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This page has essential information about field placement requirements, procedures, and options for students enrolled in Professional and Part-Time Learning’s Business programs.
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.
The following are the documents required for field placements in the Educational Support program:
- Educational Support Field Placement Application Form
- Entry Immunization Form
- Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (valid within six months from the start of the placement term – see PPL website for specific date ranges)
- Standard First Aid & Level C CPR (Note: Online and Hybrid (online & in-class) courses will only be accepted if WSIB-approved.)
- Student Declaration of Understanding
- Informed Consent for the Release of Personal Information
- Online Training Modules (accessed via PPL’s DC Connect Application Modules):
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information (WHMIS) Module Completion Certificate
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) Module Completion Certificate
- Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Module Completion Certificate
- Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps Module Completion Certificate
Placements in this program must be completed in person.
Students in all placement programs will receive permission to register (via email from the Placement Officer) only when all of their documentation has been reviewed and approved by both PPL and Synergy Gateway. If applicable, final grades from the previous semester’s prerequisite courses must also be posted. This process takes time, and your patience is appreciated.
Grades are typically not available until within the week of the start date of the following term.
Students outside of Durham Region should first contact the school board in their area to determine the process for obtaining placements. Not following your school board's process could jeopardize future placements. Please do not contact the individual school directly unless advised by your area's school board.
If you are within the Durham Region, please follow the procedure below:
Durham Region School Board Application Process - Public and Catholic Schools:
- Students are not permitted to contact individual schools OR the school board office.
- Students are required to complete the application form and submit it by the paperwork deadline.
- The school board will provide the placement location to the Placement Officer.
- The Placement Officer will then advise the student when they have been cleared to begin.
- ES Field Placement, Level 1 - 120 hours
- ES Field Placement, Level 2 - 120 hours
- ES Field Placement, Level 3 - 120 hours
Students must complete all required hours and submit their final evaluation on or before the published course end date. Failure to do so will result in the student receiving an unsatisfactory grade for the field placement course.
Field placements in this program must be completed within the Province of Ontario.
No. There are specific age groups that must be completed with each level. It is not possible to do all placements in the same school.
ES Practicum 3 can be completed in either the elementary or high school level and therefore can be completed in a school previously attended for Placement 1 or 2, provided it is focused on a program or classroom containing students with exceptionalities.
Over the course of the three practicums, students will gain experience in various classroom settings as noted below:
- ES Practicum I - Elementary school
- ES Practicum II - High school
- ES Practicum III - Specialized classroom with students with exceptionalities
Students must be supervised by someone with the educational qualifications of a Certified Educational Support/Assistant or an OCT Certified Teacher.
This program's field placements are hosted by Mohawk College.
Students wishing to challenge any of the field placements in this program must contact Mohawk College's PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition) office directly.
Students are encouraged to start this process as early as possible. If the challenge process is successful, the credit must be transferred back to Durham College before registering for future placements in the program. Each placement requires the previous placement to be completed before the student can be approved to register/attend.
For detailed information about Paperwork Submission Deadlines and the Field Placement Process, click here. If you have additional questions, please contact us here.