Construction & Building Trades
Framing, wiring, pipework and welding taught in a live workshop.
- Carpentry Fundamentals
- Residential Electrical Basics
- Plumbing & Pipefitting
5 courses View area
Nanaimo · British Columbia · Canada
Learn a trade in twelve weeks. On the tools, in person.
Career Technical Centre runs 40 hands-on vocational courses across 9 subject areas. Every program is a single twelve-week block of workshop-based training — short enough to attend on a visitor visa, long enough to change what you can do for a living.
- 12
- weeks per program
- 40
- courses
- 14
- learners per class
- 100%
- in-person
Program at a glance
- Duration12 weeks (3 months)
- DeliveryIn-person training
- Class size14 learners maximum
- Study load20 hours per week
- ImmigrationVisitor visa — no study permit
- Total costCAD 2,835 all in
Programs by subject area
Eight subject areas. One format that works.
Choose the area that matches the work you want to do, then pick a course. Every course runs for twelve weeks, in person, with the same fee structure.
Automotive & Heavy Mechanics
Engines, brakes, diagnostics and EV systems in a working service bay.
- Automotive Service Fundamentals
- Diesel Engine & Heavy Equipment Maintenance
- Auto Body Repair & Refinishing
4 courses View area
Health & Community Care
Personal care, first aid and community support skills for care settings.
- Health Care Assistant Foundations
- Home & Community Support Worker
- First Aid & Emergency Response
4 courses View area
Hospitality, Culinary & Tourism
Professional kitchens, baking, front-of-house and tourism operations.
- Professional Cooking Fundamentals
- Baking & Pastry Arts
- Hotel & Front Office Operations
5 courses View area
Business & Office Administration
Bookkeeping, office systems, customer service and project coordination.
- Bookkeeping & Payroll Essentials
- Office Administration
- Customer Service & Sales
5 courses View area
Information Technology & Digital Skills
Helpdesk support, web development, data and cloud fundamentals.
- IT Support & Helpdesk
- Web Development Fundamentals
- Data Analytics Essentials
5 courses View area
Early Childhood & Education Support
Working with children and young people in classrooms and care settings.
- Early Childhood Assistant Foundations
- Education Assistant Skills
- Youth Program Facilitation
3 courses View area
Industrial, Marine & Logistics
Warehousing, marine deck skills, forestry operations and industrial maintenance.
- Warehouse & Logistics Operations
- Marine Deckhand Skills
- Forestry Operations Fundamentals
4 courses View area
Fashion, Beauty & Personal Care
Hair, barbering, skincare, nails, makeup and garment making.
- Hairdressing & Barbering Fundamentals
- Beauty Therapy & Skincare
- Nail Technology
5 courses View area
Why train with CTC
Built for people who learn by doing
We are a training centre, not a lecture hall. The whole model is designed around bench time, supervision and getting you competent quickly.
Workshop-first teaching
Roughly 70% of contact time is spent on the tools, in the kitchen, in the bay or in the lab. Theory is taught around the practical work, not before it.
No study permit needed
Because every program runs for 12 weeks — under the six-month threshold — you can attend on a visitor visa or eTA rather than a Canadian study permit.
Small, supervised groups
A maximum of 14 learners per workshop means real supervision, real feedback and genuine time on equipment every session.
Industry-current instructors
Our instructors come from BC job sites, kitchens, care homes and workshops. They teach what employers on the Island actually ask for.
Accommodation arranged
One accommodation fee covers all 12 weeks in CTC-arranged shared student housing, walking distance or a short bus ride from campus.
Transparent, fixed fees
Three published fees, no hidden extras. You know the full cost of your program before you apply for your visa.
Popular courses
Where most applicants start
A cross-section of our most-requested workshops. Each one is a complete twelve-week program.
Construction Trades12 weeks
Carpentry Fundamentals
Hand and power tools, framing, formwork and finishing carpentry in a full-scale workshop.
In-person Course details
Automotive12 weeks
Automotive Service Fundamentals
Full service routines, brakes, suspension, and workshop diagnostics on live vehicles.
