• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), including Grade 12 English (C or U) and Grade 11 Math (C, M, or U), OR
• Grade 12 equivalency certificate obtained through college academic upgrading, OR
• Mature Student Status (19 years of age or older) with Grade 12 English (C or U) and Grade 11 Math (C, M, or U).

To view alternatives to the above Grade 12 English requirement, please visit Durham College’s English Proficiency Requirement webpage.

• Equivalent secondary school diploma from another province or territory in Canada (Please note: A recognized equivalent to an OSSD may be accepted if you meet the levels, subjects and overall averages required for admission to the college. Generally the requirement is successful completion of a Grade 12 diploma except in Quebec where the equivalent is Secondary V), OR, Equivalent secondary school diploma from outside of Canada. Applicants who have been educated outside of Canada must have their documents evaluated by a credential assessment service (ICAS) and submit proof of educational qualifications in order to determine if their level of achievement is equivalent to an OSSD. To obtain a Credential Assessment Report visit either ICAS (1.800.321.6021) or WES (1.866.343.0070).
• You must maintain an overall average of 60% or a GPA of 2.0 in order to graduate.
• A minimum of 25% of courses must be completed through Durham College.

Effective Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the application process for this program is changing. Applications will be submitted online through OntarioColleges.ca (OCAS), and we will no longer accept emailed program application forms after this date.

• Only original or certified copies of academic records will be accepted. In order for transcripts to be considered official, they must bear an original seal/stamp and/or official signature from an appropriate signatory. We do not accept photocopies or photos as this will make them unofficial as the school seal will not show.
• Official transcripts must be sent by the issuing institution via email or an official credit service such as MyCreds™ – a secure digital credential platform that allows you to access and share the documents from anywhere in the world and at any time.
• You can learn more about MyCreds™, including privacy and security, at MyCreds™.ca
• For more information on admissions click here.

Click to access the Program Application Form

This form must be submitted and an Admission Acceptance Letter received prior to registering for any courses.

Students are required to print or save a copy of the Program of Study when beginning the program. This document contains critical details about program progression and graduation requirements specific to the academic year in which your program was started.

Click to access the Program of Study for the current academic year.

Note: Before beginning this credential, please be advised that one or more courses in this program are not compatible with macOS.

Students who began this program prior to the current academic year may contact the Professional and Part-Time Learning office at ppl@durhamcollege.ca or 905-721-3052 to obtain your Program of Study and graduation requirements.### Program Length

• You will have a maximum of 19 semesters (6 years & 1 semester) from the start date of your first course to complete this program.
• The minimum amount of time to complete a program is unique to each student and based on multiple factors:
• Your capacity: How much time do you have to dedicate to your studies. A person with more time is able to take more courses each semester and complete the program faster then a student that has additional commitments.
• Number of courses in the program: The number of courses in each program differs and this is a key factor when calculating a completion timeline.
• Course pre-requisites: A pre-requisite is a course that must be completed prior to taking another course. The number of course pre-requisites in a program can play a factor in how quickly a program can be completed.
• Course availability: Not every course is offered every semester. In some instances, students may need to wait until the next time a specific course is offered and this may impact their completion timelines.

Program Cost

Professional and Part-Time Learning offers courses individually with no upfront program cost. You pay for each course when you register, and most courses cost between $350 and $400. To see the most up-to-date prices, visit the “Current Course Offerings” section on the program page and select the course of your choice. The cost will be displayed next to the “Add to Cart” button.

This program requires the completion of General Education Elective (GNED) courses in addition to core program courses.

Click to access General Education Elective Course Options

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some programs may have restrictions on the specific GNED courses that students are able to take to fulfill their program requirements. For Professional and Part-Time Learning students, these restrictions are identified on the link above. For those in full-time, day school programs, please consult your academic school for confirmation of any GNED restrictions for your program before registering.

This program contains a field placement requirement.

For details, including paperwork submission deadlines, please visit the Field Placement Page, and for specific program-related field placement questions, please read the Business Field Placement FAQs.

Upon completion of this program, students will be equipped to:

• Contribute to the planning and implementation of employee recruitment, selection, and retention strategies.
• Administer and facilitate the performance management program.
• Coordinate and support the development, implementation, and evaluation of employee orientation, training, and development programs.
• Implement and support effective employee and labour relations strategies in both non-union and union environments.
• Administer and communicate the organization’s total compensation plan.
• Collaborate with others in the implementation and monitoring of organizational health and safety policies and practices.
• Contribute to the identification of information needs and apply current and emerging information technologies to support the human resources function.
• Contribute to organizational development strategies aimed at promoting organizational effectiveness.
• Present and evaluate communication messages and processes related to the human resources function of the organization.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate personal professional development plans to achieve ongoing competence in human resources professional practice.
• Identify and communicate the human resources component of the organization’s business plan.
• Contribute to the collection, analysis, and utilization of human resources data.

Potential career and industry options may include:

• Co-ordinator of Volunteer Resources
• Talent Management Specialist
• Human Resources Assistant or Generalist
• Occupational Health and Safety Associate
• Compensation and Benefits Associate
• Recruiter and Staffing Co-ordinator
• Training Co-ordinator
• Labour Relations Administrator
• Government Agencies
• Employment Agencies
• Municipal, Regional, Provincial, and Federal Governments
• Not-for-Profit and Community Service Organizations
• Pharmaceutical/Cosmetics Companies
• Retail Corporations
• School Boards
• Manufacturing

Graduates interested in further professional development may be interested in the following courses/programs:

• Joint Health & Safety Committee Certification (JHSC)

This program is eligible for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). For more information, please visit our OSAP Eligibility page.

Have you completed all your courses and program requirements? If so, please complete an Application for Graduation form and submit the required fee to the Office of the Registrar. For more information, visit the graduation page.