PPL Field Placements Paperwork Submission Deadlines Please read all of the information on this page if you are planning on applying for a field placement within your program. When you are ready to apply, please follow the "7 Steps Toward Placement" for detailed instructions on how to proceed. Winter 2026 Spring 2026 Fall 2026 Placement Request Availability - DC Connect & Synergy Access: Students upload paperwork to DC Connect & Synergy platforms Oct. 7 to Nov. 26, 2025 Mar. 10 to Apr. 7, 2026 Jul. 7 to Aug. 11, 2026 Paperwork Deadline - DC Connect & Synergy Platforms: All paperwork is due in both DC Connect & Synergy platforms Due: Dec. 2, 2025 Due: Apr. 21, 2026 Due: Aug. 18, 2026 Term Start & End Dates: Students will not begin placement hours before the posted start date Jan. 13 to Apr. 21, 2026 May 12 to Aug. 18, 2026 Sept. 8 to Dec. 15, 2026 Please read each step thoroughly before proceeding: Step 1 - Initiate Placement Request Please complete the following steps below to request access to DC Connect and/or Verified by Synergy Gateway for the Spring 2026 term: Spring 2026 requests are accepted from March 10 – April 7, 2026 ONLY. Requests sent outside of these dates will not be processed. Click Here to Submit Field Placement Request NOTES: All paperwork is due on April 21, 2026 in order to qualify for placement. Please submit your request only once. This process is for PPL students only. If you are not a PPL student, you must contact your school office for field placement details and instructions. Requests received will be processed the next business day. DC CONNECT MODULE ACCESS: Students are required to check DC Connect daily for the addition of the Pre-Placement Paperwork module (a separate email from the PPL department will not be sent). SYNERGY GATEWAY ACCESS: Students will receive an email from Verified by Synergy Gateway with first time login instructions for the Synergy platform. This email will go to your DC Mail account only. You must check this account daily. If you have not received this email from Synergy within 2 business days of your request, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders. (NOTE: If you are a returning student and have gained access to Synergy Gateway previously, you will still have access and can log in using your previous login credentials). It may take up to 2 business days to gain access to DC Connect and Verified by Synergy Gateway in some cases. Students are required to monitor their dcmail.ca email account during the application process and throughout placement, as placement correspondence will only be sent to the student’s dcmail.ca address. Personal email addresses will not be used. CRC w/ VSS (CRIMINAL REFERENCE CHECKS WITH VULNERABLE SECTOR SCREENING) Students are advised to order Criminal Reference Checks w/Vulnerable Sector Screens (as required for your placement course) A MINIMUM OF 8 WEEKS BEFORE THE DUE DATE. Police stations are backlogged and have been taking a minimum of 8 weeks to process in many cases. CRC validity dates have been increased from 6 months to 1 year for SSW & Library Tech placements. All other placements requiring CRC/VSS remain at 6 months. ENTRY IMMUNIZATION FORMS (EIF) Please ensure you book an appointment with your doctor to have your Health forms completed well in advance of the due date. The newest version of the Entry Immunization form can be found here: Entry Immunization Form. PPL students are not required to have the COVID-19 vaccines, however, if your agency requires it, you must follow their COVID-19 procedures. Step 2 - Placement Eligibility PLACEMENT ELIGIBILITY Students must complete ALL prerequisite courses prior to applying for field placement.Note: Some of the Business programs, All Health programs and ECE Field Placement #3 require that ALL courses in the program must be completed prior to registering for the final placement component. Students must also have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher in order to be eligible for placement. Students must meet all paperwork and registration deadlines in order to be eligible for placement. Step 3 - Uploading Paperwork Students doing IN PERSON, REMOTE or HYBRID format placements are required to upload paperwork to DC Connect AND Verified by Synergy Gateway. Once you have access to the DC Connect Pre-Placement Paperwork Module, please read and follow all of the instructions outlined in the platform. Book your Synergy Gateway documentation review appointment. Collect and Upload ALL documentation required by Synergy as instructed. Students must regularly check Verified by Synergy Gateway to ensure documentation has been accepted and approved. Failure to submit all complete, required documentation by the posted deadline will result in not being eligible for placement for the term. PLEASE NOTE: Criminal Reference Checks are taking a minimum of 6-8 weeks to receive. Please ensure you order yours at least 8 weeks before the due date! Step 4 - Paperwork Review and Approval Documents uploaded to Synergy Gateway will be reviewed by Synergy staff. Once all documents have been approved, Synergy