Centennial College

Human resources analysts/researchers, consultants, coordinators; labour relations coordinators, salary/ wage analysts, compensation and benefits researchers/analysts, coordinators, officers and consultants; employee benefits officers, consultants and coordinators — these are some of the titles you can obtain after attending the benefits management program at Centennial College (officially known as Pensions and Benefits Management). But what exactly does this field entail? Those in benefits management and Employee Benefits Programs are employed by organizations with employee benefit and pension plans, especially those that are mid-to-large sized; organizations that function in an advisory capacity to group benefit and retirement plans such as unions; insurance providers and actuarial firms, pension plans and governmental regulatory bodies. Their jobs include informing employees of the benefits that are available to them while at work and after retirement, helping prepare documents for investments, preparing annual government returns, helping in tax reporting and loan processing and helping people to ensure that their investments incurs optimum profits.

At Centennial College, students can complete an education in benefits management and employee benefits in just one year. In order to apply, they must submit an official transcript that demonstrates proof of successful completion of a post secondary advanced diploma or degree program. In some cases, Centennial College will consider applicants presenting a combination of partial post secondary education and relevant work experience, open to all disciplines. Also required are an interview, resume as well as English proficiency.
 
Students learn from the industry leading certified employee benefit specialist (CEBS) curriculum, which is supplemented by graduate level instruction in courses such: Strategic Compensation (helps students develop a solid understanding of the strategies, issues, process, and techniques involved in developing and administering a compensation system); Contemporary Organizational Behaviour (follows the social science approach to studying organizational behaviour by beginning with an examination of individual sources of behaviour, progressing through collective and interpersonal interaction, and ending with consideration of organization-wide variables and issues); Group Benefits, Personal Taxation, and more. Students also study emerging trends and issues in the field such as changing legislative requirements. Throughout their benefits management and employee benefits courses, students participate in case studies, simulations, and project-based learning with a focus on developing project management, teamwork, report writing and presentation skills.
 
In the employee benefits and compensation field, CEBS is widely recognized and respected. Students completing the Benefits Management program will be eligible to earn a designation in two distinct areas of specialization — group benefits (GBA) and group retirement (RPA) — from Dalhousie University and the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP), subject to successfully completing the required professional exams and complying with its professional requirements. Any exam credits from the specialty credentials can be applied towards the CEBS credential requirements.