The financial services industry encompasses a wide range of sectors including banking, insurance, investment brokerages, financial planning, wealth management, and mutual funds; however, from banks to brokerages, different employers generally focus on the same entry level core competencies, knowledge, and attributes. As such, the Financial Services Diploma is designed to equip students with the specialized skills and knowledge to meet the demands of entry and intermediate level positions within the industry.

The Financial Services Diploma has been designed to prepare students with a broad business background and a solid foundation in financial services for a wide range of career opportunities within the industry. Careers in the financial services industry include Investment Advisor, Personal Financial Service Representative, Account Manager, Loans Officer; Mortgage Specialist, Compliance Officer, and Branch Manager to name just a few career directions.

Financial Services Diploma graduates may complete the Post-Diploma Bachelor of Management Degree offered by the University of Lethbridge in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. A GPA of 3.0 is required for admission.

Financial Services Diploma graduates may complete the Bachelor of Business Administration Degree offered by Mount Royal University and Red Deer College at Red Deer College. Successful completion of the Financial Services Diploma or Business Administration Diploma at RDC is required for admission.

1. High School Diploma with a:

Minimum average of 60% with no mark below 50% in:

1. ELA 30-1
2. Math 30-1

OR

Minimum average of 65% with no mark below 50% in:

1. ELA 30-2
2. Math 30-2

OR

Minimum average of 62.5% with no mark below 50% in one of the following combinations:

1. ELA 30-1 and Math 30-2

OR

1. ELA 30-2 and Math 30-1

2. Mature Student

You must be 19 years of age or older, out of high school at least one full year before the program starts and have a minimum average of 60% with no mark below 50% in:

1. ELA 30-1
2. Math 30-1

OR

Minimum average of 65% with no mark below 50% in:

1. ELA 30-2
2. Math 30-2

OR

Minimum average of 62.5% with no mark below 50% in one of the following combinations:

1. ELA 30-1 and Math 30-2

OR

1. ELA 30-2 and Math 30-1

Note: Mature students not meeting these standards should consider applying for admission to the Management Certificate Program.

Note: In addition to the program admission requirements applicants, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate English language proficiency.

You must pass all courses and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 to complete the RDC Financial Services Diploma.

Investment Funds in Canada (FINS 281) is offered in conjunction with the IFIC and is the required course for those seeking to sell investment funds in Canada. At the completion of this course all students will write the qualifying IFIC exam and if they attain a grade of 60% or greater will be qualified to seek registration as an Investment Funds Salesperson in Canada. Students taking FINS 281 have three opportunities to take the final IFIC exam provided that these attempts are proctored by an RDC Finance or Financial Services Instructor. FINS 286 (Insurance in Canada) is also offered in conjunction with the IFIC.

Students will be required to take a College placement test before registering in a written communications course. (Students with 60% or greater in ELA 30-1 will be exempted from this test.) Students who do not achieve a satisfactory mark in this test will be required to complete COMM 150 before they can register in the required course, COMM 250. Students should take the placement test early in the event preparatory work (COMM 150) is required. COMM 150 will not be accepted for credit as an option for the Financial Services Diploma.

Students entering the program must have a working knowledge of file management and word processing. It is recommended that students without this prerequisite knowledge complete CMPT 071 and CMPT 083 or a course that includes these modules prior to taking BADM 207. Please note that these courses will not be recognized for credit in the program.

Year 1

• ACCT 102 Introductory Accounting I
• ACCT 103 Introductory Accounting II
• BADM 111 Introduction to Statistics
• FINS 180 Financial Products and Services
• FINS 280 Financial Services Work Experience
• BADM 132 Introduction to Marketing
• BADM 207 Management Information Systems and Technology
• BUS 303 Introduction to Organizational Behaviour
• COMM 250 Business and Workplace Writing
• ECON 100 Introduction to Business Microeconomics
• ECON 101 Introduction to Business Macroeconomics

Year 2

• FINS 281 Investment Funds in Canada
• FINS 282 Consumer Credit
• FINS 286 Insurance in Canada
• FINS 287 Advanced Financial Planning
• BADM 285 Introduction to Tax Planning
• BUS 311 Legal Foundations of the Canadian Economy
• BADM 260 Introduction to Finance
• BADM 262 Investments
• BADM 270 Business Policy and Strategy
• FINS 320/321 Selected Topics in Financial Services**
• ACCT 104 Managerial Accounting

** These courses are optional courses and are NOT a requirement for completing the Diploma in Financial Services.

Notes: Notes 1-7 refer to equivalent courses that may be taken in lieu of various specified courses. Students may receive credit for only one of each equivalency. Students considering university transfer or an accounting designation should consult with an Academic Advisor or their Chairperson regarding these courses.

1. ACCT 202 is equivalent to ACCT 102 plus ACCT 103
2. ACCT 204 is equivalent to ACCT 104
3. ECON 201 is equivalent to ECON 100
4. ECON 202 is equivalent to ECON 101
5. BUS 306 is equivalent to BADM 111
6. BUS 310 is equivalent to BADM 260 and is acceptable as a prerequisite for BADM 270.
7. BADM 170, BADM 107, BUS 358, CMPT 261 and CMPT 170 are not accepted for credit towards the Financial Services Diploma.

FINS 281 (Investment Funds in Canada) and FINS 286 (Insurance in Canada) are offered in conjunction with the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) which will require students to pay examination registration fees of approximately $150 per course. These fees are subject to change without notice from the IFIC.

The Canadian Institute of Financial Planning (CIFP) recognized FINS 287 as credit towards the Institute's Registered Retirement Planning Certificate (RRC). This course requires additional course materials and an examination fee of $325 which is paid directly to the CIFP. The final exam in FINS 287 shall be the final qualifying exam towards the RRC certification and upon successful completion of this exam; students will earn the RRC certification.

Certified Credit Professional Designation (CCP) - Exemplifies Credit Ability

Created by a special Act of Parliament in 1928, the Credit Institute of Canada (CIC) is the only organization which grants official designations to professionals in the Canadian credit field.

The CCP curriculum provides credit professionals with the management skills and confidence to assume a leadership role in their organizations. Prior to graduation, students must obtain five year of practical experience in a credit position. CCPs are bound by a code of ethics and participation in on-going professional development.

Certification through the Credit Institute of Canada distinguishes you among your peers, making you stand out amidst look a-like competition.

Two of the courses are in-depth credit management courses and must be taken through the Credit Institute of Canada (CIC). The remaining courses include accounting, economics, communications, law, finance and management information systems. Equivalent core courses completed through Red Deer College are eligible for transfer credits in both the CCP and CGA programs.

Transfer credits accepted from Red Deer College into the Certified Credit Professional (CCP) Program:

The two specialized and in-depth credit management courses are:

1. Credit Management (CR1)

The course will provide students with the knowledge required to manage a credit department. Topics covered include credit department policy, credit investigations, credit scoring, financial statement analysis, securities, risk evaluations, collections, bankruptcy and insolvency as well as credit department organization and reporting.

2. Advanced Credit Management (CR2)

This course covers specific, specialized areas of credit management. Students will learn about international credit management, construction credit management, leasing, piercing the corporate veil, U.S. bankruptcy law, credit fraud and E-commerce.

For more information, contact the CIC at: 1-888-447-3324; by email at geninfo@creditedu.org, or visit our website at: www.creditedu.org.