will issue the student a Pass or Fail Status. Once ALL paperwork has been reviewed and approved, by both PPL and Verified by Synergy Gateway, final grades from the previous semester have been processed, and each student’s host agency has been confirmed/approved, each student will be provided clearance to begin placement via email. *Note: If you are awaiting grades from the previous semester, they are typically posted the week before the placement course begins. Step 5 - Agency Approval and Confirmation Once the student has been registered for their placement, and documentation has been approved by Synergy Gateway, the PPL Field Placement Officer will contact each student's placement agency host to secure the student's placement. Your patience is appreciated during this time, as this process is lengthy and many students from all programs are being placed at the same time. If your agency has any questions, please have them reach out to the Field Placement Officer at pplplacements@durhamcollege.ca Step 6 - Field Placement Clearance Once the student's host agency has been secured and/or approved, and all documentation has been received and approved the student will receive an official clearance email sent to their dcmail.ca email address. This typically happens shortly before the course start date. Please note: The approval of documents uploaded does not give you permission to begin your placement hours. You are not to begin any placement hours until you have been officially cleared by the PPL Placement Officer (Students will receive an official clearance email). Any hours completed prior to clearance will not be counted and must be made up prior to the course end date. Clearance will only be sent to the student's dcmail.ca email account - personal email addresses will not be used. Other Information FIELD PLACEMENT INFORMATION FIELD PLACEMENT FORMATS PROGRAM SPECIFIC FAQs FIELD PLACEMENT INFORMATION REQUIRED PAPERWORK FOR PLACEMENT Students that are required to upload placement paperwork will find the list of required documents in the DC Connect module associated with their program. Students will gain access to the module only after they have been approved for the current term. See the "6 Steps Toward Placement - Step 1 – Initiate Placement Request" above. NOTE: Business or Library and Information Technician placements do not require an EIF unless attending placement in an agency where the student is in contact with vulnerable persons, or where the agency requests it. (eg: Hospitals and/or Long Term Care agencies etc.) ENTRY IMMUNIZATION FORM (EIF) ENTRY IMMUNIZATION FORM (EIF) The completion of the Entry Immunization form (EIF) ensures that you have taken the necessary precautions to avoid contracting or spreading disease or illness. The EIF can take a significant amount of time to complete so it is strongly advised that you make an appointment with your family doctor or the Durham College Health Centre (on campus) to get these forms filled out as soon as possible. You MUST have an approved EIF before you can attend placement, and it must remain valid for the duration of your placement. Print the Entry Immunization Form and bring it with you to your doctor’s appointment. The doctor will need to fill out the forms completely. Please note: The Health Care Provider information page included in the form explains each immunization that is required. Please bring this with you to your doctor’s appointment. If you have completed this form in the recent past, you may be able to use the same form providing all of the immunizations are still up to date. If you do not have a family doctor, you can make an appointment with the Campus Health Centre. Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre – Room G1030 T: 905.721.3037 F: 905.721.3133 E: healthcare@dc-wp.lndo.site Hours of Operation Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CRIMINAL REFERENCE CHECKS (WITH VSS) Students must have a current Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening submitted by the due date in order to attend placement. Students will be required to keep an original CRC to show their agency host. The Criminal Reference Check must be valid within 6 months of your placement, and remain valid for the duration of your placement. (Note: Depending on where you are placed, your placement host may require a CRC newer than Durham College’s requirement – example: Regional Daycare centres often require the CRC is no more than 1 month old). NOTE: As of Fall 2024, SSW and Library Technician placement validity dates have increased from 6 months to 1 year. All other placements remain at 6 months. CRIMINAL REFERENCE CHECK REQUESTS PLEASE NOTE: Criminal Reference Checks are taking between 6-8 weeks to process in many areas, including Durham Region. Students MUST order their reference checks early, in order to avoid being declined placement eligibility. Durham Region & Outside Durham (except Toronto Police Services) To request a Criminal Record Check and/or a Vulnerable Sector Screen a student may be required to provide a letter from the College on letterhead, with a