International Students and Immigration Education Program (ISIEP)
The International Students and Immigration Education Program (ISIEP) is an intensive 13-week online course designed to upskill practitioners, currently working with international students, to write the RISIA Entry-to-Practice (EPE) exam.
This exam, along with the RISIA designation, is administered and managed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
To become a RISIA, graduates from the ISIEP program must write and pass the Entry-to-Practice exam (EPE) offered by CICC.
To maintain the RISIA designation, candidates must be employed at a designated learning institution (DLI) and complete continuing professional development hours (CPD) on a yearly basis.
Registration for the spring 2023 ISIEP cohort is now closed.
The following ISIEP cohort is expected to be in the fall of 2023 with registration dates to be announced soon.
The ISIEP is accredited by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.
Sign up to receive a reminder for the Fall 2023 ISIEP registration.Meet our Lead Instructors
Imarú Baquero, RISIA
Manager, International Student Services
University of Lethbridge
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Imarú (Ima) Baquero has worked in international education for over 10 years, in both college and university environments, and currently works as the Manager, International Student Services at the University of Lethbridge. Her responsibilities have included international strategic planning, international student support and advising, education abroad, partnership development, and international student enrolment management. Imarú is a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor since 2017, she is a member of the CBIE Immigration Advisory Committee, and she has served as a co-champion of CBIE’s Student Services Professional Learning Community.
Shawna Luey, RISIA
Associate Registrar
Niagara College
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Shawna has worked in international education for over 15 years growing her career from intern to International Student Advisor to Associate Director of International Student Services. She is currently the Associate Registrar at Niagara College. Throughout her career, she has focused on the individual needs of students practicing intercultural competence as a RISIA. In addition to her work leading her team at Niagara College, she has instructed at Niagara College and Queen’s University. Most recently, she served a term as a member of the CBIE Immigration Advisory Committee.
Emilie Omi, RCIC
International Student Advisor
University of British Columbia
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Emilie has been working in the international education field for a decade. She became a RISIA in 2017 and an RCIC in 2022. She currently works as an International Student Advisor at the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus. As communications lead for her team, she creates content on UBC’s International Student Guide and develops and implements communications priorities. Emilie is passionate about making complex immigration policies accessible and easy to understand for international students to help them take charge of their immigration journey.
Dr. Victor Jimenez, RCIC
Associate Registrar, International
International Centre
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
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Victor has 16+ years of experience in the international education and Canadian Immigration fields. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science, an honours MBA with a concentration in international business and a Doctorate of Education – Leadership, from the University of Western Ontario. Victor has worked in the field of immigration law for more than 12 years and is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. He is currently the Associate Registrar, International with the International Centre at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Before joining SAIT, he owned a business for 9 years and worked with several post-secondary institutions in Mexico and Canada. Victor also worked at two Canadian business immigration law firms in Calgary, Alberta. His passions are international education, change management and leadership.
Brianna Carney, RCIC
Immigration Consultant, HR Immigration
University of Calgary
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Bree has been working in the field of international education for close to a decade. Bree’s unique array of experience includes having been an international exchange student herself, providing support and guidance on study abroad programs, aiding international students in navigating the complex world of student immigration, and now working in human resources, bringing foreign academics, researchers, and support staff onto the university campus. This experience has allowed Bree to gain a holistic understanding of the complexities surrounding international education in Canada, and in particular, the challenges post-secondary institutions face when trying to navigate Canadian immigration policies and regulations in the face of ever changing curricula and internal university policies.
Matthew McDonald, RCIC
Assistant Director, Recruitment & Admissions
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
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Matthew spends his days in graduate recruitment and admissions at Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto; on evenings and weekends, he works as an independent immigration consultant. He first became an RCIC while working as an international student advisor at Humber College. Previously, he worked in international education both in Canada (Manitoba, Ontario) and abroad (France, Macedonia). His roles have included college admissions counselling, teaching, student life/advising, and marketing.
Anna Choudhury, RISIA
Associate Director, International Student Services
Northeastern University
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Previously Anna worked at Laurier International for over seven years where she focused on developing retention and success programming for international students. Anna completed an MA in Intercultural and International Communications from Royal Roads University, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Immigration at Seneca College. Anna worked as a certified immigration consultant in Toronto for many years before focusing on international education. Anna has been a student in five different countries, including Cuba and as a result, enjoys the challenges of intercultural development as a way to deconstruct that which divides.
