Bookkeeping is one of the oldest professions in the business world. It began in ancient Mesopotamia, where farmers and herders needed to keep track of their crops and livestock. Their form of bookkeeping relied on the usage of tokens, and this development marked the beginning of an entire industry of professionals who would continue to gain importance as the modern business world evolved.

Today, the world of accountancy is multifold. No business or industry, no matter how large or small, how self-contained or externally divided, can function properly and ethically without the work of accountants. There are two major forms of accounting that are distinct from each other: managerial accounting and financial accounting. When considering a career as an accountant, it is important to obtain a good background education in the principles of both forms before making the decision regarding which kind of account you want to become.

Managerial, or management accounting is an internal form of accounting employed primarily within single businesses and concerned with the growth and development of that business. Its interest is fully absorbed with the costs and profits of a company with minimum regard to external considerations, like shareholders or outside investors. A managerial accountant works closely with a company in terms of decision-making, planning, and assisting in the company's forward-looking strategies. If you consider yourself more of a team-player within a group of shared interests, cost and managerial accounting is best suited for your career aspirations.

In contrast, financial accounting is a bit wider in scope. Financial accountancy is more of a central mind, tying and sharing financial information together for a large collection of interested parties, like companies, stockholders, banks, and even government agencies. Financial accountants are responsible for measuring and monitoring performances and profits and reporting constant financial feedback to all of the interested users. Unlike the managerial accountant, the financial accountant is less concerned with the day-to-day operations of an individual company. If you have more of a mind for mining data and finding patterns, consider specializing in a career as a financial accountant.

When considering enrolling into an accounting college, choose a program that offers students a generalized education in the early semesters. This allows the student to get a taste of all the various forms of accounting before having to decide upon a specialization. Not only will the student get a basis in both managerial and financial accounting, but also some other accounting specializations that could be pursued, such as taxation, business finance and applied accounting systems. Another important consideration in selecting a program is having good transfer options after the early semesters. A basis in accounting could lead the student to other areas of the business world like business marketing, insurance, administration or financial services.

Obtaining good accounting training, therefore, opens up to the future accountant a wide variety of options in the business world. But for those dedicated to working in the exciting world of number-crunching and financial planning, whether within the family of a single company or as the networking centre of the larger financial world, then management accounting or financial accounting is a great career you can count on.

Visit Mohawk College for more information onaccounting courses.

 
The cost of an education today is often seen as proportional to the kind of salary one can expect upon graduating and entering the chosen field or industry. This is why so many people are considering enrolling in two- or three-year programs in many business-related fields, especially accounting.

Whether you've just graduated high school and are gearing up to enter post-secondary education for the first time, or are a mature student looking to go back and get a fresh start in a new career in accountancy, everyone needs to consider the cost of their time in training. It isn't just tuition that can add up; there are books and other academic expenses, as well as the cost of living of being a student and not being able to work full time. Sure, there are plenty of part-time jobs one can get on the side, but often they can be tiring and boring and contribute nothing to your academic and career aspirations as an accountant.

Some schools, however, offer the accounting students the opportunity to work while studying in an accounting-related job. With this comes dual benefits of making money whilst gaining experience at the same time. Here are some of the jobs offered to students who enroll in accounting courses with an 'earn while you learn' program.

- accounts receivable: handling the debt or money owed to a business by its clients

- accounts payable: handling the credit owed by a business to its suppliers

- bank reconciliation: detailing the difference between the data of a bank's statement and that of a business

- job costing: calculating the costs in preparation for a job

- process costing: tracing direct costs and allocating indirect costs involved in a job

- perpetual inventory: updating of available inventory for a job

- personal tax preparation: preparing tax returns such as income tax for individuals

- financial statement analysis: preparing formal records of a financial activities of a business or individual

- budget preparation: planning all financial expenses and revenues for a business   

- variance analysis: analyzing the difference between planned budgets and actual revenues and expenditures

- payroll: preparing the sum of all salaries, wages and bonuses for a company's employees

among others

Another advantage to an accounting school which offers this kind of work program is that it can help the student get a taste of many different aspects of the accounting industry. As there will come a time in their studies, and especially after graduation, when one will have to choose a specialization and pick a career, this experience can help students make that choice more confidently.