staff signature stating the reason the check(s) are required. Please check the requirements of your local police service prior to sending your request. Sending incorrect or incomplete information could delay their process. Click here to access the letter: Criminal Reference Check Request Letter. Toronto Police Services If you are from the Toronto area, please email pplplacements@durhamcollege.ca requesting the access code to be used on the Toronto Police Service website. Students living in Toronto do not use the letter above when requesting their record checks. For more information on the TPS process, including current processing times, please visit their website – Toronto Police Services/Background Checks/Vulnerable Sector Screening. VERIFIED BY SYNERGY GATEWAY INFORMATION IMPORTANT INFORMATION TERM DUE DATES ARE FOUND ON THE PPL FIELD PLACEMENT WEBSITE - durhamcollege.ca/ppl/fieldplacement Read all placement requirements carefully. These are time sensitive items. Always keep your original documents. Make a copy of your approved Verified by Synergy Gateway ERV Permit after each update and store in a safe and secure place. This is your personal information and as such is considered confidential. There are costs associated with permit checking, immunizations, lab tests and certifications. Be sure to keep all of your receipts for income tax purposes. PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS Placement requirements are specific health and non-health related documents necessary for placement(s) to ensure it is safe for students to work in their setting. Specific requirements are broken down by a student’s school and program or course. Health record checks are also necessary and are often a requirement as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario. Health record checks can include immunization history, vaccinations, and blood work. Ensuring you meet your placement requirements is mandatory for you to proceed in your chosen program. VERIFIED BY SYNERGY GATEWAY Verified by Synergy Gateway is a leading provider of healthcare and compliance solutions for colleges across Canada. Durham College has partnered with Verified by Synergy Gateway to provide our students with services to assist them in the successful completion of their program’s clinical placement requirements. Verified by Synergy Gateway is a proprietary platform that is used by students across Ontario for the purpose of digitally collecting placement requirements documentation for verification. This process of digitally uploading your documentation requirements and having them validated using Verified by Synergy Gateway is known as ‘Electronic Requirement Verification’ or ‘ERV’. With the introduction of ERV, Verified by Synergy Gateway has eliminated the need for you to attend an in-person appointment and allows you to submit all of your placement requirements documentation from the comfort of your home. ACCESS TO VERIFIED Verified by Synergy Gateway is available through a secure username and password. Login instructions are emailed to your school email account (DC Mail) after the PPL Placement Officer has conducted your prerequisite and GPA audit and sent your information to Synergy Gateway for processing. This is expected to take up to 48 hours from the time your PPL activation request is received by Synergy Gateway. Use this link to access Verified: https://verified.sgappserver.com/s_Login.jsp BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR MANDATORY ERV APPOINTMENT Confirm that you have received login credentials for Verified by Synergy Gateway. Please note – you will only receive log in information once you have followed the activation instructions on the PPL field placement website. (Activation can take up to 48 hours from the time of your request to be processed). Your Verified by Synergy Gateway login information will be emailed to your DC email address. If you cannot locate this information in your general inbox, then please check your junk/spam folder. If you still are unable to locate your login credentials, please open a Help Desk ticket by visiting: synergyhelps.com Review your program’s specific placement requirements along with due dates detailed on the Professional and Part-Time Learning’s Field Placement website. You may also review requirements by logging into your Verified Account and selecting “Important Forms” and then selecting your program’s submission requirements chart. In this section, you will also find user guides and any required forms in order to be successful in completing this process. Make sure you have reviewed what your clinical placement requirements are and have planned out when and how you will be completing them. It is important to remember that some requirements may take an extended time to complete. Once you have ensured that all requirements have been uploaded to your profile, you may book your ERV Appointment on the Verified by Synergy Gateway platform. This notifies Verified by Synergy Gateway that your profile is ready for verification. To avoid paying additional appointment fees, ensure all of your documentation