ABES College - Calgary

Absolutely great college!All professors plus other staff were extremely friendly, and it was a great learning environment! From admissions and enrolling all the way to graduation, the staff was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. They truly made the experience much easier for me. The instructors did a great job of teaching and of being understanding towards any personal challenges . You can tell they really care about your learning experience and want you to be as successful as possible! I had the best learning experience! I would definitely recommend the college to everyone! You will love learning there!! I did MLA course from ABES i wish they would teach MLT too i would love to study again with Abes.

ABES. If I could describe my experience, I would say above and beyond excellent!! Such a highly professional school and at the same time very accommodating, cooperative and kind. I enrolled in the MLA program, they offer the course about 3 times a year. I was initially applying for November however I did not give enough time for all the paper work and prerequisites (which is a huge requirement at any educational institute!). There are tons of applications that they receive throughout the year, yet their process is so smooth. In addition, they have professional and caring employees and coordinators that help walk you through the entire process. Despite them being so busy they never turn your questions away, always greeted me on the phone with a kind voice and answered all of my questions (I had millions). Jenny, a Program Coordinator, was always available during the course whenever anyone needed her, she would take the time out of her busy schedule to accommodate. ABES has other courses too not just The MLA program, so to handle so many students and endless inquiries is commendable. Especially to see them effortlessly address these questions with thoughtful consideration and good intent. Their energy is quiet infectious as well! For myself, it’s a huge deal to be an alumna of ABES where I worked hard and succeeded in my goals. I am immensely thankful for the opportunity at ABES and proud to be an ABES Grad in the healthcare industry. During my practicum, I was lucky ti witness how many thousands of people’s lives they’ve changed and every individual I came across from MLA to unit clerk to health care aide, every person greeted and asked, “Are you from Abes”? And when I would say, yes, people became even more friendly. They are a brand that you want to be associated with. They taught me how to become a thoughtful and conscientious human being before anything else because in healthcare field you have to first overcome your personal obstacles and then can you make a positive difference in someone else’s life…. Sometimes we only focus on developing “task oriented” skills through our learning experiences but at ABES, I had learnt that emotional intelligence goes a long way and expressing kindness to others is an unequivocal skill. The thing is we all need a career - some are coming from high school and some of us are changing professions. I changed my profession and when I walked into Abes that first day, I was so nervous, I was broken yet they gave me hope, they moulded me, they renewed my lost energy. They gave me a new identity by the time I was done my course, I became a renewed me - the me I had thought I lost. This was possible because of every single person in the ABES team including my teacher, the program coordinator and more over the Director of ABES. When I met the Director, I didn’t even know it was her until my last day before practicum. That’s how down to earth she is! I was incredibly motivated by the Director’s words of encouragement before we went out to practicum. I followed every word she said and I thank her for that. It changed my life! I followed every word devoutly during my placement. Then with just three days of practicum left, I was offered a job at Calgary’s Foothills Hospital! One of the busiest and largest hospitals in the province. ABES paves a successful path for each of their student and helps the student stay on point. I was provided with every tool that I needed to go out there and make a living.

In 2019, my fiancée had changed our lives - and then ABES did it again! Historically, I had studied to become a Healthcare professional but was not able to pursue that career when moving back to Canada. Using the knowledge, training and experience I had; I attempted to find a job within a limited pool of employers that did not require certification. This led to long hours, still in the field I love, but with very minimal pay/hours to compensate. After years of struggling, I eventually moved on and finding employment in Auto Insurance. I was deluded, believing that I successfully crushed my passion for the healthcare line and have buried my past. Fast forwarding back to 2019, I wanted to better myself and stop working dead-end jobs. I was tired of labour and very ready for a change. My fiancée (who's experience in healthcare was like myself) had just completed the MLA program offered at ABES and she was hired with AHS - basically during her practicum! It was a huge boost to our morale and gave us a stable foundation to build upon. I was immensely proud of her success, and it turned our lives around completely. We started saving for our future again and were able to begin planning the next few years of our lives. On the heels of my fiancée’s triumph, I looked at going back to school, researching where I can get the training I want so I get the job I'll love. Two months later, life change - again. An ad on YouTube about a Unit Clerk/Medical Office Assistant program offered at ABES popped up while my fiancée was watching, and it started the conversation between us. I examined the program's details, compared with competitors, and realized this was a good opportunity if it pans out. Returning to education as an adult was daunting but the Admissions and Advisory teams made it easy. They were very welcoming, gave me details and listened actively when I had questions. They helped with Student Aid and discussed all the options that were available to me at the time so I can make an informed decision. In class, the instructors were experienced, knowledgeable and took the time to help each student. They answered questions and involved in the success of their students - extra study sessions, study tips and tools, tricks for memorizing some of the material and reviews for tests. They were always available. I was very nervous about my typing speed. I started painstakingly slow, about 26 wpm, looking down at the keys, a single letter at a time. However, with daily practice (even 10 minutes sometimes during lunch break), I graduated from ABES with a recorded 71 wpm. For me, this was HUGE. At the start of Final Practicum, COVID19 had begun to spread worldwide. People were sick, people were scared, and no placements were available. Despite the adversity, I saw an emergence of heroism. Front-line healthcare workers continued to persevere. These included the usual professionals we associate as heroes - doctors, nurses, specialists, but also a quiet but unmistaken majority. Aides, phlebotomists, clerks, porters, screeners, administrative members, people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes filling the cracks and crevices. Soon I was provided with an opportunity at a busy Medical Clinic. I was given support from ABES whenever I had concerns, questions, and outright fears. I followed the PPE training I received and successfully completed the placement. Just shortly after the clinic, I was placed on a Unit in the hospital that suddenly became the Covid Unit in the initial stages of the pandemic. Because of ABES, I confidently navigated the practicum and landed a job with AHS in the same unit largely due to the fact they were impressed by my training. I owe much credit to the ABES team for their preparations and direction which lending to my success. Today, I work fulltime, my fiancée and I are now married, I have a baby boy and we are all looking brightly towards tomorrow. The ABES team does incredible work, each member of the team helps to build better lives. Change happens when you want it and for us, change started at ABES.

