General
1. Is all CHA Learning course material online?
2. Can I start my course/program at anytime throughout the year?
3. English is not my first language. Can I complete my program in any other
language?
4. I’ve just faxed you a document. Will you confirm receipt of this fax?
5. I cannot remember my password to login to the CHA Learning website. Who
do I contact?
Fee Payments or Ordering Documents and Course Materials
6. Why do I need to pay the application fee? Can’t I just submit my tuition
payment?
7. I am ready to pay my application fee/tuition/textbooks. To whom do I make
the cheque/money order payable?
8. Can I pay my tuition or book fees using an installment plan?
9. I’ve been accepted into a CHA Learning program. How do I go about paying my
tuition?
10. Do I have to pay tuition for the 2nd year of my 2 year program?
11. Do I have to order my textbooks on the CHA Learning website or can I
purchase them through a third party?
12. How do I go about ordering textbooks?
13. I need to obtain an official course transcript, how do I do this?
Registration & Acceptance
14. After I have applied online, when can I expect to hear from CHA Learning
regarding my application status?
15. I applied to a CHA Learning program over 4 weeks ago, and I have not heard
anything. Who should I contact?
16. I’m not receiving emails from CHA Learning. Why?
17. What is a Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) review, and can I
apply for a PLAR for all programs?
18. I applied to a program last year, but did not commence my studies, do I
have to re-apply?
19. I’m interested in applying for the Health Information Management program.
Do I really need to submit all those enclosures?
20. I’m interested in switching careers and moving into the health care field. Can
I enroll in one of your programs?
21. I’m interested in applying for the HIM program. Can I do my practical
experience sessions at the facility that I work in?
22. Is the Medical Terminology short course a prerequisite for the HIM program?
Program Completion
General
23. Who will be marking my unit assignments?
24. Can I submit my unit assignments at any time, or is there a set schedule?
25. What is the Intramural Session, and do I need to attend it?
26. Does the tuition cover the cost of rthe registration fee for the Intramural session?
27. Does my tuition payment cover the transportation, accommodation and
meals during the Intramural Session?
28. Does CHA arrange the transportation and accommodation for the Intramural
Session?
29. Once I have completed the program, when can I expect to receive my
certificate of graduation?
Management Programs
30. If I am interested in the Long Term Care Management (LTCM) program or the
Health Services Management (HSM) program, do I need to have a university
degree to apply?
31. I would like to enroll in one of the Management programs (Long Term Care
Management, Health Services Management, Modern Management, Risk
Management and Continuous Quality Improvement). What are the
prerequisites for the programs?
32. I am a Long Term Care Management or Health Services Management student
and I have completed my university component. What documentation do I
need to submit to CHA Learning and who should I send it to?
Health Information Management
33. What is the HIM Field Placement and can I complete it at my place of
employment?
34. I would like to write the Canadian Health Information Management
Association (CHIMA)’s national certification exam. Do I contact CHA Learning?
35. I have arranged with CHIMA to write the national exam; however, I
understand that CHIMA needs an official copy of my CHA Learning transcript
before I can write the exam. Do I have to order this transcript online (see
question 9)?
36. I’m having problems accessing WinRecs and/or the Terminal Server. What do
I do?
Food Service Nutrition Management
37. I’ve completed the FSNM program; do I automatically become a member of
CSNM?
General
1. Is all CHA Learning course material online?
Currently, CHA Learning offers only one program that is completely online: the Medical Terminology short course. All other CHA Learning programs are paper based, distance education programs.
2. Can I start my course/program at anytime throughout the year?
With the exception of the Medical Terminology short course and the Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety in Health Services program, all CHA Learning courses begin on September 1st each year. Registration for all courses with September start dates begins in February. Please see the Important Dates page for more information.
3. English is not my first language. Can I complete my program in any other language?
All textbook, study materials and examinations are printed in English. Assignments and exams for Health Information Management and Medical Terminology must be submitted in English.
Assignments and examinations in other programs may be submitted in English or French. A submission in French requires prior arrangement with the appropriate program director or coordinator at CHA Learning.
4. I’ve just faxed you a document. Will you confirm receipt of this fax?
On average, CHA Learning receives 100-200 faxes a week. Due to this volume, we are unable to confirm receipt of documents. If you are missing any documentation, we will contact you as soon as we can; however, our staff numbers simply do not allow us to email/phone/fax confirmation of faxed documents.
