines, and resources to meet requirements for workflow management and office administration.
  • Adapt management strategies and techniques in response to the daily requirements of managing an office.
  • Manage immigration case files and projects using technological tools to support collaboration, monitoring, and information distribution.
  • Manage case file flow to ensure it is consistent with the requirements of the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the Immigration and Refugee Board.
  • Research and summarize relevant statutes, regulations, and case law to support the legal practitioner.

Program related resources

Program contact

Interested in taking this program full time?

See our Immigration and Refugee Case Management full-time program for more information.


Continuing Education
Upcoming registrations

Mark your calendar with our registration dates, so you can plan your future.

Spring registration: Now open
Fall registration: Opens July 21, 2025