The SHSM–Construction enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.
For local labour market opportunities in the sector, see your local SHSM contact at the board office.
The requirements of this SHSM are unique and are geared to the construction sector. However, the design of all SHSM programs follows a consistent model, described in Section A: Policy.
The SHSM–Construction has the following five required components:
These credits make up the bundle:
For the apprenticeship training, college, and university pathways, the four credits include:
For the workplace pathway, the four credits include:
1. Note that a compulsory English credit is required in Grade 11 and in Grade 12 for graduation with an OSSD. Schools may determine whether the CLA, if offered, is completed in the Grade 11 or Grade 12 English course.
See Section A1.2 for more on SHSM credits and CLAs.
Credits |
Apprenticeship Training Grades 11–12 |
College Grades 11–12 |
University Grades 11–12 |
Workplace Grades 11–12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Major Credits One credit may be substituted with a cooperative education credit (additional to the 2 required co-op credits) |
4 Including at least one Gr. 11 and one Gr. 12 credit |
4 Including at least one Gr. 11 and one Gr. 12 credit |
4 Including at least one Gr. 11 and one Gr. 12 credit |
4 Including at least one Gr. 11 and one Gr. 12 credit |
English may include a CLA in each credit | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 One credit must be in Gr. 12 |
Mathematics may include a CLA in each credit | 2 One credit must be in Gr. 12 |
2 One credit must be in Gr. 12 |
2 One credit must be in Gr. 12 |
1 |
Business Studies or Science
may include a CLA May be substituted with 1 cooperative education credit (additional to the 2 required co-op credits) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cooperative Education | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Total number of credits | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Note: Multiple credits in the Ontario technological education curriculum allow additional instructional time for the practice and refinement of skills needed to develop student performance to the levels required for certification, entry into apprenticeship programs, or participation in school–work transition programs (see The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Technological Education, 2009, page 17).
This SHSM sector requires students to complete a specified number of compulsory and elective sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs, as indicated in the following table. NOTE: Where an item in the table is capitalized, it is the proper name of the specific certification or training course/program that is appropriate for the SHSM. Where an item is lowercased, it is the name of an area, type, or category of training for which specific certifications or training courses/programs should be selected by the school or board. The requirements are summarized in the table below.
See Section A1.3 for more on SHSM certifications and training.
Five (5) compulsory | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C – includes automated external defibrillation (AED) | health and safety – basic | Standard First Aid | Working at Heights | Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) – generic (i.e., not site-specific) instruction |
Two (2) electives from the list below | advanced training in a technique (313) | advanced training in a technology (309) | anti-oppression and allyship training | basic electrical safety |
---|---|---|---|
Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) – flat | chainsaw safety | computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) | confined space awareness |
customer service | elevated work platforms | energy efficiency training (e.g., Energy Star, LEED) | fall protection |
fire safety and fire extinguisher use | first aid/CPR/AED awareness | hoisting and rigging | infection control |
insulated concrete forming | land surveying basics | leadership skills | lockout/tagging |
ozone-depletion prevention | portfolio development | powder-actuated tools | project management |
propane in construction | scaffold safety | sector specific software 1 (323) | sector-specific vehicle operation and safety |
specialized skills training program/competition (e.g., Skills Canada provincial level, WoodLINKS) | suspended access equipment | traffic control | trenching safety |
Experiential learning and career exploration opportunities relevant to the sector might include the following:
See Section A1.4 for more on experiential learning and career exploration activities.
Note that volunteer activities in an SHSM cannot be counted towards the hours of community involvement required to earn the OSSD.
Students are provided one or more reach ahead experiences – opportunities to take the next steps along their chosen pathway – as shown in the following examples:
See Section A1.5 for more on reach ahead experiences.
Students engage with a sector partner and apply skills to gain insight into the relationship between this sector and ICE (innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship), coding, and/or mathematical literacy.
See Section A1.6 for more on sector-partnered experiences (SPEs).
Visit the ministry's SHSM website for related resources.
See Section B3.4 for information on building awareness of SHSM programs among students in Grades 7 and 8.
See Section B3.4 for information on providing Grade 9 and 10 students with opportunities for exploration of SHSM programs. In addition, students considering this SHSM can be encouraged to enrol in the following courses to become better informed about careers and postsecondary options in the sector:
Students acquire the sector-specific knowledge and skills required to earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with an SHSM–Construction by completing its five required components. Students and their parents/guardians are encouraged to consult with guidance counsellors and teachers to select the courses that will enable students to pursue their goals.
Students pursuing an apprenticeship pathway should consider the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), which enables them to start an apprenticeship while earning their OSSD.
Students pursuing a university pathway are advised to complete their required cooperative education credits in Grade 11, in order to allow room in their timetables in Grade 12 for credits needed to meet university entrance requirements.
When helping students plan their SHSMs, particularly with respect to the selection of courses to fulfil the requirement for credits in the major, teachers should bear in mind that technological education courses can be offered as single-credit or multiple-credit courses.
