What is the SHSM program?
The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) let students focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students receive the red SHSM seal on their diploma when they:
- complete a specific bundle of eight to 10 courses in the student's selected field;
- earn valuable industry certifications including first aid and CPR qualifications; and
- gain important skills on the job through cooperative education placements.
PDCI now has SIX Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs available which are in the following economic sectors:
Arts & Culture
Business
Information and Communications Technology
Non-Profit
Sports
Transportation Technology
Who are they for?
Grade 11 and 12 students who are:
- heading for apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace; and
- wanting to identify, explore and refine their career goals and make informed choices about their next steps after secondary school.
How can they help?
Students have the opportunity to:
- gain important skills on the job with actual employers, at skills training centres and at school; and
- earn valuable industry certifications, including first aid and CPR qualifications.
SHSM Components
Every Specialist High Skills Major program must include the following five components, which are outlined in detail in individual guides for each sector...
Bundle of 8-10 Credits
Certifications and Training Programs
Experiential Learning & Career Exploration
“Reach Ahead” Experiences
Essential Skills and Work Habits/OSP
Cooperative Education
All SHSM students are required to complete a two-credit Cooperative Education component. Although participation in the standard co-op education experience certainly qualifies, not all students need give up other valuable classroom credits in order to satisfy this requirement. Students can earn co-op credits while earning money at their after school or summer jobs.
Sector-recognized Certifications and Training
Each SHSM has either three or four compulsory certifications which must be provided free of charge to each participating student. Certificates are added to the student’s SHSM portfolio which is provided to the student at graduation. All SHSMs certify students in:
- Standard First Aid
- CPR Level C
- Generic (i.e. not site-specific) WHMIS
Other required certifications:
- Business: Customer Service
- Non-Profit: Ethical Considerations
- Sports: Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
- Transportation Tech: Basic Health & Safety
Every SHSM student must also obtain between two and three elective certifications which depend on the particular SHSM, and on the availability of trainers. At PDCI, we try to get to know our SHSM students well, and search for the most interesting and useful opportunities we can find for those students. For instance, we have done our best to provide as many SHSM students as possible with Smart Serve® training, because of how incredibly useful that training is. We are also providing several of our Sports and Arts & Culture SHSM students with professional training in Wrapping and Taping for Performance and Injury. Other certifications have included Proposal and Grant Writing, Portfolio Development, and Project Management.
What Difference Does a SHSM Make for Students?
OCAS and OUAC now have SHSM students identify themselves through a checkbox. More and more bursary, scholarship, and residence opportunities are being offered to students who graduate with a SHSM red seal on their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Want more information?
Contact PDCI’s Guidance department at (613) 267-3051
or the SHSM Program coordinator by email to [email protected].