Profile - Health & Wellness Sector

Kinesiologist, child care worker, audiologist, fitness instructor, doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, youth care worker, hospital porter, and medical technician are just some of the numerous and varied occupations in the health and wellness sector. 

This sector not only has a wide variety of careers, but also is significant for the number of workers it employs. According to Canada’s Health Care System, published by Health Canada in 2005, “approximately 1.6 million people work in health care and social services in Canada”.1 The same publication states that this figure makes this sector “the nation’s third largest employer after manufacturing and the retail trade”. 

The demand for health and wellness professionals will only increase. One reason is that a large number of employees in the sector are nearing retirement age. A survey conducted in 2002 found that “12% of the total number of [Ontario’s] health care professionals … are over the age of 55.”2 In addition, as our population ages, the demands on the health care sector will rise.

1 Health Canada, Canada’s Health Care System, www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/alt_formats/hpb-dgps/pdf/pubs/2005-hcs-sss/ 2005-hcs-sss_e.pdf.
2 MEDIAFORCE Helpdesk, The Ontario Health Care Labour Market, http://testunix.mediaforce1.com/itp/LM%20Report/1%20HealthCareLabour.pdf  

Required Components for the SHSM – Health and Wellness 

The SHSM – Health and Wellness has the following five required components: 

1. A bundle of nine Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits. 

These credits make up the bundle: 

• Four health and wellness major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills 

• Three other required credits from the Ontario curriculum, in English, mathematics and social sciences and humanities or science, in which some expectations are met through learning activities contextualized to the health and wellness sector 

• Two co-operative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting, enabling students to refine, extend, apply and practise sector-specific knowledge and skills 

Exception: If a student obtains a four (4) credit co-op, they may choose to use one additional co-operative education credit to substitute for one “major credit” and/or one “other required credit” (not from the Math or English categories). 

* Includes content delivered in the sector’s context

There are NO extra credits required to complete this program.

All required credits may be obtained within the 30 required credits for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Four Major Credits between grade 11 and 12 with a focus in Healthcare, Social Sciences and Humanities and Physical Education - all pathways.

2. Seven sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs 

The SHSM in health and wellness requires students to complete seven sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs. Of these, four are compulsory and the remaining three are electives that must be chosen from the list in the following table. Note that items in the list that are capitalized are the proper names of specific certifications or training courses/programs that are appropriate for the SHSM. Items that are lowercased are names of the areas or categories within which specific certifications or training courses/programs should be selected by the school or board. The requirements are summarized in the table below. 

3. Experiential learning and career exploration activities 

Experiential learning and career exploration opportunities relevant to the sector might include: 

• one-on-one observation of a co-operative education student at a placement in the health and wellness sector (example of job twinning) 

• a day-long observation of a health and wellness sector employer or employee (example of job shadowing) 

• a one-or two-week work experience with a member of an industry association or a professional in the sector (example of work experience) 

• a volunteer experience in a long-term care facility 

• an experience coaching an elementary school student in reading as part of a reading buddy program or other curricular or extracurricular activities 

• assisting in an exercise class in a long-term care facility 

• attendance at a health and wellness sector career fair

• Experiential learning and career exploration activities in the health and wellness sector may require a student to consent to a police records check, immunization clearance and/or confidentiality and privacy agreements. 

4. Reach ahead experiences 

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: 

• Apprenticeship: visiting an approved apprenticeship delivery agent in the sector 

• College: interviewing a college student enrolled in a sector-specific program 

• University: observing a university class in a sector-related program 

• Workplace: interviewing an employee in the sector 

5. Essential Skills and work habits and the OSP 

Students will develop Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector and document them using the OSP, a component of the SHSM. 

Seven Key Benefits for Students Pursuing a SHSM enables students to:

1. Customize their secondary school education to suit their interests and talents 

2. Develop specialized knowledge and skills that are valued by the sector and postsecondary education institutions 

3. Earn credits that are recognized by the sector and postsecondary education institutions 

4. Gain sector-specific and career-relevant certification and training 

5. Develop Essential Skills and work habits that are valued by the sector, recorded using the tools in the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP) 

6. Identify, explore and refine their career goals and make informed decisions about their postsecondary destination 

7. Remain flexible, with the option to shift between pathways should their goals and plans change 

Exploration (Grades 9 and 10) 

In addition, students considering this SHSM can be encouraged to enroll in the following courses to become better informed about careers and postsecondary options in the sector: 

• Exploring Technologies (TIJ1OB): This Grade 9 course is recommended for all students following SHSM pathways that have a technological education focus. The course provides students with opportunities to explore a variety of technologies, including manufacturing technology, by engaging in activities related to them. 

• Health Care (TPJ2O): This course is recommended for any Grade 10 student who is considering enrolling in a SHSM – Health & Wellness program. 

Occupations in the Health Sector 

The following table provides examples of occupations in the manufacturing sector, with corresponding National Occupation Classifications, sorted according to the type of postsecondary education or training the occupations would normally require.