In-person Course details
Health Care12 weeks
Health Care Assistant Foundations
Personal care, safe transfers, infection control and dignity-first practice.
In-person Course details
Hospitality & Culinary12 weeks
Professional Cooking Fundamentals
Knife skills, stocks, sauces and line cooking in a working teaching kitchen.
In-person Course details
Business & Admin12 weeks
Bookkeeping & Payroll Essentials
Double-entry bookkeeping, GST/PST, payroll cycles and accounting software.
In-person Course details
IT & Digital12 weeks
IT Support & Helpdesk
Hardware, operating systems, networking and ticket-driven support practice.
In-person Course details
Education Support12 weeks
Early Childhood Assistant Foundations
Child development, play-based learning and safe, inclusive early years practice.
In-person Course details
Industrial & Logistics12 weeks
Warehouse & Logistics Operations
Receiving, inventory, order picking, shipping documentation and materials handling.
In-person Course details
Application process
Nine steps from application to arrival
The process is deliberately transparent. You know what each stage costs, who is responsible for it, and how long it takes before you commit a single dollar.
No documents to uploadThe online form takes about fifteen minutes.
Decision in 3–5 working daysFollowed by your invitation letter by email.
Pay fees in stagesCourse and accommodation fees only after your visa is approved.
- 1
Submit application
15 minutes
- 2
Application review
3–5 working days
- 3
Receive invitation letter
Within 2 working days of a decision
- 4
Pay CAD 150 admission fee
Within 14 days of the invitation letter
- 5
Apply for your Canada Visitor Visa
Start at least 10 weeks before your intake
- 6
Receive visa decision
Varies by country
- 7
Pay course and accommodation fees
At least 4 weeks before your intake
- 8
Complete enrolment
2–3 weeks before your intake
- 9
Arrive in Canada
Weekend before your intake
Fees
Three fees. No surprises.
Published in full so you can budget before you apply. Everything below is in Canadian dollars and covers the whole twelve-week program.
| Fee | Amount | When it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Fee Confirms the student’s place on the program and secures the seat for the chosen intake.Paid once the invitation letter has been issued | CAD 150 | Paid once the invitation letter has been issued |
| Course Fee Covers all 12 weeks of in-person instruction, workshop materials, and the CTC certificate of completion.Paid after visa approval, during enrolment | CAD 1,035 | Paid after visa approval, during enrolment |
| Accommodation Fee Covers accommodation for the entire 12-week course in CTC-arranged shared student housing in Nanaimo.Paid after visa approval, during enrolment | CAD 1,650 | Paid after visa approval, during enrolment |
| Total program cost | CAD 2,835 | Excludes flights, insurance and visa fees |
Fees exclude flights, travel insurance, the government visa application fee, food and personal expenses. See the full fees and payment guide
Student voices
What learners say about the twelve weeks
“I had never picked up a welding torch before. Twelve weeks later I was producing clean fillet welds and had a shop in Nanaimo asking when I finished.”
“The class was small enough that the instructor watched every transfer I practised and corrected my technique on the spot. That is why it stuck.”
“Coming on a visitor visa made the whole thing possible for me. The invitation letter from CTC was clear and my application went through without a problem.”
Common questions
The things applicants ask first
Still unsure about something? Our admissions team answers enquiries within one working day.
Every program at Career Technical Centre runs for 12 weeks — three months — delivered as a single continuous block. There are no part-time or extended versions; the intensity is part of the design.
Our campus
1270 Strathmore St. Nanaimo BC, Canada
Our workshops, kitchens, care suite, service bays and labs are all on one site in Nanaimo, a harbour city on Vancouver Island with direct ferry and air links to Vancouver. Accommodation arranged by CTC is a short walk or bus ride from campus.
Talk to admissions
Not sure which course fits? Send us a note about the work you want to do and we will point you to the right program.
admissions@careertechnicalcentre.comContact formApplications are open for October 2026
Twelve weeks, in person, on the tools. Submit your application in about fifteen minutes — no documents to upload.
12 weeks · In-person training · Study permit not required — attend on a visitor visa