Career and Applied Programs

Work Experience

Work experience means that part of an educational program that provides a student with an opportunity to participate in, observe or learn about the performance of tasks and responsibilities related to an occupation or career. (Source: Ministerial Order 282/04 (PDF - 12KB) - Effective July 21, 2004)

Rationale for Work Experience

Work experience is intended to help prepare students for the transition from secondary school to the world of work or further education and training. The community becomes the classroom where students gain knowledge and experience about the workplace and are provided with a frame of reference to review or revise their career goals. Work experience provides students with an opportunity to apply classroom learning in a context outside of school and to bring back to the classroom new perspectives about their learning.

Through work experience students will have the opportunity to observe and practise generic employability skills required in the workplace and, in some cases, to practise technical skills relating to specific occupations.

Work Experience and Graduation Requirements

To satisfy graduation requirements, all students must complete a minimum of 30 hours of work experience and/or community service. In the Graduation Program 2004, students complete this requirement as part of Graduation Transitions. In the Graduation Program 1995, students complete this requirement as part of their mandatory Career and Personal Planning 11 & 12 courses.

This graduation requirement recognizes the importance of experiential learning and the importance of extending education beyond the classroom into the community. Further information concerning the Graduation Transitions work experience and/or community service requirement can be found in Work Experience: A Resource for Graduation Transitions.

Elective Work Experience Courses

To fulfill the 30 hours of work experience and/or community service required for graduation, and/or to provide students with additional work experience, many schools offer elective work experience courses that relate to a Career Program or Focus Area. The Ministry has developed a Program Guide for Ministry-Authorized Work Experience Courses (PDF - 315KB) and some districts have developed their own Board/Authority Authorized work experience courses.

Elective work experience courses provide opportunities for students, especially those whose learning style is better suited to hands-on activities, to further explore career areas and develop job readiness skills as well as technical skills relating to specific occupations or industries. Elective work experience also allows students to further practice the generic employability skills needed to be successful in the world of work.

Resources