The Specialist High Skills Major in Health and Wellness (SHSM–Health and Wellness) helps students build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university or an entry-level position in the workplace.

Certifications and training

Students must complete 4 compulsory and 3 elective certifications and/or training courses/programs that are recognized by the health and wellness sector.

Compulsory certifications and training

Students must complete:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) – Level C or Health Care Provider (HCP)

  • both include automated external defibrillation (AED)

• infection control

• Standard First Aid

• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) — generic, not site-specific, instruction

These are the proper names of the specific certifications or training courses/programs for this SHSM.

Elective certifications and training

These are names of an area, type or category of training. In these cases, your school board selects the specific certifications or training courses and programs.

Students must complete any 3 of the following electives:

• advanced training in a technique (such as feeding, assistance, airway management, IV insertion)

• advanced training in a technology

• allergy awareness

• ambulation, lifting and transfers

• animal first aid

• anti-oppression and allyship training

• approaches to healing

• babysitting

• behaviour management

• child safety and injury prevention

• communication skills

• concussion awareness

• conflict resolution

• customer service

• dietary considerations

• equity and inclusion

• ethical considerations

• fire safety and fire extinguisher use

• first aid/CPR/AED awareness

• fitness

• Food Handler Certification

• group dynamics

• lab practices

• leadership skills

• marine and wilderness first aid

• medical terminology

• mental health awareness (approved by and delivered under the direction of the school board's Mental Health Leader)

• Mental Health First Aid

• non-violent crisis intervention

• personal training

• personality inventory

• portfolio development

• project management

• safe body mechanics

• safe food handling – basic

• sign language

• spa service

• specialized care (such as diabetes, dementia, nutrition)

• sterile techniques

• stress management techniques

• waste management

• wrapping and taping for performance and injury

Learn more about certification and training in SHSM programs.

Experiential learning and career exploration activities

Experiential learning and career exploration opportunities relevant to the health and wellness sector might include instances where an SHSM student:

• observes a co-op student one-on-one at a placement in the health and wellness sector (an example of job twinning)

• shadows a health and wellness professional for a day (an example of job shadowing)

• works with a member of a health and wellness industry association or professional for 1 or 2 weeks (an example of work experience)

• volunteers in a long-term care facility

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

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

• attends a health and wellness sector career fair

Learn more about SHSM program experiential learning and career exploration opportunities.

Reach ahead experiences

The SHSM-Health and Wellness must provide students with 1 or more reach ahead experiences. These are 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 health and wellness sector

• college: interviewing a college student enrolled in a health and wellness-specific program

• university: observing a university class in a health and wellness-related program

• workplace: interviewing an employee in the health and wellness sector

Learn more about reach ahead experiences.

Sector-partnered experiences (SPEs)

Students engage with a sector partner to learn about health and wellness and how it connects with ICE (innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship), coding and/or math literacy skills.

Learn more about SPEs in SHSM programs.

Careers in the health and wellness sector

These are examples of careers in the health and wellness sector, sorted by the type of postsecondary education or training the careers usually require.

Apprenticeship training

• early childhood educators

• educational assistants

• social and community service workers

College

• correspondence, publication and regulatory clerks

• dental hygienists and dental therapists

• electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians

• funeral directors and embalmers

• health information management occupations

• licensed practical nurses

• massage therapists

• medical administrative assistants

• medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants

• medical laboratory technologists

• medical sonographers

• nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates

• other assisting occupations in support of health services

• paramedical occupations

• respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists

• social and community service workers

University

• allied primary health practitioners

• audiologists and speech-language pathologists

• chiropractors

• dentists

• dietitians and nutritionists

• family, marriage and other related counsellors

• optometrists

• other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating

• other professional occupations in therapy and assessment

• other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

• pharmacists

• public health inspectors

• registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

• specialist physicians

• technical sales specialists – wholesale trade

Workplace

• nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates

• other assisting occupations in support of health services

• personnel clerks

• program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness

• receptionists

• specialized cleaners

Information and resources

Partnership opportunities

For local labour market opportunities in health and wellness, please contact your school board’s SHSM lead.

The SHSM model

This SHSM’s requirements are unique and geared to the health and wellness sector. However, the design of all SHSM programs follows a consistent model with 5 required components.

Find more information about the components of an SHSM.