If you're studying to become an accountant, why prepare coffees to help pay for your education when you can prepare tax statements? Why budget your living expenses when you can prepare financial budgets?

Visit Mohawk College to find out about accounting trainingand other business programs.

 
How often does a visit to the family doctor always lead to a second visit to the local pharmacist? We all know those dedicated apothecary workers are experts at reading those illegible scribbles the physicians made on those valuable slips of paper. But the pharmacist and the pharmacy technician need much more knowledge and expertise than mere bad handwriting discernibility.

A pharmacy technician is a healthcare worker who acts primarily as an assistant to a licensed pharmacist, but could also work in many other related functions. Although not a licensed pharmacist, a pharmacy technician does require a diverse and engaging educational program before being able to work. Because of the many functions and areas of industries where a pharmacy technician can work, the courses they take over four-semester programs gives them a wide knowledge of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. For those looking to pursue a career that can combine knowledge of everything ranging from anatomy to legislation and human relations, then enrolling in a pharmacy technician program may be worth considering.

Not just anyone can apply into a pharmacy technician diploma course. Often one must have a minimum of their Grade 11 or 12 in several subjects, such as English, mathematics, chemistry, biology and physics. It is also a good idea to have a high proficiency in computer skills like basic Microsoft Windows OS. Because many programs have limited enrollment, having higher than just-average grades and proficiency will help get you into the most competitive programs. Once enrolled in a program for pharmacy technician training, one will begin getting equipped with a diverse education.

- It will often begin with the acquiring of basic knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. This will help the student understand the effect of medicine on the body and its various organs.

- The student will learn the role of pharmaceuticals within the greater healthcare industry, including its ethical ramifications.

- Mathematical calculations will be applied to basic pharmaceutical calculations, familiarizing the student for the measuring and preparing of prescription drugs.

- The use of retail pharmacy computer software is taught to help accurately enter different varieties of prescriptions.

- Learning how to form important connections between health information systems to specific clinical practices helps the aspiring pharmacy technician gain better information literacy and management skills.

- A program will make the student understand the various laws and regulations that the pharmaceutical industry is subject to learning how to apply proper compound sterilization methods.

- Teach the student how to adapt their own attitudes and behavioral habits to work better with pharmacists and within the greater community.

- Gaining knowledge of management and the business of the pharmacies by learning about merchandising, inventory, retail and profit margins.

These are just few examples of the kinds of courses offered in schools of health science with programs for pharmacy technicians. The training is a long path with many interesting stops and visits along the way.

Visit Mohawk College for more information on studying at a health science college.

 
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” These words were spoken by the Chinese philosopher, Confucius, twenty-five hundred years ago, but they remain today as true as ever. But the heart is so much more than the metaphor for the individual's emotional life. As we have come to understand the science of the body, this muscular organ at the centre of the circulatory system has been given great significance in the healthcare industry.

You don't have to become a doctor to specialize in helping others have healthy hearts. There are many qualified assistant careers that are taught that can put you in a position to work with doctors in treating various conditions of the heart, for example, the cardiovascular technologist and cardiac sonographer.

Cardiovascular technology is an assistant to physicians dealing with diagnosis and treatment of cardiac and peripheral vascular problems. In order to become a cardiovascular technologist, one has to complete a two-year program that has accredited status (for example, by the Canadian Medical Association). These programs prepare the future professional to perform a variety of tests, such as:

- Electrocardiography traces impulses from the heart with electrodes.

- Holter ambulatory monitoring observes electrical activity of the cardiovascular system over extended periods of time.

- Exercise training, for example stress tests conducted on a treadmill for blood pressure information.

