See how this program works for you - based on where you're starting.
Free Data Career Program. Alberta residents.
No tech background required.
Brought to you by:
Supported by:
Newcomer
Getting Started
Career Change
Finding Your Path
On Your Terms
22–28
Age
You have the degree. You have the experience. You have been working with data in your home
country for years. Canadian employers keep asking for Canadian experience, and the barrier
is not your skills. It is access. Access to the right vocabulary, the right networks, and
the right framing for what you already know.
What this program does for you
Maps your existing credentials and experience to Alberta’s data job market
Gives you the vocabulary employers use when they post data roles in Canada
Shows you which Alberta data roles hire on demonstrated competency, not country of
origin
22% of Alberta data roles have
no stated education requirement. This program helps you find them.
You’ll walk away with
A clear picture of where your skills fit in Alberta’s job market
The language to describe your experience in terms local employers recognize
A concrete next step toward your first Canadian data role
22–25
Age
You have not locked into a path yet. That is not a problem. It might actually be an
advantage. Data careers are hiring younger than most people assume, and paid student and
co-op roles are available before you finish any program if you know where to look. You do
not have to wait until graduation to get traction. Most people just do not know that.
What this program does for you
Shows you what data careers actually look like day to day, before you commit to a
training path
Helps you choose a post-secondary program or next step that leads somewhere specific
Introduces you to paid student and co-op opportunities most people miss until after they
graduate
Gets you a recognized
credential and employer connections earlier than most of your peers
You’ll walk away with
A clear picture of what data careers look like and which direction fits you
A smarter plan for the next step, whether that is a diploma, a co-op, or a direct entry
role
Connections to Alberta employers who hire early-career talent
24–50
Age
You have spent years building real experience. Maybe you were laid off. Maybe your industry
shifted or your company downsized. Maybe you have been running reports, cleaning up messy data,
and making sense of numbers in a role that was never called a data job, but that is what you
were doing. Either way, you are closer to a data career than you think. The gap is not skills.
It is framing.
What this program does for you
Reframes your existing experience, in any industry, as a data career asset rather than
something to explain away
Translates your domain expertise or informal data work into language Alberta employers
recognize
Shows you which roles you are already qualified for, often without additional training
Analyst roles represent 57% of Alberta data postings. This is where experience-first hiring
happens.
You’ll walk away with
A clear translation of your background into data career language
Confidence that what you have been doing is marketable, and the tools to prove it
A realistic path into data work without starting over
28–55
Age
Getting into a new part of the workforce often means working within systems that were not
designed for you. Credentials that do not transfer cleanly, geographic access barriers, and
hiring practices that undervalue community-based experience are real obstacles. They are not
personal shortcomings. This program is built to be flexible, accessible, and grounded in what
you already know, not what you are assumed to be missing.
What this program does for you
Recognizes the practical and organizational knowledge you bring, whether from community
administration, resource management, public services, or other fields
Delivers training in Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer, with online options available for all
sessions
Connects your experience to data career pathways using a nationally recognized professional
framework
Provides a credential from an
established professional association, usable with any employer in any sector
You’ll walk away with
A structured framework that names and validates what you already know
A professional credential that travels with you across sectors and employers
A realistic and concrete next step into the data workforce
35–55
Age
Data work is knowledge work. It can often be done remotely, on flexible schedules, and without
the physical or environmental demands that make many traditional workplaces difficult to
navigate. If conventional employment has put up barriers that have nothing to do with your
actual ability to do the work, data careers are worth a serious look. This program is a
low-barrier way to find out if they are the right fit for you.
What this program does for you
Delivers training in accessible venues in Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer, with online
options for every session
Focuses on foundational knowledge and career framing. No physical prerequisites or prior
technical background required.
Shows you which data roles are remote-friendly, output-focused, and built around what you
produce rather than where you sit
Connects you with employers who
hire on demonstrated competency, not on work history that interruptions or barriers may have
affected
You’ll walk away with
A clear picture of which data roles are realistic and accessible for your situation
A credential that demonstrates what you know, independent of how your work history looks on
paper
A starting point that does not require navigating the usual barriers
Connects you with employers who
hire on demonstrated competency, not on work history that interruptions or barriers may have
affected
Join us on an evolution of Data Careers within Alberta
Sign up below to stay informed about our progress, be invited to exclusive events, and get early
access
to class registration in either Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary or Online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about the Unlocking Data Careers program.
Yes. Unlocking Data Careers is funded by the Government of Alberta through a workforce development grant. There is no cost to attend, no hidden fees, and no obligation after registration.
No. The program is designed for people at all starting points, including those with no formal data training. If you can use Excel, follow a process, or work with numbers in any capacity, you have a foundation to build on.
Yes. The program is delivered as a cohort-based intensive over five consecutive days. Sessions run in Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer, with online options also available. Registered participants hear about confirmed dates first.
No. The program is open to unemployed and underemployed Albertans, including people who are currently working but want to move into a data role or advance within one.
It depends on where you want to go. If you want a structured framework, formal recognition of your skills, or a clearer path to more senior data roles, yes. The program is also useful for people who do data work but hold titles that do not reflect it.
Participants receive job readiness support, access to the PPDM professional competency framework, and connections to employers who participated in the program’s research phase. Registered participants also get early access to session dates before they are publicly announced.
The five-day training and in-person sessions are open to Alberta residents. That is a condition of the program funding. Our information webinars are open to everyone, wherever you are. Register and we will keep you in the loop if the program expands.
No. Newcomers to Canada are welcome and the program is designed with them in mind. Citizenship and permanent residency are not requirements.
The program covers data literacy fundamentals, how data supports modern organizations, data governance concepts, and how data roles fit into the job market. You will leave with a clearer picture of where you fit, what roles exist, and what steps make sense for your situation. This is not a coding bootcamp.
The program is built on the PPDM professional competency framework, which is a recognized standard in the industry. Participants receive documentation of completion. This is a workforce development program, not a university credential, but it is employer-facing and professionally grounded.
Session schedules are communicated to registered participants before dates are publicly announced. If you have specific scheduling needs such as shift work or caregiving responsibilities, register now and we will be in touch when dates are confirmed.
Cohorts are kept small to support a quality experience. Exact numbers depend on location and delivery format. Registering early puts you at the front of the list.
Yes. A significant portion of the program was designed with displaced workers from energy, mining, and related industries in mind. The skills and domain knowledge built in those careers are more transferable to data roles than most people realize. The program helps you see where the overlap is and how to position it.
The program includes job readiness support alongside the training content. Based on our research into the Alberta job market, 22% of data roles have no stated education requirement. Those employers hire on demonstrated competency. That is exactly where this program is most useful: helping you describe what you already know in terms that employers recognize.
It depends on the role, but generally yes. Many data roles value domain knowledge, meaning a deep understanding of the industry the data comes from. A background in health, finance, energy, or administration is often an asset. The program will help you identify which roles that applies to.
Use the registration form on this site. You will get a confirmation with next steps. Registered participants hear about session dates before the public announcement.
No problem. Just let us know at udc@ppdm.org. There is no penalty and no obligation.
PPDM and Government of Alberta are collaborating to create a clear path
for
data
careers. This program guides everyone from newcomers to veterans toward in-demand data roles while
showing real-time program progress.