has been uploaded PRIOR to booking your ERV appointment. You do NOT need to attend your ERV appointment in person or online – Synergy will provide a status update up to 3 days after your ERV appointment date. Make sure you plan accordingly as it does take time to validate your documents. Know when your due dates for verification are so that you can book your ERV appointment accordingly. SYNERGY GATEWAY FEES Verified is a paid service. Any time students are updating documents there are fees associated. To avoid booking and paying for multiple appointments throughout the year we strongly suggest you gather all of your requirements at one time so that they might be valid for multiple placements if possible. You can update expiring Criminal Reference Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS) documents free of charge after your initial appointment throughout that calendar year. The free update will be honored if you update these documents to the Verified platform by the date indicated by Synergy Gateway at the time of your documentation approval. Once you have uploaded your new Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen, you need to place a helpdesk ticket to have it processed. You do not need to book an ERV appointment unless you are updating other documents as well. *fees are non-refundable and are subject to change. Current fees are updated regularly on the synergy platform. DOCUMENTATION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that their documents are valid throughout all of your placements. You will be notified of any upcoming expiration of documents on your profile page for Verified by Synergy Gateway. You will also receive notifications via email to your DC Mail account. Multiple appointments at full-service fees will be required to update any expiring documentation with the exception of the Criminal Reference Check/VSS (one free update per calendar year). If you have more than one document expiring at any given time, we suggest you update them all together in one additional appointment to avoid further charges. Expired documents will negatively impact your clinical placement. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FOR PPL STUDENTS Field Placement Application Each PPL student will also be required to submit a Program-Specific Field Placement Host Application via the link in the DC Connect Paperwork Module. The application will be available once the student has completed the field placement request form on the PPL website. Online Training Modules The following Online Training Modules must be completed within DC Connect. You will have access to them when you have completed the activation process found on the PPL website. (Certificates of completion must be uploaded to your profile on Verified by Synergy Gateway as part of your clearance requirements). 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 If you have completed these documents previously, you are not required to re-take the training modules, you may simply upload the certificates to the Verified by Synergy Gateway platform. ERV & DOCUMENTATION CHECKLIST PACKAGES BY PROGRAM Early Childhood Education – Field placements 1, 2 & 3 & Observing the Young Child Early Childhood Education Resource Consulting – Field Placements 1 & 2 Educational Support – Field Placements 1, 2 & 3 Library Technician Field Placements 1 & 2 Mental Health Nursing Practicum (RN & RPN) Palliative Care Field Placement Retirement Communities Field Placement Social Services Worker – Field Placements 1, 2 & 3 Click Program Title to View Field Placement Options: • Accounting Diploma field Placement In Person, Remote and Hybrid format options are available. These options will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates. Students are required to research and secure their own placements in this program. Remote placements can be secured at agencies anywhere in Canada, providing the agency is willing to support this option and can meet the learning objectives and supervision requirements for the placement. • Human Resources Diploma Placement In Person, Remote and Hybrid format options are available. These options will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates. Students are required to research and secure their own placements in this program. Remote placements can be secured at agencies anywhere in Canada, providing the agency is willing to support this option and can meet the learning objectives and supervision requirements for the placement. • HURM Graduate Certificate Placement Option 1: In Person, Remote and Hybrid format options are available. These options will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates. Students are required to research and secure their own placements in this program. Remote placements can be secured at agencies anywhere in Canada, providing the agency is willing to support this option and can meet the learning objectives and supervision requirements for the placement. Option 2: HR Capstone Project - HCAP 6250 is an alternative to the field placement course. Students may register and pay for this