Overview
Earn a Certificate of Professional Learning or choose as a concentration with the Diploma in Business Administration
Canada’s aging population has created a demand for skilled professionals to supervise, manage and operate retirement communities. Our flexible online Retirement Community Management program equips you with the necessary skills to advance in this rewarding and rapidly-growing industry.
- Developed in collaboration with the Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA)
- Covers healthy aging, facilities management, marketing, finance and people management
- Earn a Certificate of Professional Learning or a Diploma in Business Administration with a concentration in Retirement Community Management
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Program highlights Learn More
- Flexible online learning
- Taught by industry experts
- Earn a Certificate of Professional Learning or a Diploma with a concentration
- Open enrolment program
Retirement Community Management program features:
- Developed in collaboration with the Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA)
- Convenient and flexible online courses
- Learn from experienced instructors and connect with professionals across various disciplines
- Gain practical skills and learn to apply real-world examples

What you'll learn Learn More
- Healthy aging through nutrition and fitness for seniors
- Physical site management operations
- Resource management
Through our Retirement Community Management program, you’ll learn to:
- Outline the importance of senior living facilities and retirement communities
- Explain government laws and policies associated with the operation of a retirement community residence
- Assess appropriate plans and strategies for facility management related to design, safety, and environmental requirements
- Identify psychological, physiological, social, and spiritual needs of seniors
- Analyze senior living health and wellness plans including nutrition, fitness and overall wellness
- Develop management strategies specific to retirement communities including staffing, finance, sales, and quality improvement
Learn more about the Retirement Community Management program
- Professionals in any industry looking to advance their skills, knowledge, and experience in retirement community management
- Individuals seeking to pursue a new career in the retirement management industry
- New Canadians starting a new career or academic program
- Retirement community directors
- Operations managers
- Marketing and sales
- Recreation managers
- Human resource professionals
- Personal support workers
- Culinary and Food service
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Outline the importance of long-term care, senior living facilities and retirement community residences within social services and healthcare
- Explain governmental laws and policies associated with the operations of a retirement community residence
- Assess appropriate plans and strategies for facility management relevant to the design, safety, and environmental requirements
- Identify the psychological, physiological, social and spiritual needs of seniors
- Analyze health and wellness program plans including food and nutrition, fitness and wellness
- Develop and assess management strategies specific to the operations of retirement communities including staffing, finance, sales and quality improvement
The following objectives will be threaded within each course:
- Demonstrate an awareness of ethical practices and professional standards applicable to retirement community living and the professional associations
- Exemplify the skills, attitudes and behaviours required to work and collaborate with people and develop personal management skills
- Employ effective communication practices
Check out our latest Business Program Preview webinar to explore our online Retirement Community Management program
What our recent graduates say

Adam
Business Administration graduate
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career.
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career. I found that the Business Administration program was really the best fit for me, because the learning that I was able to take in through this program was really cutting edge and current to the labour market. The learning that I took on is something I use every day.
Adam
Business Administration graduate
It is important to understand the interconnectedness of these and other issues so that the implications of our everyday household and business decisions are understood in the right context.
Sustainability seems to be a buzz word these days. I hear it mentioned on the news, in advertisements, in general conversations, and in other unexpected facets of life. I would argue that the concept of Sustainability is vital in today’s world and to our future happiness. As a Global community we are dealing with big social and environmental issues. It is important to understand the interconnectedness of these and other issues so that the implications of our everyday household and business decisions are understood in the right context. What we do and don’t do matters.
Enrolling in the McMaster Continuing Education Sustainability program has been a wonderful way to develop an understanding of the practices of Sustainability, and what we can do to support real change. I encourage everyone to look into this program and to join the conversations being held all around you. Even if you don’t decide to take this program, look into the UN Sustainable Development Goals to start understanding the interconnectedness of things and how we as individuals and businesses can make a difference.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas in a future class!
Daniel
Sustainability graduate
Judelyn '23
Business Administration with a concentration in Finance/Accounting
I appreciated the opportunity to discover my full potential and strengths, which inspired me to do better.
My family migrated to Canada in 2006 from the Philippines (Asia). I hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting from my home country.
Although challenging, I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given. I started my journey in Canada with temporary junior accounting jobs. It allowed me to integrate myself into the Canadian workforce and culture. After gaining more Canadian work experience, I landed a permanent job. Currently, I work as Treasury Analyst in a HydroElectric Generation company.
