Updated on January 18, 2024
Meet Your Canadian CEBS Instructor: Patricia Noble, CEBS
When you need to hold yourself accountable for achieving something important, one of the best ways to do so is by joining a community of like-minded individuals seeking to grow in the same ways as you. Consider taking a CEBS® Online Study Group With Instructor Support—a garden of learning for benefits professionals. This offering includes a weekly schedule to set the pace and help you keep your resolve, as well as Study Tools created and curated by your instructor to help you prepare for your CEBS exam. Growing your employee benefits knowledge with the CEBS designation will impress your clients and delight your plan stakeholders. Brightening your employee benefits bouquet with a respected credential attracts the best employees to your workplace. The CEBS designation will say it all for you—You’re truly a benefits industry expert!
CEBS Online Study Groups are an optional educational resource designed to enhance the self-study approach. Offered over a 12-week session, Online Study Groups set a timeline for completing a CEBS course and are facilitated by established and experienced CEBS professionals. The Canadian spring session runs from January 15-April 5, 2024.
What does an online instructor do?
Your online instructor has many roles, including:
- Designing all content and activities in your Online Study Group to help you retain knowledge and study for your CEBS exam
- Facilitating live review sessions
- Monitoring the discussion forum to provide clarification and guidance to learners
- Creating discussion questions for each module and Benefits in Action Mini Case to stimulate engagement and enhance learning about employee benefits
- Sharing their real-world experience about being a benefits professional
- Answering questions that students submit via the discussion forum, email and private message
A Chat With Patricia Noble, CEBS
Patricia Noble, CEBS
Director of Policy, Research and Labour Market Analysis
Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, New Brunswick
Instructor: GBA 2—Managing Benefit Plans Part 2
How has earning the CEBS designation enhanced your career?
The CEBS designation, in addition to demonstrating technical knowledge in the field, indicates a commitment to continuous learning. It is a signal to others that you have invested time and effort in your field and provides added credibility to employers and clients. In my case, the CEBS designation not only helped me better understand my responsibilities and communicate more effectively with service providers, but it also laid a solid foundation to help me advance in my career.
What will benefits professionals learn from taking GBA 2?
This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to manage various types of employee benefits, such as death, disability, health, dental and wellness benefits. You’ll learn how to design, implement and evaluate plans, as well as how to determine and balance the needs of employers and employees. You’ll also gain an understanding of the tax implications of various arrangements of benefit plans. The course includes practical examples through the Benefits in Action Mini Cases to help you apply the concepts and best practices learned from the modules.
Are there any interesting current events, regulatory updates or industry trends related to concepts the GBA 2 course explores?
A recent survey indicates that only 23% of Canadians can provide for at least two years of financial support to their dependents if they pass away or get sick, which suggests a lack of preparedness and a need for more insurance coverage. The same survey indicates that less than half of Canadians feel confident that their current level of insurance would protect them and their families from the negative financial effects of a life or health emergency. This suggests that the content of this course is not only relevant, but that there is a greater need for education and awareness. The Benefits in Action Mini Cases help students develop the skills to not only apply the technical material, but also to consider how to communicate it.
What are your best study tips for CEBS students?
Here are a few of my suggestions to get the most out of your CEBS Online Study Group With Instructor Support:
- Set clear and realistic goals for each study session and track your progress.
- Create a regular and consistent study schedule and stick to it.
- Choose a comfortable and distraction-free study environment that suits your learning style.
- Create your own notes to supplement the Instructor Notes available in your CEBS Online Study Group—Compare them and review them regularly. Test yourself on what you’ve learned.
- Seek feedback and support from your instructor and peers in your Online Study Group via the discussion forum when you encounter difficulties or have questions
The 12-week, spring session of the Canadian Online Study Groups With Instructor Support are open through April 5, 2024. Jump in anytime and get access to materials from previous weeks.
Do you need additional guidance on your CEBS journey? Whether you’re about to take your first step or getting close to reaching your designation, we’re here to help! Give us a call at (833) 886-3749 or email cancebs@ifebp.org.