class online, and no pre-placement documentation is required. • ECE Field Placement Preparation 1, 2 & 3 These courses are THEORY only courses and do not require activation or paperwork. Students can register online for these courses. ECE Field Placement Preparation 1 is available for registration. ECE Field Placement Preparation 2 is available for registration. ECE Field Placement Preparation 3 is available for online registration for those students requiring it as part of their program of study. If you are unsure if your program of study includes this course requirement, please reach out to the PPL Student Advisor. • Observing the Young Child This course should be taken alongside ECE Field Placement Level 1 & ECE Field Placement Preparation 2. Observations will be completed IN PERSON in a daycare setting. Students must have completed the required prerequisite courses in order to be approved to register for this course. Students will be provided with permission to register, via email, once a prerequisite audit (including GPA) has been completed and all pre-placement/observation documentation has been submitted/approved. • Early Childhood Education Diploma Field Placement 1, 2 & 3 Please note: These placements must be completed IN PERSON in a licenced daycare setting, supervised by an RECE.This placement must be completed IN PERSON in a childcare setting. Specialized placements (Schools, Montessori, EarlyON centres and non-standard program sites) are only available in the final field placement. This option will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates on the PPL Field Placement Page. Students must have completed the required prerequisite courses in order to be approved to register for this course. Students will be provided with permission to register, via email, once a prerequisite audit (including GPA) has been completed and all pre-placement documentation has been submitted/approved. • Early Childhood Education Resource Consulting Placements ECRC PLACEMENT 1: The first placement is hosted by Seneca College. This placement must be completed in person at an approved agency and supervised by a qualified Resource Consultant. Students are required to research and secure their own placements. Students are to be supervised by an approved Resource Consultant (RC) or Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT). This placement will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates on the PPL Field Placement Page. Students must have completed the required prerequisite courses in order to be approved to register for this course. Students will be provided with permission to register, via email, once a prerequisite audit (including GPA) has been completed and all pre-placement documentation has been submitted/approved. ECRC PLACEMENT 2: The second placement is hosted by Conestoga College. This placement must be completed in person at an approved agency and supervised by a qualified Resource Consultant. Students are required to research and secure their own placements. Students are to be supervised by an approved Resource Consultant (RC) or Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT). This placement will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates on the PPL Field Placement Page. Students must have completed the required prerequisite courses in order to be approved to register for this course. Students will be provided with permission to register, via email, once a prerequisite audit (including GPA) has been completed and all pre-placement documentation has been submitted/approved. • Educational Support Placements These placements are hosted by Mohawk College. This placement must be completed IN PERSON, supervised by a Certified Educational Support/Assistant or OCT Certified Teacher. Students are required to research and secure their own placements. This placement will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates on the PPL Field Placement Page. Students must have completed the required prerequisite courses in order to be approved to register for this course. Students will be provided with permission to register, via email, once a prerequisite audit (including GPA) has been completed and all pre-placement documentation has been submitted/approved. • Healthcare / Nursing Field Placements (Mental Health Nursing & Palliative Care) MENTAL HEALTH NURSING PRACTICUM In-Person, Remote or Hybrid Remote or Hybrid options may be available with community agency partners (ie: LTC, Correctional Services, Community Mental Health agencies, hospices etc.) Hospital placements are in person placements only. Mental Health Nursing Capstone This online course will include a series of applied learning activities/assignments to help consolidate learning across the program. No agency hours will be required, therefore, no paperwork to submit. Students interested in the Capstone course may register and pay online via our website. PLAR A PLAR challenge may be an option for students with current industry relevant experience – please contact plar@durhamcollege.ca for details and eligibility requirements and to