Despite the obstacles, I was determined to gain Canadian credentials. The pandemic made it more challenging, but I persisted. I balance work, study, and family.
In December 2019, I enrolled at McMaster University. Later earned a Diploma in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance and completed a Diploma in Accounting.
While studying at McMaster University, I developed my self-discipline and changed how I perceive things, which is priceless. I have to experience it to learn and discover it. I am self-motivated. I noticed I enjoyed studying – understanding in depth and not memorizing, which I usually did when I was younger.
The McMaster University courses were challenging to be honest, and my teachers taught me to be a critical thinker. I began thinking outside the box. The good thing is that if I had an idea or answered a question, they let me explain why I came up with that answer – that, for me, was so engaging for a student to understand more and strive to improve rather than simply dismissing a student’s incorrect answer.
From personal experience, the teaching style of McMaster University is different, and I appreciated the opportunity to discover my full potential and strengths, which inspired me to do better. Until now, I have applied the ways and self-discipline I had gained even with this Treasury Designation exam I took recently. I want to thank and let McMaster know the influence/the lessons they had instilled in me that changed my outlook and mindset, making me better and excel in what I want to be.
Judelyn
Business Administration with a concentration in Finance/Accounting
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career.
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career. I found that the Business Administration program was really the best fit for me, because the learning that I was able to take in through this program was really cutting edge and current to the labour market. The learning that I took on is something I use every day.
Adam
Business Administration graduate
It is important to understand the interconnectedness of these and other issues so that the implications of our everyday household and business decisions are understood in the right context.
Sustainability seems to be a buzz word these days. I hear it mentioned on the news, in advertisements, in general conversations, and in other unexpected facets of life. I would argue that the concept of Sustainability is vital in today’s world and to our future happiness. As a Global community we are dealing with big social and environmental issues. It is important to understand the interconnectedness of these and other issues so that the implications of our everyday household and business decisions are understood in the right context. What we do and don’t do matters.
Enrolling in the McMaster Continuing Education Sustainability program has been a wonderful way to develop an understanding of the practices of Sustainability, and what we can do to support real change. I encourage everyone to look into this program and to join the conversations being held all around you. Even if you don’t decide to take this program, look into the UN Sustainable Development Goals to start understanding the interconnectedness of things and how we as individuals and businesses can make a difference.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas in a future class!
Daniel
Sustainability graduate
I appreciated the opportunity to discover my full potential and strengths, which inspired me to do better.
My family migrated to Canada in 2006 from the Philippines (Asia). I hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting from my home country.
Although challenging, I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given. I started my journey in Canada with temporary junior accounting jobs. It allowed me to integrate myself into the Canadian workforce and culture. After gaining more Canadian work experience, I landed a permanent job. Currently, I work as Treasury Analyst in a HydroElectric Generation company.
Despite the obstacles, I was determined to gain Canadian credentials. The pandemic made it more challenging, but I persisted. I balance work, study, and family.
In December 2019, I enrolled at McMaster University. Later earned a Diploma in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance and completed a Diploma in Accounting.
While studying at McMaster University, I developed my self-discipline and changed how I perceive things, which is priceless. I have to experience it to learn and discover it. I am self-motivated. I noticed I enjoyed studying – understanding in depth and not memorizing, which I usually did when I was younger.
The McMaster University courses were challenging to be honest, and my teachers taught me to be a critical thinker. I began thinking outside the box. The good thing is that if I had an idea or answered a question, they let me explain why I came up with that answer – that, for me, was so engaging for a student to understand more and strive to improve rather than simply dismissing a student’s incorrect answer.
From personal experience, the teaching style of McMaster University is different, and I appreciated the opportunity to discover my full potential and strengths, which inspired me to do better. Until now, I have applied the ways and self-discipline I had gained even with this Treasury Designation exam I took recently. I want to thank and let McMaster know the influence/the lessons they had instilled in me that changed my outlook and mindset, making me better and excel in what I want to be.
Judelyn
Business Administration with a concentration in Finance/Accounting
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Certificate of Professional Learning in Retirement Community Management
Certificate of Professional Learning in Retirement Community Management
Advance your skills with a Certificate of Professional Learning in Retirement Community Management
Explore the requirements below and register today!