Erin Wordie, RISIA
International Student Immigration Advisor
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
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Erin has a Bachelor of International Relations from the University of Calgary and participated in a study abroad opportunity in Ghana, which sparked her interest in international education. She has worked in the field for five years in various roles supporting international students as well as agents and pathway partners. Currently, she is the International Student Immigration Advisor for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and provides immigration advice and assistance to international students and their families. Erin became a RISIA in 2017 after completing the ISIEP program.
Marisa Norona, RISIA
Graduate Academic & International Advisor
The University of Calgary
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Marisa Norona has over 15 years of experience working in International Education in Post-Secondary Education. She has worked extensively with student exchange programs and international student advising where she has supported students in gaining international experience and competencies both in Canada and abroad, prepared students for safety and experiential learning abroad, guided students through cultural and academic transitions in their adjustment to Canada, and enhanced international students’ immigration literacy through comprehensive immigration advising and programming. Marisa participated in the ISIEP program in Fall 2017, and became a RISIA in July 2018.
Rohene Bouajram, RCIC
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
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Rohene is a passionate proponent of international education and has over a decade of experience in the leadership and delivery of immigration advisory services, international and domestic recruitment, policy evaluation, risk management, program development, intercultural and transition support, crisis intervention and coaching. Her MA thesis in Intercultural and International Communication focused on the post-graduation experiences of international students; thereby allowing her to compliment her professional work with research.
Justin Kerr, RCIC
International Student Immigration Advisor
Brock University
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Justin has worked in international education for over 12 years following his studies at Trent University and participation in an exchange through Canada World Youth. During his time in the field, he focused on Canadian immigration issues as they impact students and their families. He served as a co-champion of CBIE’s Student Services Professional Learning Community and was a member of CBIE’s Immigration Advisory Committee from November 2012 to January 2016.
Philipp Reichert, EdD, RCIC
Director, Global Engagement
UBC’s Okanagan Campus
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Philipp is an experienced international educator and administrator, with 15+ years experience in a variety of roles. Currently he is the Director, Global Engagement at UBC’s Okanagan campus where he leads a talented team of international educators and immigration professionals. Prior to joining UBCO, he was at the Rotterdam School of Management, and the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies in the Netherlands. Originally from Germany, Philipp received his Master’s degree with honours in International Relations from the University of Leiden, and received his doctorate from the University of Calgary with his research focused on the internationalization of higher education and leadership. Philipp also holds the Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) designation. Philipp is involved in variety of roles with CBIE (co-chair of the IAC), NAFSA, AIEA, and volunteers as an active member of the Central Okanagan Local Immigration Partnership Committee and is involved in various community activities focused on topics related to equity/diversity and welcoming newcomers to the Okanagan Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible to take the ISIEP?
The ISIEP eligibility criteria are as follows:
- Employed at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. Note that all primary and secondary schools in Canada are DLIs;
- Professional working in the education sector with international students; and
- Enrolls in ISIEP for the purpose of skills upgrading in their current institutional role.
Please note that ISIEP eligibility criteria can change without notice.
How is the ISIEP structured?
The ISIEP comprises:
- Module-based learning over a span of 13 weeks
- Online recorded lectures, discussion boards, assignments, quizzes and exams
- The program is based exclusively on reference materials that will be made available online, and is available in English and French
- Students are expected to spend an average of 25-30 hours per week on the ISIEP to successfully pass the course.
Am I eligible to write the RISIA Entry-to-Practice exam and become a certified RISIA?
- The RISIA designation is designed for in-service International Student Advisers (ISAs) and other professionals working in the education sector in Canada whose responsibilities include offering immigration advice to students.
- Successful completion of the ISIEP is a prerequisite for ISAs/working professionals who wish to take CICC’s Entry-to-Practice exam to become RISIAs.
- For more information on who is eligible to challenge CICC’s Entry-to-Practice exam and obtain the RISIA designation, please visit the CICC website.
How much does the ISIEP cost?
The program fees include all course materials.
- $3,850 for CBIE Members
- $4,950 for Non-members
Please note that the member rate applies at the time of registration and learners must be members for the entire period of the program.
Whom can I contact for more information?
Are RISIAs able to contact immigrationrepresentatives@cic.gc.ca if they have any questions?
- Yes. IRCC has confirmed that RCICs and RISIAs are able to communicate with this email.