5. I cannot remember my password to login to the CHA Learning website. What do I do?
You may retrieve your password by clicking on the ‘Forgot Password?’ link on the Student Login page.
Fee Payments or Ordering Documents and Course Materials
6. Why do I need to pay the application fee? Can’t I just submit my tuition payment?
Only students who have submitted their complete application, had their application package assessed and been accepted into a program are able to pay tuition. Prospective students must wait until after they receive an acceptance email from CHA Learning before paying their tuition fees.
7. Who do I make my cheque or money order payable to?
All cheques or money orders should be made payable to the Canadian Healthcare Association.
8. Can I pay my tuition or book fees using an installment plan?
All tuition and textbook payments must be made in full. CHA Learning does not accept partial payments or postdated cheques.
9. I’ve been accepted into a CHA Learning program. How do I go about paying my tuition?
Please refer to your acceptance email for instructions for paying your fees.
10. When do I pay for the 2nd year of my 2 year program?
Students pay tuition for the second year of their program in the summer after they have successfully completed year one of their program.
11. Do I have to order my textbooks on the CHA Learning website or can I purchase them through a third party?
Students may purchase used textbooks through a third party; however, the cost of your study guide is included in your tuition fees and all study guides are bundled with the textbooks. Therefore, CHA Learning requires that students purchasing books from a third party sign a Textbook Waiver form. Please contact learninginfo@cha.ca, to request a Textbook Waiver form.
CHA Learning does not accept responsibility for students who purchase secondhand textbooks. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure they are purchasing the correct edition of the required textbook.
12. How do I go about ordering textbooks?
Students in Health Information Management, Food Service Nutrition Management, Long Term Care Management and Health Services Management may order their textbooks online on our website. Information will be provided in either an acceptance email or a follow-up email.
Students in Risk Management, Continuous Quality Improvement, Modern Management, Medical Terminology and Nutrition and Diet Therapy will receive information on how to order their textbooks in their acceptance letters.
Please note that the cost of your study guide is included in your tuition fees, except for Nutrition and Diet Therapy. All study guides are bundled with the textbooks. If you are purchasing your textbooks from a third party (i.e. used books) you must inform CHA Learning, learninginfo@cha.ca, and sign a Textbook Waiver form.
13. I need an official course transcript, how do I do this?
CHA Learning graduates may obtain an official copy of their transcript by contacting learninginfo@cha.ca. Please include your name, student number, and program in the request. There is a fee of $25.00 plus applicable provincial taxes for all Official Transcript requests. Requests take approximately 1-2 weeks to process.
Students who require transcripts shipped to a third party will have the opportunity to specify the address and name of the person/ institution during the order process.
Registration & Acceptance
14. After I have applied online, when can I expect to hear from CHA Learning regarding my application status?
Typically, there is a 1-2 week turn around time for new registrations, however depending on the time of year the turn around time may be longer.
15. I applied to a CHA Learning program over 4 weeks ago, and I have not heard anything. Who should I contact?
CHA Learning communicates with all potential and current students by email. Please check your email, including your junk email folder, to see if you’ve received an email from CHA Learning. If you have not received any emails from CHA Learning please contact learninginfo@cha.ca.
Please note that you must register online, pay your application fee and submit ALL required documents before your application will be assessed.
16. I’m not receiving emails from CHA Learning. Why?
All correspondence from CHA Learning, including notices of acceptance, how to pay tuition and order text books will be sent electronically. If you have a Hotmail, Yahoo or MSN/ Sympatico email address please note that you must check your junk mail frequently. These email programs tend to recognize CHA email as spam or junk, and they automatically file CHA email in your spam/junk folders.
Furthermore, if your settings only allow those on your contact list to email you, you will need to add the specific email address for the Program Coordinator to your contact list to ensure prompt receipt of all emails.
17. What is a Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) review, and can I apply for a PLAR?
The Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) review allows CHA Learning to determine whether a students’ prior learning gained through previous recognized courses, work and life experiences meet the content or requirements of a program. If a student is deemed to have met the content or requirements, then he/she may be exempted from parts of a program.