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Certificate of Professional Learning in Retirement Community Management
Earn the Certificate of Professional Learning in Retirement Community Management by completing all 3 required courses listed below.
Certificate of Professional Learning in Retirement Community Management Requirements
Academic Credit: 9 Units
Retirement Community Management courses can also be completed as part of the Business Administration Diploma with a concentration in Retirement Community Management.
Courses (complete all 3)
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- Find Programs & Courses
- Business Programs
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Retirement Community Management Courses
Retirement Community Management Courses
Advance your career with online Retirement Community Management courses
Explore course options below and register today!
The Retirement Community Management courses can be completed in any order
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- Home
- Find Programs & Courses
- Business Programs
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Retirement Community Management Schedule
Retirement Community Management Schedule
This schedule table displays courses planned to be offered this year and is a guide to planning your courses for the academic year. Please note: Spring term registration opens mid-March and Fall/Winter term registration opens mid-July.
For more information about our learning formats and to choose a format that works best for you, please visit our Learning Formats page.
Course Name (Course Code) | Cost | Units | Fall 2023 | Winter 2024 | Spring/Summer 2024 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Healthy Aging: Health, Wellness and Nutrition (RCM 101) | $724.08 | 3.0 | Sep 11 - Nov 19 Format: Online | Jan 15 - Mar 24 Format: Online | — |
Residential Site Operations (RCM 102) | $724.08 | 3.0 | Sep 11 - Nov 19 Format: Online | — | — |
TBD | 3.0 | — | — | May 6 - Jul 14 Format: Online | |
Retirement Community Management (RCM 103) | $724.08 | 3.0 | — | Jan 15 - Mar 24 Format: Online | — |
TBD | 3.0 | — | — | May 6 - Jul 14 Format: Online |
The schedule table is subject to change. Please visit the course pages to browse classes currently available for registration and the latest cost information.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online. Our courses can be taken as part of a program or individually.
To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:
- Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent
- Be a mature student as defined in the Undergraduate Calendar of McMaster University or
- Be deemed an exceptional case
To ensure you are successful in your online courses, you are required to have knowledge and skills with general computer applications, such as keyboarding, file management, video conferencing and word processing.
Language Requirements
If your first language is not English, you must meet the University’s English language proficiency requirements. Completion of TOEFL exam with a minimum acceptable score of 20 on each of the four components (reading, writing, speaking and listening), valid for 2 years.
Expandable List
- Visit continuing.mcmaster.ca/programs to find your program of choice
- Click on each tab on the program page to learn about credential options and requirements, schedule and fees, and a list of all courses in the program
- Select a course and then select an available offering, noting important information such as cost, delivery format, and start/end dates; then click ‘add to cart’
- Once you have added your courses, click the shopping cart icon at the top right-hand corner of the page (bottom of the browser screen on mobile)
- Review your cart and, once you’re ready to proceed with enrolment, click ‘proceed to checkout’
- As the next step, you will be redirected to Mosaic – McMaster’s Administrative Information and Enrolment system
- Once you are in Mosaic, select ‘new to McMaster’ or log in with your existing MacID and password (if applicable)
- Complete all required fields and select a program of study when prompted (i.e., a specific program or open studies for standalone courses)
- Finally, payment is required in full to secure a spot in your course(s)
A payment receipt email will be issued to you immediately after registering, and a course confirmation email will be sent to you overnight. Within approximately 24 hours of registering, you will also receive an important email containing credentials used to activate your MacID, which you must do before you can access courses in Avenue to Learn. Please review our Getting Started page to learn more about the next steps for beginning your studies after registration, and our Help Centre for our Refund Policy and other frequently asked questions. Please note that on average, each course requires 6-8 hours of study per week, per course (sometimes more) and some courses may have listed prerequisites. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Most students take 1-2 courses per term across a few different terms and a full-time equivalent course load is typically 3-4 courses per term.
For more information and a walkthrough on how to register, please check out this video.
- Payment must be made in full at the time of enrolment
- Online credit card or debit payments are preferred
- Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express
- Accepted debit cards: Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard
- Google Pay is available for faster checkout
- Payments can be made from a Canadian Financial Institution and can take 2 to 4 business days to arrive in your McMaster student account. Once payment has arrived, you can register for your course. Please note that if the amount of the course fees owing is more than what was transferred to your student account, you will be dropped from the course.
Ready to get started?
Visit the Courses tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.