register for the PLAR challenge. PERINATAL/OBSTETRICS NURSING PRACTICUM In Person Onsite (in-hospital) practicums may be available with hospitals willing and able to accommodate students at this time. Remote or Blended placements are not available for this program's practicum. PLAR The PLAR challenge may be an option for students with current industry relevant experience – please contact plar@durhamcollege.ca for details and eligibility requirements. NOTE: In-hospital placements must be secured by the PPL Placement Officer. Unfortunately, PPL is currently experiencing extensive wait times for in-hospital opportunities to become available. Students who have had placement requests deferred from previous terms will have requests prioritized, should in-hospital placements become available. New requests will placed in order of receipt, however, those requests could be deferred to future semesters based on placement availability. For mental health nursing placements, opportunities with community agencies may be possible should students wish to identify and secure a placement themselves. Placement opportunities secured by students, must be with a community agency (e.g.: long-term care homes, correctional services, community mental health agencies, hospices, etc). Students are not permitted to contact hospitals to arrange their own placement opportunities. These MUST be arranged by the PPL Placement Officer. • Library Technician Diploma Field Placements These placements are hosted by Mohawk College. Students must have completed the required prerequisite courses in order to be approved to register for this course. Students will be provided with permission to register, via email, once a prerequisite audit (including GPA) has been completed and all pre-placement documentation has been submitted/approved. Students are required to research and secure their own placements. Students must be supervised by someone with the educational qualifications of a librarian, library technician or teacher-librarian. In Person Option: Students complete their placement IN PERSON for a library or information service. This placement will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates on the PPL Field Placement Page. Remote Option: Students complete their placement remotely from home for a library or information service. Remote placements can be secured at agencies anywhere in Canada, providing the agency is willing to support this option and can meet the learning objectives and supervision requirements for each placement. This placement will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates on the PPL Field Placement Page. • Retirement Communities Management Graduate Certificate Field Placement This placement is hosted by Centennial College. This placement must be completed IN PERSON. Students are required to research and secure their own placements. This placement will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates on the PPL Field Placement Page. Students must have completed the required prerequisite courses in order to be approved to register for this course. Students will be provided with permission to register, via email, once a prerequisite audit (including GPA) has been completed and all pre-placement documentation has been submitted/approved. • Social Service Worker Diploma Field Placement 1, 2 & 3 Students can choose the following placement formats: IN PERSON, REMOTE, or Hybrid. (Students must be supervised at all times by an appropriately credentialed agency supervisor). Remote placements can be secured at agencies anywhere in Canada, providing the agency is willing to support this option and can meet the learning objectives and supervision requirements for each placement. Students are required to research and secure their own placements. Placements 2 & 3 must be completed with the same agency, which is different from the agency where they complete field placement 1. This placement will require pre-placement documentation to be submitted according to the term's deadline dates on the PPL Field Placement Page. Students must have completed the required prerequisite courses in order to be approved to register for this course. Students will be provided with permission to register, via email, once a prerequisite audit (including GPA) has been completed and all pre-placement documentation has been submitted/approved. PROGRAM SPECIFIC FIELD PLACEMENT FAQs Click on your program name below to view the specific FAQs related to your program's Field Placements: Business Field Placements FAQ Early Childhood Education Field Placements & Observing the Young Child Course FAQ Early Childhood Education Resource Consulting Field Placement FAQ Educational Support Field Placements FAQ Library Technician Field Placement Information Healthcare / Nursing Placement FAQ Mental Health Nursing Practicum FAQ Palliative Care Field Placement FAQ Perioperative Nursing Practicum Information (Hosted by: Lambton & Loyalist Colleges) Retirement Communities Field Placement FAQ Social Service Worker Field Placement FAQ
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