In the Health Administration and Leadership program, you'll develop the skills to manage healthcare teams and operations through hands-on projects and real-world case studies.
CIP Code:51.0704
PGWP Eligible
This program meets the criteria to be Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligible as defined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Note: PGWP eligibility does not guarantee approval. IRCC assesses all applications individually.
Shaping the Future of Healthcare: Lead, Innovate, Transform
Turn your passion for health into a rewarding career as a leader in the health sector with Confederation College's Health Administration and Leadership program. In today's complex and dynamic healthcare environment, skilled leaders are in high demand. This Ontario College Graduate Certificate program, completed in just two semesters, equips you with the practical skills and knowledge needed to excel in leadership roles within health organizations.
Our curriculum focuses on real-world contemporary issues, providing you with a solid understanding of provincial and federal health systems. You'll develop crucial skills in ethics, policy and law, research, operations, cultural safety, human resources, and finance. Indigenous learning outcomes are woven throughout, fostering an understanding of reconciliation and diverse perspectives.
Top Highlights
Industry-Relevant Curriculum: Developed to prepare you for current and future leadership challenges.
Experienced Faculty: Learn from high-quality educators and practicing leaders in a personalized environment.
Practical Experience: Gain hands-on skills through a capstone project with industry leaders.
Cultural Competence: Develop an understanding of Indigenous perspectives and cultural safety.
Career-Ready: Prepare for entry or middle management positions in various health organizations.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Visionary: Able to see the big picture and drive positive change in healthcare.
Adaptable: Ready to navigate the evolving landscape of health administration.
Ethical: Committed to upholding high standards in healthcare leadership.
Collaborative: Skilled at working with diverse teams and stakeholders.
Analytical: Capable of interpreting data to inform strategic decisions.
Motivated: Healthcare professional who is passionate about inspiring others
Get detailed information about program requirements, courses, and student resources.
This program gave me the tools, confidence, and support to achieve a leadership role in healthcare. The faculty were knowledgeable, engaging, and deeply committed to student success.
If you want to transform your passion into a successful career, this program is the perfect choice. The supportive environment, continuous assessments, and leadership training helped me gain clarity and confidence in my path.
This program was a turning point in my life. It gave me the foundation to re-enter the healthcare field in Canada and helped me move forward with confidence and support.
This program helped me transfer my clinical skills to the administrative side of healthcare and prepared me perfectly for my work placement. The supportive environment at Confederation College made all the difference.
A three/four year degree from an accredited university or college in Human Services/Health Care (2nd Division/2.0 (4.0 GPA scale) where applicable) or a diploma from a Canadian college in Health Informatics
Original transcripts as well as a notarized, translated copy must be provided where applicable
No more than ten backlogs/failures
English Proficiency
Academic IELTS: 6.5, no band lower than 6.0
Tuition & Fees
Fees for International StudentsProgram Code: 0294
Year 1
Total: $18,720.25
Fee Breakdown
Academic Fees
Total Tuition Fees:$15,748.00
College Service Fee:$863.00
Health Fee:$652.25
Bus Fee:$332.00
$17,595.25
Ancillary Fees
Municipal Levy:$75.00
Student Fees:$300.00
Recovery Fee:$750.00
$1,125.00
Note
Please note that fees are estimated and are subject to change.
Fees shown on this page are for full-time students attending the main Thunder Bay campus for Fall 2026.
Costing for Regional Campuses & Distance Education Students:
If this program is available at Regional Campuses, or to Distance Education students, see the following links for costing information.
Starts in Fall, Winter, and Spring. Program code 0294 / 0284 / 0283.
Semester 1
CS 106
Intercultural Communication
42 hours
In this course, students will understand barriers to intercultural communication, assess cultural differences, and apply strategies to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients from other cultures. Students will apply principles of plain language to communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a variety of communication channels. They will apply research strategies to evaluate sources of information and will apply APA standards of documentation and style to academic work. Students will analyse audience and purpose to create business correspondence using the direct approach.
In this course, students will learn about the impact of policy and system design on health outcomes in both the Canadian and provincial health systems, with a focus on Ontario and Northwestern Ontario. The course will provide an overview of public policy, how public policy works and how it is implemented in the Canadian context. The course also addresses system and policy impacts on health equity.
The field of organizational behaviour examines human behaviour in organizations. Students will assess the impacts of human behaviour on organizational performance through the study of personal values and perceptions, motivational techniques, effective utilization of teamwork, conflict resolution options, negotiation processes, approaches to decision making, options for organizational structure and change management. They will be able to predict potential impacts of human resources policies and practices on employee behaviour as well as recommend management practices to effectively address specific employee behaviours.
This course will provide students with an introduction to the history of colonization of Indigenous communities in Canada. Contemporary Indigenous community issues within Northwestern Ontario (NWO) and Canada will be examined. Students will explore the unique socio-political relationships between Canada and Indigenous peoples with an emphasis on colonial, legal and political issues. With a broader understanding of the context of colonization, students will analyze contemporary relationships and efforts towards renewed relationships and reconciliation.
Managing Human Resources effectively is essential to a health organization’s success. In this course, students will learn how to manage human resources responsibly in union and non-union health organizations implementing key management activities, including recruitment and selection, orientation and training, compensation and benefits, occupational health and safety, labour law and performance management. Students will apply their knowledge through practical assignments, such as exploring career options in health organizations and developing targeted resumes, polished cover letters, professional social media profiles and mock interviews.
