Finance

Overview

Obtain Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) courses and get ready to work in Nova Scotia's growing financial services industry. With a focus on alternative investments, risk and compliance, asset and wealth management, insurance and commercial banking, this program sets you up for success.

Learn the financial tools used by professionals and gain a real-world perspective on the organization, structure and operation of the various financial sectors.

Work experience

• Field experience is a mandatory credit course, providing the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills outside the classroom.
  • Opportunities are typically unpaid and last approximately 5 weeks.
• Transportation, accommodations and other costs related to work experience courses are your responsibility.
• For more information, visit work experience opportunities.

Choose NSCC

• This comprehensive, 1-year program helps you stand out from the competition in the financial services industry.
• This program helps prepare you to write the first examinations on your route to obtaining industry designations.
• Learn from experienced, industry-connected faculty.
• Throughout the program, you'll meet industry experts and hear from guest speakers.

Other info

• Some courses are designed with the curriculum of the Canadian Securities Institute.
• Certifying organizations provide examination settings in the associated topic areas.
• Students are responsible for additional course fees related to external industry certifications.

September 2025

Campus	Full time/part time	Delivery	Availability
Ivany Campus Dartmouth	Full time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person. Weekdays/Evenings	Seats available

Admission requirements

• Two-year diploma, undergraduate degree or equivalent.
• High School Graduation Diploma plus minimum 5-years of industry experience may be considered for admission to this program under NSCC’s PLAR policy. For detailed information on the PLAR policy as it relates to this program, visit the Candidate Assessment for Finance Graduate Certificate page
• International students – Submit your official post-secondary documents for assessment. View document and language requirements by country

Program requirements

• Portfolio development – As part of your studies at NSCC, you develop a portfolio of your work; the portfolio captures your achievements and profiles your skills to employers.

Tuition

Tuition amounts are for the 2024-25 academic year. Program costs and fees (textbooks, supplies, etc.) are additional.

Tuition, fees and program costs

In addition to annual tuition, there are program costs (books, tools, etc.) and student fees for College services, health and dental plans, your student association and parking.

View detailed program fees page(s). Please note that amounts on these pages are meant for planning purposes only. They don't represent final amounts owing.

• Finance

Career options

You graduate ready to accept a wide range of career opportunities in the financial services industry, such as:

• Banks, trust companies and credit unions
• Insurance
• Brokerage houses
• Investment firms
• Mutual fund and hedge fund administrators
• Financial planning firms

Future study options

This program helps prepare you to write the first examinations on your route to obtaining industry designations. It includes some of the required courses for completion of the following designations:

• Personal Financial Planner (PFP)
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Courses may include

These are some of the courses offered in this program. It is not a complete list and courses are subject to change in advance of the academic year.

Recognizing prior learning / transfer credits
If you have previous learning (course, employment, etc...) that's relevant to your program, you may be able to apply to earn credit. Not all programs are eligible. Learn about our recognizing prior learning (RPL) process.

FINC 3960 - Work Experience
The work experience component provides the learner with an opportunity to apply new skills and concepts appropriate for entry-level positions within the occupation. Learners will assess their own performance and be evaluated by an industry partner. Learners will identify personal outcomes they wish to attain during the work experience and will keep a journal. This is a course of 175 hours spread over five weeks.

FINC 5020 - Fundamentals of Insurance
The course explores key aspects of insurance operations, product development, and emerging trends in both Life and General Insurance.

FINC 5100 - Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
The financial industry experiences operational and financial risks. Regulators have a key role in developing and enforcing regulations that address these risks. The stability of the financial services sector depends largely on the strength of these regulations. This course will introduce students to various types of risk and explore the impact of risk and how they impact financial institutions and the products they offer. In addition, the Canadian and global financial regulatory compliance environment will be explored. Topics include emerging financial crime risks related to cybersecurity, anti-money laundering, counter terrorist financing, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Climate Change Risks.

FINC 5110 - Financial Planning I
The Financial Planning I® course is delivered under agreement with the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) using their course materials to prepare students for the Financial Planning I® exam. CSI describes the course as “designed to help you deliver the most effective financial plan analysis to your valued clients, based on their personal requirements and provides you with comprehensive knowledge about financial planning. Upon successful completion, you will be able to implement best practices in budgeting, borrowing, constructing and analyzing personal financial statements. Topics include: the financial planning process, personal budgeting and borrowing, investment and taxation, retirement planning, estate planning, and providing financial services advice. Students must also be registered in the related course with the CSI. For more information, please go to the Canadian Securities Institute website at www.csi.ca.

