With cannabis newly legalized, a whole new industry is developing — and with it, an influx of job opportunities.
The Progressive Training College of Business and Health (PTC) created the Customer Service for the Cannabis Industry diploma program to address the skills gap for consumer-facing jobs in the industry.
PTC is a renowned private college with campuses across Ontario. Its success is due to its unique learning model, which includes small class sizes, a supportive environment, career-focused practical training, and education affordability.
PTC’s Customer Service program has long prepared students to succeed in retail, call centre, government services, and other customer-focused roles. Now this time-tested curriculum has been updated with the fundamentals required for the cannabis sector.
Mediaplanet spoke with Sarah Sloan, Academic Coordinator and Campus Manager of the PTC Toronto North York Campus, for more info.
Mediaplanet: PTC’s Customer Service program has been a leading program for 20 years. How did this curriculum translate into the new program?
Sarah Sloan: The Customer Service for the Cannabis Industry diploma program takes the successful modules from the original Customer Service program — which help students understand the importance of quality customer service and how that translates to a successful business — and then adds on three new modules: introduction to the legal cannabis industry, cannabis as a health care drug, and introduction to the Cannabis Act.
What does a day in the classroom look like?
It’s about a 4-hour day of classroom instruction. Depending on what module you’re in, you could be studying anything from pain management to sales channels and purchase preferences to toxicology.
How does the small class size affect student success?
The 10-to-1 ratio of students to instructors allows students to ask questions freely and to feel comfortable. The education is tailored to each student. Nobody gets left behind.
What career paths can this program offer?
There are quite a few opportunities. You could work in a retail environment, at a call centre on behalf of government sales, or in a clinical setting.
PTC offers a variety of financial aid options to ensure finances aren’t a barrier to getting the career you’ve always wanted. Monthly payment plans, Second Career government funding, and other options are available to meet students’ needs.
