I (Sid Rahman, RCIC-IRB. # R713190) received quite a few questions about the expectations out of CICC Mentoring Program, so I thought I’d share my personal experience.
First, an important disclaimer: I completed my mentoring program starting in April 2025 (received my license on May 2023). Everything below is based on how the program operated at that time. Since the College may update their policies or procedures, please always refer to the latest information on the CICC website and the emails you receive from the College.
Here are some key points based on my experience:
- The program generally runs for 4–6 months.
-
Regarding scheduling, the application will ask for your preferred day(s) and time window. You can indicate your preference, such as weekdays or weekends, and morning or afternoon sessions. The program team will try to match you with a mentor based on your preferences whenever possible. However, this cannot be guaranteed, as the final schedule depends on the mentor’s availability during your preferred time slots.
- There are 10 live sessions, each approximately 2 hours long.
- Every session includes an assignment that must be submitted by the deadline (usually before the next class).
- Assignments are not graded. You will normally receive a Pass or Fail result with feedback from your mentor.
- You cannot choose a specific area of interest, as the course has already been designed by the College. All participants are expected to follow the curriculum as delivered by their assigned mentor.
- Attendance is mandatory for every session. If you cannot attend, notify your mentor through the Mentorship platform and also email the College’s mentoring team at mentoring@college-ic.ca as soon as possible.
- Each mentoring group usually consists of 6–10 mentees led by one RCIC mentor.
- All sessions are live and take place according to the schedule assigned to you.
- Neither mentors nor mentees choose each other. The matching is done automatically through the Mentorship City platform after registration.
- The program does not involve real client files. All discussions and assignments are based on hypothetical scenarios.
THREE Questions I Get Frequently
How much time should I expect to spend on the entire mentorship program?
Honestly, the total time commitment varies widely depending on your existing workload, learning pace, and how much extra effort you’re willing to put in outside the classes.
If I had to give a general estimate for the minimum time commitment, I would say:
- 10 live classes × 2 hours each: approximately 20 hours
- Assignments: around 1–2 hours per assignment, totaling approximately 10–20 hours
So, you should expect to spend at least 30–40 hours to complete the program.
Of course, that’s just the minimum. If you spend additional time reviewing the materials or researching topics, your total time investment can be significantly higher.
Will my licence be restricted while I’m waiting to be invited or while I’m completing the program?
No, your licence is not restricted simply because you are waiting for your mentoring program or while you are actively participating in it.
The restriction comes into play only if you do not complete the program after your first two invitations. If you are invited and cannot participate, the College generally provides one more opportunity. If you are unable to complete the program after those two invitations, your licence may be restricted until the mentoring requirement is completed.
Can experienced (experience prior or after licensing) immigration professionals be exempt?
Another common question is whether practitioners with several years of immigration experience can request an exemption.
Based on my experience, the answer is no. I had 7+ years of Canadian immigration industry experience when I completed the mentoring program, but I was still required to participate.
Once again, these are my personal observations based on my experience in 2025. Policies and procedures can change, so please rely on the most current information available from the College. If you cannot find the answer on the CICC website or in your invitation email, you can contact the mentoring team directly at mentoring@college-ic.ca.
I wish everyone all the very best with the mentoring program. It is a valuable opportunity to learn, interact with fellow practitioners, expand your network and strengthen your professional practice. Thank you.
