The commercial aviation industry operates in an increasingly complex economic and regulatory environment that requires proficient industry monitoring. The Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) provides its members with effective and efficient representation, and defends and promotes the interest of the Canadian commercial aviation industry both nationally and internationally.
The Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace (CCAA) is the national sector council which acts as an industry resource for HR needs of the aviation and aerospace sector with a focus on individual skills development and other human resource issues. The CCAA provides a complimentary service to ATAC by supplying national occupational standards, certification to aviation professionals and curricula development.
The roles of ATAC and the CCAA are distinct but mutually supportive. Since ATAC and its members are in effect clients of CCAA, ATAC takes an active interest in CCAA activities and is represented on the CCAA Board.
Accreditation is a quality assurance process that evaluates how well aviation and aerospace training programs conform to the requirements established in an occupation’s National Training Standard (Instructor Guide/Curriculum), which is based on CCAA’s Occupational Standard (OS).
Standards used as the basis for accreditation have been developed by industry stakeholders (employers, employees and educators) through CCAA’s National Standing Trade Advisory Committees (NSTACs) to define the skills and knowledge needed by a technician in order to function effectively in a particular occupation.
CCAA’s accreditation process measures the extent to which a training organization’s program meets or exceeds the requirements specified in the CCAA Instructor Guide for that discipline. Training programs are audited every three years to maintain accredited status.
Why is Accreditation Important?
CCAA accreditation assures both industry and students that a training program meets or exceeds the National Training Standard in terms of content, administration, resources, faculty and facilities.
Accreditation also helps to ensure that graduates of such programs are well prepared and have a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. Graduates who later achieve proof of on-the-job experience through the CCAA logbook may then apply for certification through CCAA.
Industry restructuring has increased demand for human-resource systems, data, tools and programs. The health of the aviation/aerospace sector is well supported by the projects of CCAA through curriculum development, accreditation of programs and worker certification.
Many benefits accrue through CCAA-accredited training programs:
Efficiency
Standardized content for training programs provides substantial savings to training organizations and ensures high-quality and up-to-date course content.
Increased access
Expansion and development of new programs supports increased access to skills development.
Relevance
Regular review and updating of content through the NSTACs maintains currency and validity.
Life-long training
The ongoing need to support life-long training for the workforce is a priority. The development of CCAA National Training Standards reflects changing realities in the industry, keeping pace with the need for skills in rapidly evolving technologies.
Workforce growth
Cross-pollination of workers from other industries — workers with the core training necessary to join the aviation workforce — is also beneficial to growing the workforce in the shortest period of time.
Who uses CCAA Curricula?
Colleges and Training Organizations
CCAA-accredited training programs give students the knowledge and skills they need for a successful transition into the workforce.
Students
Graduates of CCAA-accredited programs are highly marketable and are often assured jobs even before they graduate. Their knowledge and skills allow them to enter the workforce as entry-level but productive workers who are able to contribute immediately. This is the first step in becoming industry-certified.
Employees
The next step for certification is fulfilling the on-the-job training and evaluation of skills, in conjunction with required knowledge and competencies documented through a CCAA logbook for the particular occupation. Resulting CCAA certification provides professional recognition for skills and credentials across Canada.
Industry
Many companies now prefer to hire a candidate who has completed a CCAA-accredited training program.
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