- Pacemaker follow-up involves regular checkups of the functioning of an internal electrical heart regulator.

- Ambulatory BP monitoring involves the intermittent monitoring of blood pressure.

After completing these various health courses, many graduates continue their education to get training in diagnostic cardiac sonography. Also known as an echo-cardiographer, or cardiac ultrasound technologist, these specialists use ultrasound to examine and monitor the heart and its various components and functions, for example blood flow, valve and muscle functions, and chamber sizes. While cardiac sonographers are not responsible for making diagnoses and deciding upon treatments themselves, they work closely with the doctors to whom they present their findings and results to make further analyses and treat the patients.

Pursuing health and technology training in these fields is hard work but with rewarding results. Programs for cardio-medical assistants take the student through thorough theoretical education and clinical practice. They give the student extensive laboratory experience, with simulated and real situations using state-of-the-art equipment. An excellent cardio program should also offer the student real clinical training with affiliated clinical agencies.

Charles Dickens once wrote, “There is a wisdom of the head, and a wisdom of the heart.” With hard work and good schooling, achieving a diploma as a cardiovascular technologist can give you the wisdom of the mind to become a professional servant to the heart.

Visit Mohawk College for information on healthcare training.

 
If technology can be said to be the handmaiden of the healthcare industry, then there are few other specializations which have such a great relationship with this modern servant than that of medical radiation sciences. This is one of the largest and fastest growing fields in healthcare for many reasons, among the most important, as we continue our understanding and combating of the various forms of cancer. Because of the ever-improving technology and the growing demand of specialists and assistants in his field, there are many colleges and institutions offering programs of study in medical radiation science (MRSc). Is this career right for you? What kind of medical radiation science would best suit your career aspirations?

When researching schools, there is an ideal structure to the program that you should keep in mind. You want a program that introduces the student to all of the aspects of this science in the first year in a generalized common set of courses. This will give you a better idea of what specific area of MRSc you want to pursue, at which point you can specialize in second and third years. A good school will utilize integrated theory and clinical education while also giving you plenty of clinical practice experience in actual laboratories. Finally, even after specialization, you should be able to continue to work in an inter-professional manner with students in other MRSc programs.

A lot of healthcare careers in MRSc can be divided into three main categories: medical radiation technologist, diagnostic medical sonographer, and radiation therapist. While a good background in math and physics is highly valuable for all of these, these specialists also require excellent communication skills.

The medical radiation technologist is a radiography specialist who focuses on X-Ray technology to diagnose and treat injuries and illness with electromagnetic energy. They must be able to both assist doctors and communicate well with patients to ensure maximum safety standards during technical procedures.

A diagnostic medical sonographer is an ultrasound specialist who assesses medical conditions with generated sound-wave images. These specialists must be able to determine very subtle visual cues to help locate any unhealthy area or irregularity.  Like the radiographer, they too must be good with patients who will undergo seemingly unsettling examinations.

Finally, the radiation therapist is the specialist who administers the treatments to cancer patients using high-energy radiation. This is a sensitive career because of the nature of the patients' conditions, and while being technically proficient, they must also be extremely compassionate and understanding with people. Often, the radiation therapist develops personal relationships with their patients who typically have treatments lasting many weeks. Radiation therapy also works closely with many other healthcare specialists, like oncologists, nurses and nutritionists.

Studying medical radiation science can be a long and enduring education. But the career at the end of the journey will be extremely gratifying to you, and appreciated by countless patients and their loved ones. Like the long journey of technology in the service of healthcare, the right healthcare training will put you in the right direction and help you reach your goals.

Visit Mohawk College for more information on health and technology.

 
Chemistry has come a long way. It began in the old kingdoms of Egypt and developed through ancient times as metallurgy and atomism. By the medieval era, belief in a Philosopher’s Stone, which could transform any metal into gold, led to the rise of alchemy. Although ultimately a failure, alchemy formed the basis for modern chemistry.

