Career Planning

Post-Secondary Pathways

Halton secondary schools provide a wide range of course types, programs, and learning opportunities to prepare students for success in secondary school and beyond. Each pathway includes different course types and may also include specialized regional pathways programs to meet the needs of all learners. Pathways are individual, flexible, and dynamic; pathways can be combined and changed. As students begin to know themselves as learners they have the opportunity to adjust pathway plans as they move through secondary school, with the assistance of their Guidance Counsellor and parents. Secondary school prepares students for their chosen post-secondary destination: Apprenticeship, Work, Community, University and College.

More information can be found about post-secondary pathways can be found on

HDSB – Transition to Post-Secondary

HCDSB – Pathways Program

Apprenticeship Pathway

What is an apprenticeship?

  • A combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction.

  • 80-90% of apprenticeship training is provided in the workplace.

  • 10-20% involves classroom instruction on theory, which is usually given at a local community college, or provided through another approved training organization.

  • Length of the apprenticeship varies depending on the trade.

Why choose the skilled trades?

  • Advances in technology are changing the nature of work in the trades. Changing technologies are also creating more new jobs every year.
  • Canada is going to have a dramatic demand for people with excellent technical skills training in the skilled trades and technologies.
  • Many tradespeople today will be retiring in the next ten years, leading to a shortage of skilled employees.
  • Skilled tradespeople earn higher than average incomes.
  • Many skilled tradespeople own their own businesses.
  • 40% of new jobs will be in skilled trades and technologies in the next two decades.

What is the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)?

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) enables students who are 16 years of age or older to try an apprenticeable trade while in a high school cooperative education program. Students have an opportunity to become registered apprentices and work towards becoming certified journeypersons in a skilled trade while completing their secondary school diplomas.

What trades are available?

Click here to visit Apprentice Search to read more about the trades.

Click here to read up to date labour market research from the Province of Ontario.

How can I get more information?

Talk to your school guidance counselor or click here to visit the Pathways Program OYAP page.

You can also find information on the following sites:

Contact

HDSB:

Wade Richardson

New Street Education Centre

3250 New Street

Burlington, ON L7N 1M8

905-631-6120 ext. 449

 

HCDSB

Judy Brydges

Catholic Education Centre

802 Drury Lane

Burlington, ON, L7R 2Y2

905-632-6314

 

College Pathway

College programs provide an effective combination of real life applied skills and quality theoretical education. College programs give you the skills you need to pursue a variety of careers such as: journalists, police officers, dental hygienists, website technicians, paralegals and chemical technologists. Some programs transfer over into University programs/credits.

How long does College take?

College programs usually take one to three years to complete. Colleges have certificate, degree, diploma, graduate certificate, and also college/university programs.

 

Consider College if you…

• find success in hands-on/applied curriculum

• enjoy smaller classes and the personal approach to instruction

• have specific career goals that require a college education

• are interested in developing technical and occupational skills required for your chosen career area

 

Did you know that you can transfer between college and universities?

Check out www.ontransfer.ca for more information

 

How can I get more information?

Talk to your guidance counsellor, meet with College representatives when they visit your school or at a regional College Fair, and visit these important sites: Ontario Colleges MyBlueprint

Community Pathway

What is the Outlook?

  • Special Education staff, parents, and community support agencies work collaboratively to plan and prepare students for life in the community upon exiting secondary school.
  • Options include, but are not limited to volunteer work, paid employment and participation in recreational programs.
  • Some students may be able to access specialized programs offered at Ontario Community Colleges ( i.e. CICE – Community Integration through Co-operative Education ).

What is required of me?

  • Students with Special Education needs who are primarily accessing non-credit courses leading to a Certificate of Accomplishment need to display significant progress in completing individual, personal, and educational goals.
  • Students working towards an Ontario Secondary School Certificate [OSSC] need to successfully complete a minimum of 14 credits including 7 compulsory and 7 elective, or optional courses.
  • Students in this pathway may remain in secondary school until June of the year that the student turns 21 years of age

How can I get more information?

Visit these important sites:

Halton Support Services

Developmental Services Ontario

Community Living Ontario

MyBlueprint

University Pathway

What is the Outlook?

  • Graduates from University have the opportunity to do very well upon graduation – as a matter of fact, there are certain occupations that absolutely require candidates to have earned a University Degree.
  • There are approximately 20 degree granting institutions in Ontario and many Universities have affiliate colleges and/or multiple campuses. The number of applicants to Ontario universities has been increasing year over year. Ontario universities share the Province’s major objective of expanding access to increase the proportion of Ontarians who have completed a university degree.

What is required of me?

The basic requirement for admission is the student’s top 6 marks in “U” or “M” (U/C) courses; most programs have specific subject requirements that must be included in the six submitted courses, and some universities even require a minimum number of “U” courses versus “M”s. All programs require that a student has ENG 4U on their transcript.

Most Undergraduate programs are four years in length

Applicants to Ontario Universities apply online through OUAC (Ontario University Application Centre). Some universities / programs require the submission of supplemental applications, portfolios, and/or auditions for admission.

How can I get more information?

Talk to your guidance counsellor, meet with University representatives when they visit your school or at a regional Universities Fair, and visit these important sites:

eInfo

Ontario Universities’ Application Centre

MyBlueprint

Work Pathway

What is the Outlook?

  • The largest distribution of workers with a high school diploma work in Business, Finance & Administration.
  • Types of jobs include: Court Clerks, Receptionist, and Telephone Operators. Other sectors include: Sales & Service and Trades, Transport & Equipment Operation.
  • Job Connect, which is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, provides young people, who are out of work, with the opportunity to gain skills and knowledge needed to find and keep a job. To find out more about Job Connect contact your local Career Resource Centre.

What is required of me?

  • Students must attain 30 Secondary School Credits ( 18 compulsory and 12 electives ) in addition to successfully completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) and volunteering for a minimum of 40 community service hours.
  • When determining what to do, consider your goals, your skills and interests, your education and when you are available to work. Make sure you get information on the labour market and future opportunities for growth.

How can I get more information?

Talk to your guidance counsellor and meet with co-operative education teachers. The Halton Industry Education Council (HIEC) provides assistance in job preparation, job seeking, and career planning. The Employer Registry, developed by HIEC, is one of the many useful tools to connect employers with prospective employees.

Visit these important sites:

Halton Industry Education Council

Canada Job Bank

MyBlueprint