ECE Resource Consulting Field Placement FAQs Please review these FAQs for details about placement documentation, registration processes, eligibility criteria, and other essential information to help you successfully prepare for your placement experience. For detailed information about Paperwork Submission Deadlines and the Field Placement Process, click here. If you have additional questions, please contact us here. Am I eligible for field placement? You are eligible to apply for field placement if you have the following: Successful completion of ALL required prerequisite(s) by the placement course start date. Achieved a minimum Program GPA of 2.0 Completed and approved placement paperwork by the posted deadline. Note: You will be advised via email (sent to your DCMAIL.ca email address) and removed from the placement course if you have not met the above minimum criteria. When do I apply for placement? All students wishing to apply for a field placement, must complete the placement request form. Placement requests are open approximately six weeks before the paperwork deadline, allowing students to begin submitting paperwork early. Some requirements may take longer to receive than anticipated. Students are strongly encouraged to begin collecting these requirements the semester before the placement is to begin. What documents are required for my field placement? The following documents are required for each Early Childhood Education Resource Consulting (ECRC) field placement: ECRC Field Placement Host Application Form (available only during the posted application timeframe) Entry Immunization Form Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening Intermediate First Aid & Level C CPR Certification (formerly called Standard First Aid & Level C CPR) Student Declaration of Understanding Informed Consent for the Release of Personal Information Online Training Module Completion Certificates (accessed via PPL’s Paperwork Modules): Workplace Hazardous Materials Information (WHMIS) Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps Note: All placement paperwork must be uploaded to Synergy Gateway prior to the posted deadline. Where do I upload my placement documents? Students will upload their documents to Verified by Synergy Gateway. Where can I access the four Health & Safety training certificates? Students can access the Worker Health & Safety Awareness in 4 Steps, WHMIS, AODA and Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention trainings via the DC Connect Paperwork modules. Students who have already completed these certificates for previous placements within their program are not required to complete the trainings again. Trainings from other sources are not accepted. How do I gain access to Synergy? Once the student completes the placement request form, the placement officer will complete an eligibility audit, and if eligible, will add the student to Synergy Gateway. Synergy Gateway will send login instructions to the student’s DCMail account. Can I do my placement in person or remotely? Placements in this program must be completed in person. How do I register? Web registration is not available for field placement courses. Students will be registered by the placement officer once the placement request has been submitted and the eligibility audit has been completed. The tuition fee will be added to your student account for payment before the course start date. If applicable, final grades from prerequisite courses from the previous semester must also be posted. How many hours must I complete for placement? ECRC Field Placement, Level 1 – 105 hours ECRC Field Placement, Level 2 – 150 hours Note: Placement Level 2 cannot be fast-tracked and must be completed in no less than 10 weeks. How many hours can I do per week? Students will arrange a mutually suitable schedule with the host agency/supervisor. When arranging their schedule, students must ensure they meet the required number of placement hours by the end date of the course. ECRC Level 2 Placement cannot be completed earlier than week 10. Am I required to find my own placement? Yes. Students are required to research and secure their own placements in this program. Students wishing to attend a public or catholic school setting outside of Durham Region, must follow their school board's placement procedure. Do not contact individual schools unless directed by the school board in your area. Durham District School Board & Durham Catholic District School Board: Students are not permitted to contact individual schools or the school board offices. Students must provide the information to the field placement officer, indicating their preferences. The Placement Officer will contact the board and provide each student with placement host details once paperwork is approved and a location has been confirmed. Can I do my placement in another province? Field Placements in this program must be completed within the Province of Ontario. May I do my placement where I work? Doing your placement where you work is a conflict of interest and is not permitted. However, students may have opportunities within their workplace to complete a placement in another department, under a different supervisor. Please contact the field placement officer for more information and whether this option applies to you. May I do my placement where a relative is employed? Students are not permitted to complete a placement experience where they have a relative or familial relationship with anyone with supervisory responsibility at the agency. This would be considered a conflict of interest. My agency host wants to pay me, is this allowed? Field placements are unpaid learning opportunities, and therefore, students are not permitted to accept payment for the field placement experience. What credentials does my agency supervisor need to have? Students must be supervised by someone with the educational qualifications of a Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT). May I do my placements at the same setting? Students are permitted to complete both field placements at the same host agency. Can I call or email for placement status updates? We encourage students to check DC Connect and your DCMAIL.ca account daily for updates and any important communication. Depending on your program and the type of agency you are to be placed with, securing and confirming a placement can take time. You will be contacted as soon as your agency has been confirmed and approved. May I begin my placement before the course begins? No. Students must ensure that they have been officially cleared prior to beginning their hours at the host agency. Clearance will not occur prior to the start date for the placement course. How will I know when I can begin my hours? Each student will receive official clearance via email to their DCMAIL.ca account only advising them of placement details and official clearance date. Students cannot start placement before official clearance is received. Am I able to challenge my field placements? Placement Level 1 is eligible for PLAR. Placement Level 2 is not eligible for PLAR. Please contact the PPL Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) coordinator for eligibility requirements and how to apply here: pplplar@durhamcollege.ca What is the withdrawal policy for field placements? Please view the PPL Withdrawals & Refunds Page for details. Once registered, withdrawals are subject to a minimum $30 admin fee.