PLAR reviews are offered for the Health Information Management (HIM) year one and Food Service and Nutrition Management (FSNM) year one OR year two. For more information on PLAR please visit the program course description pages.
18. I applied to a program last year, but did not start my studies. Do I have to re-apply?
Students who did not start their program studies must re-apply to their program. Please register online on our website. Your UserID is the email address you used to register previously, if you do not remember what email address you used please contact learninginfo@cha.ca.
19. Do I really need to submit all the required registration documents?
Yes, to properly assess your application CHA Learning needs to review all the required documents. Submitting these enclosures is a mandatory part of the application process.
20. I’m interested in switching careers and moving into the health care field. Can I enroll in one of your programs?
To apply for our programs prospective students must be working within the health care field prior to applying. Please review the course descriptions for more details.
21. I’m interested in applying for the HIM program. Can I do my practical experience sessions at the facility that I work in?
Yes, students can complete their practical experience sessions in the facility where they work.
22. Is the Medical Terminology Refresher course a prerequisite for the HIM program?
Medical Terminology is not a prerequisite for CHA Learning’s HIM program, students will not receive credit for completing Medical Terminology prior to enrolling in the HIM program.
Program Completion
General
23. Who will be marking my unit assignments?
You will be assigned an Education Consultant (EC) at the beginning of the academic year. While not teachers in the traditional sense, ECs provide regular and consistent feedback to students and mark student assignments during the study year. Throughout the year, your EC will critique and grade your unit assignments.
Students will receive their EC information in August, prior to the start of the academic cycle. ECs are asked to initiate contact with their students however if you do not hear from your EC or you do not receive your EC information, or any correspondence from your EC, prior to your first assignment deadline please contact CHA Learning.
24. Can I submit my unit assignments at any time, or is there a set schedule?
All CHA Learning programs have set program schedules. While you may work ahead of the schedule to complete your assignments, it is recommended that students wait for the assignment deadlines to submit assignments to their Education Consultant. If students submit their assignments ahead of schedule, your Education Consultant (EC) is not required to return them before the scheduled return date indicated on the program schedule.
Generally, ECs find it helpful to mark all their students’ assignments at the same time. If you submit an assignment far in advance of the deadline, your EC may choose to hold off on marking it until he/she has received the same assignment from his/her other students.
25. What is the Intramural Session, and do I need to attend it?
The Intramural session is a mandatory component for students from the following programs:
- Continuous Quality Improvement
- Risk Management and Safety
- Modern Management
- Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety (must attend from Monday - Thursday)
- Long Term Care Management, Year 1
- Health Services Management, Year 1
- Food Services and Nutrition Management, Year 2
No exceptions or substitutions for the Intramural Session will be granted.
CHA’s Intramural Sessions is a five-day learning event, held every spring in Ottawa. It provides an opportunity for students to meet and network with their fellow students from across Canada. During the five days, students attend general plenary sessions and smaller program specific sessions, participate in small group activities, learn from student presentations, and enjoy social events. Content sessions build on and draw together material from the home study units.
On the final day of the 5 day session (Friday) students are required to write their final exam.
26. Does my tuition payment cover the cost of the registration fee for the Intramural session?
Yes. The program tuition fees cover the program activities for the week.
27. Does my tuition payment cover the transportation, accommodation and meals during the Intramural Session?
No. Students must pay for transportation, accommodations and meals separately.
28. Does CHA arrange the transportation and accommodation for the Intramural Session?
No. Transportation and accommodation arrangements are the responsibility of the student.
However, CHA Learning does negotiate special room rates at the hotel where the Intramural Session will be held. Students are able to take advantage of these room rates, or they may choose to book their accommodations at any other venue in Ottawa. Details about the Intramural Session are posted on the student website, The Gateway.
29. Once I have completed the program, when can I expect to receive my certificate of graduation?
While most of our students write a final exam at the end of April, many of our courses have practical components which carry over into June and July. As such, not all certificates are sent out at the same time. Certificates and/or statement of marks, for programs with final exams in April and May and no placements, will be mailed in June. All other certificates and statement of marks will be mailed in July.
Management Programs
30. If I am interested in the Long Term Care Management (LTCM) program or the Health Services Management (HSM) program, do I need to have a university degree to apply?