Today, the medical and healthcare industries owe much to the field of chemistry for the development and improvement of medicine and prescription drugs. Because not every doctor is a chemist, we have the much needed roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to simplify the administration of prescription drugs to patients.

The pharmacy technician, also known as a pharmaceutical technician, is a professional in the healthcare industry who works with licensed pharmacists. They have a variety of functions and can work in a wide range of medical facilities and areas of industry. As a career, the pharmacy technician combines the skills and will to help patients, assist pharmacists and doctors, and work with the healing power of chemistry. It is a challenging career that requires thorough training, but one that pays off not only in terms of competitive salaries, but also because pharmacy technicians know they are working in the business of helping and healing.

To get started in this career, take the time to research some pharmacy technician programs. Many programs vary so you should have an idea of what a great program should emphasize in their training. Some of the key subjects that are covered are:

- assisting pharmacists in delivery of pharmaceutical services

- knowing legislation and methodology of dispensing prescriptions

- preparation and distribution of pharmaceuticals

- drug inventory controls

- learning classes of available drugs and medical devices

- simulated lab courses of community and hospital pharmacy practice

- compounding techniques in the preparation of sterile and non-sterile pharmaceuticals, and others

After a thorough training from an institution which has some sort of accredited status from a national institution (for example, the CCAPP), you should expect to enter an internship or job-placement at some sort of pharmacy.

Aside from your local community pharmacy, a career as a pharmacy technician can take you many other exciting places to work, like hospitals, but also pharmaceutical manufacturers, and insurance companies. Pharmaceutical technicians are even often needed in the service of the government and the military as well.

Because of these diverse areas of employment, it is advantageous to get a degree at an institution with strong ties to other programs in the healthcare industry, such as nursing degree programs. Just as chemistry is the science that binds the elements, the healthcare industry binds together so many professionals with a common goal, fighting sickness and disease and improving the health of the population. Becoming a pharmacy technician is an excellent way to join in this unified goal.

Visit Mohawk College for more information on nursing courses and other degree options.

 
For centuries, buildings have stood as the collective homes of the people. So it is no surprise that constructing a building requires the team effort of so many skilled tradespeople. In order to ensure that these structures endure all kinds of outside weather, while being clean and sanitary on the inside, it is crucial that those we entrust to build and maintain our buildings have the best possible training. Two of these important team players are the plumber and the roofer, and both professions benefit greatly from apprenticeship programs.

If you are interested in a career as a plumber or roofer, more is involved than just sending out a bill. Entering the plumbing or roofing trades means entering the world of providing a valuable service that keeps people safe from the elements and maintains a level of health and sanitation. That is why you should choose a school with an apprenticeship program as part of the training. By learning the basics from professional instructors and then being given the opportunity to put that knowledge to use, you won’t just be getting an optimal education, but the immediate satisfaction of contributing your learned skill to these important industries.

Obtaining a certificate doing a plumber apprenticeship will give you just as much hands-on experience as classroom learning. When looking into programs, find out if you must first be registered as an apprentice in the plumbing trade. Once you’ve registered and enrolled in a program, get ready for a wide variety of lessons and training in the following areas:

  • The proper usage and safety procedures for  power tools and piping materials
  • Learning how to read blueprints and make plans for pipe layout and supports
  • Understanding how to follow building codes for different kinds of projects
  • Installing, maintaining and repairing water systems for drinking water, wastewater, and hot water
  • Installing, maintaining and repairing hot water tanks and heating systems
  • Learning the legalities of construction codes and regulations
Waterproofing and weatherproofing our homes and buildings is just as important as managing the flow of water and waste throughout. Similar to a plumbing training program is that of a roofer apprenticeship program. Once registered as an apprentice in the roofing trade, the course work and apprenticeship training will teach you the following skills:

  • A thorough knowledge of construction materials, roofing and waterproofing products
  • Understanding different building types and different roofing options
  • Following plans, specifications and building codes
  • Becoming familiar with roofing membranes, asphalt and fiberglass shingles, bituminous felts and papers, insulation, sheathing, sheet metals and caulking
  • Learn how to waterproof and damp-proof buildings of all types
  • Workplace safety
You can’t learn to swim by reading a book about swimming. Likewise, we would not want our buildings’ plumbing and roofing managed by individuals with nothing more than an educational background. An apprenticeship program in these fields will give you the confidence to do great work, and give us the confidence to know our homes and offices are safe, clean, and greatly maintained.  

