Find out what your dream career is really like before you graduate from High School! Explore a career by performing the actual work in a real workplace environment. Cooperative Education is an individualized and unique program in which students gain professional experience in a career and earn school credits at the same time. Universities, Colleges, Apprenticeships and Employers are looking for young people with experience beyond their High School Diploma and courses. A Co-op experience gives you the competitive edge over all other applicants!
Cooperative Education / Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)
Co-op and OYAP are educational programs that combine classroom learning with practical experience in a workplace setting. They enable students to acquire actual career skills, earn 2, 3 or 4 credits, and to include the experience on resumes and post-secondary applications. Grade 11 and 12 students, pursuing any pathway and post-secondary destination (University, College, Apprenticeship, or Workplace), may apply for a Co-op program based on career interest, completion of the Co-op Application, interview with a Co-op teacher and a scheduled or completed relevant senior level in-school course.
A Co-op course may also include other school or board-wide program opportunities such as: Accelerated OYAP, College Dual Credit courses, High Performance Athlete Program and Specialist High Skills Majors. Participation in these programs is also dependent on a completed application and an interview:
Accelerated OYAP
-specialized program in which a student earns high school credits, registers as an apprentice, completes part or all of their Level One apprenticeship schooling in a specific trade at a community college, and earns hours/demonstrates competencies towards apprenticeship (only available in semester 2).
College Dual Credit Courses
-students attend college or apprenticeship courses that count towards both the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree, or an apprenticeship certification.
High Performance Athlete Program
-a specialized program for students who are competing in a sport at the provincial, national and international level, allowing them to train and compete and earn a credit at the same time.
Specialist High Skills Major: Business
-a specialized program which provides students with a range of customized, career-focused learning opportunities, including a two credit co-op program in a business sector environment.
Specialist High Skills Major: Construction
-a specialized program which provides students with a range of customized, career-focused learning opportunities, including a minimum two credit co-op program in a construction/engineering environment.
Specialist High Skills Major: Health and Wellness
-a specialized program which provides students with a range of customized, career-focused learning opportunities, including a two credit co-op program in a health & wellness environment.
Admission Requirements - to be accepted to any Co-op / OYAP program, students must:
- be 16 years of age at the start of their placement,
- have earned 16 credits,
- speak to a co-op teacher about their interest in applying,
- complete the application package,
- participate in an interview with a co-op teacher, and
- have an appropriate senior level in-school course