Frequently Asked Questions
Canadian Coast Guard College
Employment opportunities
Other
Canadian Coast Guard College
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Where is the Canadian Coast Guard College (CCGC)?
The Canadian Coast Guard College (CCGC) is located in Westmount, Nova Scotia, on the western bank across from the city of Sydney on Cape Breton Island.
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What are the costs (tuition, room, and meals) of attending the CCGC?
If you are selected as an Officer-Cadet in the Ships’ Officer Training Program, you do not pay tuition, room and board or books; in fact, we pay you. In addition, you receive free uniforms and clothing and one trip home each year.
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I would like to study Marine Engineering at an institution other than the CCGC and work for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) after I graduate. Does the CCG offer financial aid during the study period for those who are interested in employment with the CCG?
We do not offer financial aid for students of other institutions. However, if you decide to enroll in our Marine Engineering Program at the CCGC, we can offer you much more. The program duration is 45 months, during which you will be hired as a student-officer in training and you will receive a base salary. You will not have to pay for room and board, books or tuition and you will receive free uniforms and clothing and one trip home every year. The number of years you study at the CCGC count as years of service to the Federal Government and towards your pension plan. If you would like more information on our program please visit the following link:
http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/eng/College/marine_Engineering
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Are helicopter pilots trained at the College?
We do not train pilots at the CCGC or within the Coast Guard. The training can be done with the Canadian Forces, or with any other schools/organizations providing this training.
Pilots are on loan to the CCG from Transport Canada. Please visit the following site for more information:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/general/flttrain/menu.htm
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Are there any breaks in course study i.e. Christmas, summer vacation, etc.?
As a federal employee, you are entitled to the same statutory holidays as other federal public servants: Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, and the first Monday of August (Quebec does not have the first Monday of August holiday but does celebrate the Saint-Jean Baptist). You also have 3-4 weeks of vacation a year, taken at Christmas and summer. However, the exact length (dates) will be determined by the need of the program.
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Will the certifications earned at CCGC be considered a college degree or a university degree? If it is a college degree, does the Coast Guard have an agreement with any universities so I can update my education and certification to a university degree?
A four-year program at the Canadian Coast Guard is considered a university degree. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Technology degree in Nautical Science from Cape Breton University (CBU), as well as Commercial Certification as a Deck Officer (Navigation).
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Employment opportunities
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Are new employees (initial appointees) entitled to relocation provisions?
All newly appointed employees to the public service must be relocated under the Initial Appointees Relocation Program when relocation applies. This includes relocations from abroad on initial appointment.
The Initial Appointees Relocation Program provides newly appointed employees states:
- the sum of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) in eligible relocation expenses; and,
- a contract with a relocation services supplier who will provide the newly appointed employees with professional assistance such as counselling on the relocation benefits available, guidance on accommodation at the new location and expense management, along with several other relocation services.
Assistance is only extended if the appointee is prepared to sign a two-year service agreement specifying that if the appointee terminates employment and thereby fails to complete a continuous two-year period with the federal government, the employee shall repay directly to the engaging department, a portion of the relocation assistance provided, proportional to the period by which the employee's continuous service falls short of two years.
For specified term appointments of less than two years, the reimbursement will be proportional to the period by which the employee's service falls short of the original duration of the term. Please note that provisions for spouses/common-law partners are available. The following services may be reimbursed as per Section 3.3 of the NJC Relocation Directive:
- Employment search;
- Employment assistance;
- Travel to/from interviews;
- Preparation of CV; and,
- Photocopy and transmittal costs for transcripts of academic records.
Expenses are subject to CRA policy and guidelines; receipts are required. A taxable benefit could result from these reimbursements.
For more information please visit this link: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/hrpubs/tbm_113/iairp-prinefp-eng.asp
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Can I choose the region I want to work in?
At your graduation, you will be posted to a region. Assignments to a region are based on regional needs at the time, as well as your ranking compared to your graduate colleagues.
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Other
- What happens if I get sick aboard a ship?
If you are talking about seasickness, even the most experienced mariner suffers from time to time. In those cases, mild medication and special meals are available to address discomfort. In chronic cases, alternate employment may be the solution.
If illness arises due to other circumstances, there are protocols in place to ensure you receive medical attention and advice. The protocols take into account where the ship is located and the severity of the illness.
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- Can I bring my spouse/partner with me on a vessel?
Only employees and dignitaries can sail with the ship. Significant others can only visit vessels when it is docked or when there is an open house.
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- Do CCG Officers/Ships’ Crew carry firearms?
The Canadian Coast Guard does not issue personal firearms. Seagoing personnel have shotguns and rifles only for protection against wildlife in remote locations.
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- When I work on a ship can I go home each night?
This varies according to the type and location of the ship. Employees can leave the ship only if the station-based vessel is at its homeport however you must be available for call-back in case of emergencies, such as responding to Search and Rescue incidents. In any other circumstance, you will be based on the ship throughout your shift, although many ships dock at shore for various reasons, giving employees the chance to go ashore.
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