No, prospective students do not require university transcripts to apply to either program. However, in order to graduate students must demonstrate learning at a university level, college transcripts or transfer credits will not be accepted.
This means that all LTCM/HSM students must complete 6 credits (or two 3 credit courses) through a recognized Canadian university. It is strongly recommend that students choose courses in the fields of health services and sciences, management, administration, business, commerce, or organizational theory and behaviour.
Students have five years from their acceptance into the program to complete this requirement.
Prospective students who have already completed a university degree or university credits may send a copy of their transcripts to CHA Learning with their application. Students who hold current registrations with their provincial college of nurses or CSMLS (Medical Laboratory Technician) may send copies of their registration cards in lieu of university transcripts.
31. I would like to enroll in one of the Management programs (Long Term Care Management, Health Services Management, Modern Management, Risk Management and Continuous Quality Improvement). What are the prerequisites for the programs?
To apply to the Management programs, prospective students must be working in health care. Applicants to the Long Term Care Management (LTCM) program must be working in long term care. The course description for each program contains more information on who should apply for each program.
Prospective students who are not employed in a LTC facility must be working in health care and submit a letter of support from a Senior Administrator or Director currently employed in a Long Term Care facility that clearly states his/her support for you as a suitable candidate for the Long Term Care Management program. In addition the Administrator or Director would need to agree to provide you with access to facility and personnel resources so that you could complete all the data collection e.g. policy review, staff interviews, organizational chart etc. This is essential because the module questions require that the theory be applied specifically to the work place.
32. I am a Long Term Care Management or Health Services Management student and I have completed my university component. What documentation do I need to submit to CHA Learning and who should I send it to?
In order to mark your university component as complete, CHA Learning needs a copy of your university transcript. This document can be faxed, emailed or mailed to CHA Learning.
Health Information Management
33. What is the HIM Field Placement and can I complete it at my place of employment?
All HIM students must undertake a two-week field placement at the end of each academic year between the middle of May and the end of August. The placement must be in the health information management department of a facility other than the student’s place of employment, and should be arranged by the student in consultation with the student’s employer. Any exceptions must be discussed with the Program Coordinator and are subject to prior approval from the Program Director.
34. I would like to write the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA)’s national certification exam. Who do I contact?
The Canadian Healthcare Association is a completely separate entity from CHIMA and does not have the authority to influence or dictate certification exam policies or procedures.
HIM students may write the CHIMA certification exam upon successful completion of all course components within the specified deadline, as set by CHIMA. Students who wish to write the exam must contact CHIMA for further information.
CHA Learning will forward copies of student transcripts to CHIMA, for all students who have successfully completed all of the course requirements by the predetermined deadline.
35. I have arranged with CHIMA to write the national exam; however, I understand that CHIMA needs an official copy of my CHA Learning transcript before I can write the exam. Do I need to send copies of my transcript? See question 34.
CHA Learning sends official transcripts for all HIM graduates to CHIMA free of charge. CHIMA holds these transcripts for up to a year. Students who do not write their certification exam within one year of graduation must contact CHIMA to find out if a copy of their transcript is still on file.
Students who must order new copies of their transcript may do so online on the CHA Learning website, there is a fee for official transcripts. Transcript requests may take up to two weeks to process, do not wait until the last minute to order your transcripts.
36. I’m having problems accessing WinRecs and/or the Terminal Server. What do I do?
The majority of access problems with WinRecs and/or the Terminal Server are password based.
Please note that passwords for the Terminal Server and Winrecs are case sensitive. This means that your password must contain the correct capital and/or lower case letters.
Ex: If the password you were given is Windows22 and you type in windows22, you will not be able to access the database. The “w” must be uppercase. Correct password is Windows22 (“W” is uppercase).
Any other access problems should be reported to learninginfo@cha.ca If we are undergoing problems with the server, we will contact you directly via email.
Food Service Nutrition Management
37. I’ve completed the FSNM program; do I automatically become a member of CSNM?
The CHA FSNM program is fully accredited by the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management (CSNM) (www.csnm.ca), the national professional organization for food service and nutrition managers in Canada. Upon graduation, CHA students are eligible to apply for membership to the CSNM.
To become a CSNM member, you must contact CSNM (www.csnm.ca), and complete their application process.