Hello Everyone, I had a good time learning while I was at ABES College, the trainers are all highly skilled in what they do, I personally loved the way Joyce, Abby and Paolo made the whole process easy to understand, especially for a new immigrant like me. They were very professional and accommodating. I was barely 3 months in Canada when I started the course. Following all the tips that they made available to us on graduation and to the glory of God, I began receiving job offers in September same year. My candid advice for any interested student is to be ready to learn and ask questions and seek clarifications on any grey area during and after the student experience. After the school year, the school management are always willing to follow you up until you can stand on your feet. A big KUDOS to TEAM ABES, you guys rock!!!!!! Thank you. Olaoluwa OJO Medical Laboratory Assistant Graduate July 2021.

I took the Health Care Aide training at ABES College. I have had a great experience with ABES and all the facilities that ABES collaborates with. I remember meeting with Amy Hall to register for the program . She explained the training thoroughly and helped me with Alberta Student Funding . My instructors ( Carrie , Dana and Harpreet) were very helpful throughout my course. After I graduated , I was hired by 3 companies within a span of 1.5 months . Thanks to ABES's instructors ( They suggested me to apply to the companies that have opportunities ) . ABES’s Health Care Aide Training helped me to develop confidence and gain the knowledge required to work as a HCA . I have an Engineering work background from my home country . It was a big change . I wanted a stable job in Canada . ABES 's training helped me and a lot of my classmates get a secure job .

Learning at ABES was a wonderful experience. Being a mature student with family commitments, I found the staff and the course helpful and flexible to accommodate my needs and balance study and family life. My instructor, Ms Ana, (Community Support worker Program )was an amazing teacher guiding through the classes and assignments and also teaching practical steps as to how to be in the workforce. The curriculum was competent to train me with the skills needed to do well at my practicum and I secured my job during practicum itself. We had classmates from different walks of life and ages and we all enjoyed the teamwork we shared in the classroom. I also thank John lobo, the student enrolment officer and Ms Harpreet, student coordinator for all the support they gave during enrolment and along the duration of this course. I truly appreciate all the Director, admin staff and my instructors at ABES for giving me this opportunity and I highly recommend this course for anyone interested to join the social work sector and serve the community.

ABES delivers! It's not just all about giving a quality education, but seeing to it that their students get a gilt-edged training as well through placement practicums. My personal experience during my practicum was beyond superb! I got the chance to learn every aspect of the job step by step until I can work independently. The practicum experience also paved way for my employment opportunity, which I am so grateful for. Way to go ABES! Kudos! -Sarah UCMOA

Absolutely amazing college! The administration and the teachers were extremely friendly, and it was a great learning environment! From admissions and enrolling all the way to graduation, the staff was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. They were willing to accommodate and help me with any challenges or issues that came up, and were always welcoming. They truly made the experience much easier for me. The instructors did a great job of teaching and of being understanding towards any personal challenges that I experienced - they always valued what I had to say and were very professional. You can tell they really care about your learning experience and want you to be as successful as possible! I had the best learning experience! I would definitely recommend the college to everyone! You will love learning there!!