This template shows program requirements for the SHSM–Construction in Grades 11 and 12, along with some of the additional credits needed for an OSSD. It is provided to help guide students in choosing the credits they need to meet the SHSM requirements in the pathway of their choice. Students should always review their pathways plan with their parents/guardians and their teachers to ensure that they have all the credits they need to graduate with an SHSM–Construction.
Apprenticeship Training Pathway Specialization Grades 11–12 |
College Pathway Specialization Grades 11–12 |
University Pathway Specialization Grades 11–12 |
Workplace Pathway Specialization Grades 11–12 |
---|---|---|---|
1 English credit (C)* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12) |
1 English credit (C)* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12) |
1 English credit (C)* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12) |
2 English credit (C)* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12) |
2 math credits (C)* (One credit must be in Gr. 12) |
2 math credits (C)* (One credit must be in Gr. 12) |
2 math credits (C)* (One credit must be in Gr. 12) |
1 math credit (C)* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12) |
1 business studies* or science credit* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12) A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted. |
1 business studies* or science credit* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12) A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted. |
1 business studies* or science credit* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12) A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted. |
1 business studies* or science credit* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12) A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted. |
4 construction major credits (including a Gr. 11 and a Gr. 12 credit) A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted for one of these four credits. |
4 construction major credits (including a Gr. 11 and a Gr. 12 credit) A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted for one of these four credits. |
4 construction major credits (including a Gr. 11 and a Gr. 12 credit) A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted for one of these four credits. |
4 construction major credits (including a Gr. 11 and a Gr. 12 credit) A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted for one of these four credits. |
2 cooperative education credits related to the sector (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)** May be used as (C) credits |
2 cooperative education credits related to the sector (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)** May be used as (C) credits |
2 cooperative education credits related to the sector (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)** May be used as (C) credits |
2 cooperative education credits related to the sector (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)** May be used as (C) credits |
2 optional or compulsory credits (Gr. 11) | 2 optional or compulsory credits (Gr. 11) | 2 optional or compulsory credits (Gr. 11) | 2 optional or compulsory credits (Gr. 11) |
2 optional or compulsory credits (Gr. 12) | 2 optional or compulsory credits (Gr. 12) | 2 optional or compulsory credits (Gr. 12) | 2 optional or compulsory credits (Gr. 12) |
* A contextualized learning activity (CLA) must be included in the course in schools that have committed to offering CLAs (see “Other Required Credits” in section A1.2). (Note that students must take Grade 11 and Grade 12 English to graduate with an OSSD, but for the apprenticeship training, college, and university pathways, the CLA may be offered in either grade. Also for those pathways, both math credits must include a CLA. For the workplace pathway, both English credits must include a CLA.)
** May be taken the summer before Grade 11
Note: To guide students and teachers in the development of their SHSM program, schools can access the latest approved SHSM course list for each sector through their SHSM board lead.
The following table provides examples of occupations in the construction sector, with corresponding National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, sorted according to the type of postsecondary education or training the occupations would normally require.
See Part 2 of the Introduction for more on occupations and NOC codes.
Apprenticeship Training | College |
---|---|
|
|
University | Workplace |
---|---|
|
|
Note: This information is based on the 2016 NOC. An update to the NOC in 2016 resulted in changes to the codes and titles for some occupations, and in some cases to the occupations included in the group. For more detail, refer to the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) web page, Ontario's Labour Market (https://www.ontario.ca/page/labour-market). (Note also that some of the names of occupations listed here reflect common usage in the sector and may differ slightly from those used in the NOC system.)
The following are examples of programs and training related to careers in the construction sector and the accreditations associated with each.
Apprenticeship Training | |
---|---|
Brick and Stone Mason | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
Concrete Finisher | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
Construction and Maintenance Electrician | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
Construction Craft Worker | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
Construction Millwright | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
Drywall, Acoustic, and Lathing Applicator | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
General Carpenter | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
Plumber | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
Sheet Metal Worker | Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification |
College | |
---|---|
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technician |
Diploma |
Applied Technology – Construction and Environment: Regulations and Compliance | Bachelor's degree |
Applied Technology – Construction Science and Management | Bachelor's degree |
Architectural Technician | Diploma |
Architectural Technology | Advanced diploma |
Building Inspection Technician | Diploma |
Construction Engineering Technology | Advanced diploma |
Electrical Engineering Technician – Industrial | Diploma |
Electrical Power Generation | Diploma |
Electrical Techniques | Diploma |
Fire Protection Engineering Technician | Diploma |
University | |
---|---|
Civil Engineering | Bachelor's degree, honours |
Electrical Engineering | Bachelor's degree, honours |
Industrial Engineering | Bachelor's degree, honours |
Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's degree, honours |
Training for the Workplace | |
---|---|
Construction Techniques | Certificate |
Gas Metal Arc Welding | Certificate |
Mechanical Techniques – Construction | Certificate |
Mechanical Techniques – CNC/CAD/CAM Specialist | Certificate |
Mechanical Techniques – Design | Certificate |
Welding Techniques | Certificate |