Visit Mohawk College for more information on apprenticeship programs.

 
With so many options for nursing schools, the prospective student has some tough decisions to make before even setting foot in a classroom, let alone in a hospital or any other medical facility. There are some fairly obvious factors that require consideration, but sometimes the little details are what really differentiates programs and gives some schools a greater competitive standing.

Some of these obvious factors are things like tuition fees; a school should not cost above one's means. Another is the length of the program; not everyone has a lot of time to dedicate to education before entering the workforce. Location, or the option to pursue online courses remotely, may also be important for some students. Finally, a school with a job-placement program certainly offers advantage to their counterparts. So, what are the finer details to consider, and how does one go about researching schools to get all the necessary information?

A career like nursing requires just as much hands-on experience as theoretical training. Therefore, the school's facilities are crucial to getting the best education. Find out some details: when were the facilities built or acquired? How old is the building where the department is housed? Is the department location somewhere isolated or is it on a university campus? A great nursing school should be adjacent to a real university medical centre. But there's more, attending a school of nursing means more than getting your hands on great equipment. Some schools have actual mini-hospitals incorporated into their departments, complete with full body-simulation mannequins. Because the experience of being a nurse brings with it so many different challenges, any program that focuses on simulation of real situations should top your list.

Once you've checked out where you'll be studying and with what equipment, find out something about the classes themselves. Some nursing programs pack plenty of aspiring nurses into lecture halls, but this class atmosphere won't give you the personalized relationship with faculty that really makes a difference. If the school has clinical placement groups as well, the ideal student to teacher ratio should be around 8:1. Regarding the teachers themselves, expect nothing less than a clinically-experienced faculty consisting of both nursing professors as well as registered nurse technologists. And faculty shouldn't be the only source of education and guidance. Feedback from graduates and other peer-tutoring programs greatly increase the student's scope of education.

Nursing is a lifelong profession that never ceases to offer new challenges and greater senses of gratification. A good nursing career begins with a great nursing school, with top facilities, dedicated teachers, and a long line of successful alumni. Taking the time and effort to do your homework about which school is right for you is the first meaningful assignment in earning your degree or diploma in this rewarding field of medicine and healthcare. Not only will you know the difference once you have made the right choice, but the countless doctors you aid and the patients you serve will too.



Visit Mohawk College for more information on applying to a nursing school

 
If you’re looking for a career that combines precision thinking, an eye for detail, meticulous dexterity, physical strength, and above all, the satisfaction of creating valuable and useful products, consider welding or another mechanical trade. There are many professions in this field which have long and challenging histories, being behind some of the greatest technological innovations.

                                                                                                           

Some careers to consider are:

·         Welder

·         Steamfitter or pipefitter

·         Sheet metal worker

Like most old professions, jobs in metalwork (and today, an increasing amount of plastic and polymer) are often taught through the apprenticeship system. Because of the exact specialized knowledge and skill of these trades, you wouldn’t trust your education to anyone but the most experienced teachers. In the apprenticeship system, these teachers are always tradespeople first, and instructors second. This is not to say that the best welders or steamfitters do not make good instructors in themselves. Thanks to the many colleges and vocational schools that have fully-integrated apprenticeship programs, you can be sure you’ll get the best of both a learned education, and applied practical work experience.

Welding is no doubt an extremely exciting job due to the dangers associated with working with extreme heats and molten material. No amount of college learning can prepare the future welder for all of the hazards and safety precautions that are part of the job. This is precisely why a welding apprenticeship is the only way to not only train the mind and body, but also hone the instinct required to be safe and responsive to any possible danger.