FINC 5120 - Canadian Securities I
The Canadian Securities Course® is delivered under agreement with the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). The course, which consists of two parts, uses CSI course materials to prepare students for the Canadian Securities Course® exam. CSI describes the course as offering the opportunity to “learn to make sense of a complex financial world”. Recognized as the industry benchmark, the Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) delivers the financial training employers demand. In this course, students learn how to make smart investment decisions and become confident financial advisors. Students gain the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for a career in financial services. Students are introduced to bonds and debentures, common and preferred shares, basic derivatives, securities markets and financial intermediaries, consolidated financial statements, and macroeconomics. Students will also be introduced to emerging trends in Sustainable Finance. (Note, students must also be registered in the related course with the CSI. For more information, please go to the Canadian Securities website at www.csi.ca).

FINC 5130 - Professional Communication
This course introduces learners to contemporary strategies of successful communication in professional contexts that enable them to recognize the importance of positive, professional communication. Learners will explore how communication can create an atmosphere of trust, respect and professionalism. Topics will include how to analyze audience, situation, and medium to create messages that build productive relationships; and how to develop a sensitivity to language and tone to communicate their intended purpose and receive their intended result.

FINC 5140 - Spreadsheets and Analytics for Finance
"In this course, learners will explore the principles of financial data analysis using the advanced capabilities of Microsoft® Excel. Learners will gain in-depth understanding of important financial concepts such as performance evaluation, financial statement analysis, forecasting, capital budgeting and modern portfolio theory. Topics such as validating data, constructing financial models, performing what-if scenarios, evaluating financial alternatives, performing financial ratio analysis and create dynamic models will also be explored. This course aims to give learners a solid foundation in understanding and manipulating financial data to their advantage using Microsoft® Excel."

FINC 5150 - Professional Relationship Management
This course is an introduction to professional relationship management concepts. Topics will include verbal and non-verbal communication skills to build relationships, communicating complex ideas to general audiences, and sales strategy development.

FINC 5210 - Hedge Funds Accounting, Administration and Analysis
The world of investments has been dominated by new investments products that are outpacing the traditional investments. The need to increase the investors’ returns has lead to both individual and institutional investors looking past traditional investment products such as bonds and equity which has led to the emergence of alternative investments such as hedge funds. This course will give learners an overview of the hedge fund industry and the various hedge fund investment strategies that are employed. The course will also focus on hedge funds with an emphasis on understanding the Net Asset Value (NAV) calculation process and regulatory environment in which hedge funds operates. Learners will gain “hands-on” practical knowledge of NAV preparation. Industry guest speakers and industry visits will provide real life perspective and discussions regarding emerging issues. Learners will be introduced to data sources such as Bloomberg and Spreadsheet-based investment portfolio analysis.

FINC 5220 - Canadian Securities II
The Canadian Securities Course® is delivered under agreement with the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) in two parts using their course materials to prepare students for the Canadian Securities Course® exam. CSI describes the course as offering the opportunity to “learn to make sense of a complex financial world. You'll gain the knowledge you need to make smart investment decisions, become a confident advisor and build a solid foundation for your career. Recognized as the industry benchmark, the Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) delivers the financial training employers demand.” The course introduces managed and structured financial products, technical and fundamental analysis, tax issues, and securities administration. Students must also be registered in the related course with the CSI. For more information, please go to the Canadian Securities website at www.csi.ca.

FINC 5230 - Retirement Planning
This course will introduce students to a variety of retirement plans, strategies, options and opportunities. Topics will include: retirement planning, retirement lifestyle choices, retirement funding, retirement income streams, workplace and government pensions and the tax implications of various retirement choices.

FINC 5240 - Consumer Credit
Understanding consumer credit and its importance to a client’s overall financial health is a pivotal part of building a strong foundation within the Financial Industry. This course is designed to provide learners with the necessary key concepts that will be required to be successful in their career within the Financial Industry. Learners will explore topics such as assessing customers needs; product knowledge; credit application components; key factors in granting and approving credit; and the importance of relationship management and business building. These practical tools will enable learners to become confident and competent in client interactions that focus on consumer credit.

FINC 5250 - Tax Law and Ethics
This course is an introduction to Canadian tax law and ethics. Learners will be introduced to the complexities of tax law, the income tax act and the criteria of when to seek professional advice. Learners will also examine the potential tax needs of their clients. Learners will also explore ethical issues they may encounter in today’s digital environment and how to protect themselves and their clients.

SAFE 1000 - Introduction to WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems)
This course offers learners basic overview of WHMIS principles and establishes a solid foundation to support workplace-specific training on the safe storage and handling of controlled/hazardous products. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive basic WHMIS certification.

SAFE 1001 - Introduction to NS OH&S Act
This course offers students an introduction to the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Act of Nova Scotia, which is required by any person employed in a Nova Scotia workplace. This is a generic, introductory course that provides basic knowledge of the Act for students and is considered to be the basis from which more specific training can be given.