This course will provide students with an introduction to financial, budgetary and economic principles required for sound decision making in the management of health services. Students will learn about various funding models, budgeting practices, important financial reports and supply chain management. Focusing on the financial environments of Ontario health organizations, students will become familiar with leading financial mechanisms and evaluation tools, and analyze their impact on cost efficiency and effectiveness, in terms of quality, innovation and access.
Evidence based decision-making is a model, which requires administrators and leaders to engage with research to guide decision-making and inform best practice. In this course, students will study a wide variety of sources for important information and data, which will serve as a basis for decision-making. Additionally, students will learn how to review, create and analyze qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, outcomes and recommendations.
Students will learn the fundamentals of strategic management, with a focus on strategic management in the health system. This course includes some theory and some practical application of strategic planning, strategic thinking and managing strategic momentum. Students will learn how to develop and implement strategic plans, action plans and operational plans. Students will also conduct an internal and external analysis, and learn about stakeholder engagement.
This course will cover the fundamental skills required for effective leadership in a healthcare setting. Topics will include leadership competencies, skills and styles, relationship building, conflict resolution, leadership culture and accountability and leading change.
Utilizing an anti-oppression framework, this course will introduce the student to the history, theory and practice of community development and engagement. Students will examine oppressive social structures that affect community wellbeing. Concepts of power differentials, oppression and empowerment will be explored in relation to community engagement. The roles, skills and processes required of leaders working in community health and social service organizations will be explored in addition to the organizational structure of community-based organizations.
In this course, students will develop managerial skills to propose, plan, secure resources, budget, and lead project teams to successful completion of projects. Students will also learn why organizations have developed a formal project management process supported by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and its Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) to gain a competitive advantage. The case study approach will be used along with an investigation of software and collaboration tools that aid in carrying out activities of project planning and project execution.
In this course, students will learn about foundational principals and models of ethical decision making from front-line to administrative roles in health organizations. Using case studies and current examples, students will apply theory to real life situations learning about the impact of ethical decision making on the operational and strategic goals of an organization. Additionally, this course will provide an overview of the current legal landscape within the Ontario health system. Students will gain the knowledge and critical thinking skills required to identify, navigate and facilitate the resolution of legal issues and risks unique to health organizations.
In this course, students will be exposed to the fundamentals of quality improvement for reducing risk and enhancing patient safety while improving efficiencies and reducing costs in health organizations. Students will learn principles, methodologies and application of quality improvement tools, and the importance of data based decision making to improve the quality of health outcomes. The role of staff, leadership, and supporting structures to create a culture of continuous improvement in a health environment will also be explored.
In this course, students will have the opportunity to learn about current health service delivery issues facing real Canadian health organizations from leaders in the health sector. Employing team based collaborative learning models, students will be required to research an issue and produce a thorough literature review. Utilizing information collected from the literature review and consultations with subject matter experts, students will be required to develop an in-depth plan to respond to the issue. Students will also be required to conduct presentations on their health service delivery solutions to health sector leaders. Students will be expected to apply a wide variety of concepts learned in other program courses including the impact of the problem on human resources, organizational culture, leadership, finances, policy, and strategic and operational goals.
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Communicate effectively with clients, families, and members of both the health and administrative teams to maintain an engaging environment.
Comply with the legal, ethical and professional regulations within the health system to ensure quality in service delivery.
Analyze laws, regulations, and health policies to determine their impact on decision-making in health organizations.
Critically examine ethical choices, values, and professional behaviour to make recommendations that inform health management roles and decision-making.
Integrate data, critical thinking, and effective decision-making skills to support strategic and operational goals.
Apply strategies to effectively manage human resources, human relations, organizational culture, environment, external relationships, and union relations in a multidisciplinary health organization.
Utilize accounting and financial principles to support the strategic management and operations of a health organization.
Apply principles of, and evaluate the efficacy of, operational planning, project management, quality management, and risk management, to support continuous improvement in health operations.
Develop and use strategies for ongoing professional development to enhance both personal and employee work performance.
Develop and use culturally diverse and safe approaches for delivering health programs and services to individuals, groups, families, and communities.
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Pathways
Confederation College offers a variety of articulation agreements designed to help you advance your education and career. Whether you're coming to us from another institution or planning your next steps after completing your program, our pathways make your transition seamless and effective.
Student Accessibility and Essential Program Requirements
Confederation College is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive learning environment and will provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and College policy.
Students who require accommodations are encouraged to engage with Student Accessibility Services and are responsible for initiating and participating in the accommodation process. Accommodation is a collaborative process involving the student, Student Accessibility Services, faculty, and the Academic School. Requests for accommodation are considered on an individual basis, and the College will work with students to identify reasonable accommodations that provide equitable access to learning while maintaining the integrity of the program.
Students are expected to demonstrate the essential knowledge, skills, professional behaviours, learning outcomes, and competencies required to successfully complete their program. While the manner in which these requirements are demonstrated may be accommodated where appropriate, the essential requirements themselves must still be achieved.
For programs involving laboratories, field work, clinical placements, aviation environments, trades training, equipment operation, simulations, community placements, or other environments where health and safety are critical, accommodations must also be consistent with applicable legislation, professional standards, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and workplace safety obligations.
In some circumstances, a requested accommodation may not be reasonable or possible where it would:
Fundamentally alter an essential program requirement, competency, or learning outcome.
Compromise the health or safety of the student or others.
Conflict with provincial or federal legislation.
Conflict with the requirements of an external regulatory, licensing, accreditation, or professional body.
Prevent the student from demonstrating competencies required for safe and effective professional practice.
Note
Where a particular accommodation cannot be provided, the College will work collaboratively with the student to identify whether an alternative accommodation can appropriately address the student’s disability-related needs while maintaining essential program requirements.