No doubt practice makes perfect. Once a good deal of preparation has been completed regarding safety and cautiousness, next is exactitude in motor skills and coordination. While some people may be naturally more dexterous than others, when it comes to handling welding equipment, it is pure practice and training that makes for a job well-done. Without the transition phase between school and work provided by apprenticeship training, an aspiring welder may never get the freedom to sometimes make mistakes before they seriously count. Mistakes are part of any great learning process, and learning is the primary job of the apprentice.   

One might have a keen mind and fascination for metallurgy, thermodynamics, and chemistry. There is no doubt that welders, steamfitters and sheet metal workers must enjoy expanding their knowledge. But many jobs in these fields also demand great physical strength. Attending a college with welder, steamfitter, or sheet metal worker apprenticeship programs is not only a great way to keep in shape. It will also let you know your own boundaries in terms of endurance to physical strain. After your apprenticeship, you might discover you prefer the theoretical angle, but at least you will have that invaluable experience from the other side.  

Whether grooving metals and thermoplastics, fabricating and laying out piping, or bending, curling, and cutting sheets of metal, college and apprenticeship programs is how to prepare the body, mind and instincts needed to succeed.

 

Visit Mohawk College for more information on steamfitter apprenticeships and other apprenticeship programs.

            
 
When one thinks about apprenticeship programs, certainly there are several obvious industries that come to mind. For example, automotive mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and welders are some of the few categories of employment associated with apprenticeship-style training. What most of these have in common is their obvious hands-on technical skill-set.

But today, not all apprenticeship positions are reserved for just these kinds of industries. Many new areas of expertise are taking advantage of the combination of theoretical and practical education given through colleges with apprenticeship programs. Here are some examples of programs and how they utilize the apprentice system to best prepare aspiring career professionals.

Child and Youth Workers

Child and youth workers are specialists working with young children, teenagers, and their families, helping them establish optimal environments for the children with an emphasis on self-esteem and positive growth. With sufficient in-class training activities will get the opportunity through an apprenticeship program to get agency placement to continue learning while working as an apprentice.

Early Childhood Educators

Early childhood educators, or child development practitioners, work with very young children to encourage and ensure a meaningful experience for the child’s independence and decision-making skills. Mixing theoretical training with a college’s on-site family-resource programs helps the smooth transition from learning to doing. Placements for the apprentice can be in daycare centres, nursery schools, and parent-child drop-in centres. One could also focus on working with children with special needs or learning disabilities.

Social Workers

 

Developmental social workers use a variety of skills to help improve the quality of life of individuals, families and communities that must deal with developmental disabilities. Some of the skills taught in a college program and continued through apprenticeship work include psychology, social policy, public administration and human development studies. Apprentices can expect to continue their training in community agencies, special needs agencies, and school boards.

The above programs, unlike the obvious service style jobs like automotive apprenticeships, focus more on social and community development. Below are some examples of the more typical apprenticeship programs in the service-industry.

·         Horticultural technicians, studying grass and plant care, water conservation, and development and maintenance of landscape construction. Apprentices can work in nurseries, golf courses, municipal parks and botanical gardens.

·         Instrumentation and control technicians, gaining the skills to repair, maintain and calibrate industrial controlling and measuring instrumentation. Apprenticeship programs often have placements with mining companies, chemical manufacturers, steel producers and pulp and paper processing plants.

·         Tool and die maker, getting theoretical and practical experience making and modifying tools for industries while getting a background in metallurgy and blueprint interpretation. An apprentice can focus his experience on making, inspecting or operating machining tools

Because apprenticeship programs are opening up to an ever-increasing variety of careers, we are ensuring future generations with the best-trained and most-highly skilled practitioners of so many of our leading industries.



Visit Mohawk College for more information on apprenticeships in Ontario.