Work Experience

WEX12A and WEX12B each require students to complete 100 hours of community-based Work Experience placements, as well as several written forms and assignments. Students that complete a WEX12 course will receive 4 credits toward graduation. Completion of WEX12A is a pre-requisite to enroll in WEX12B.

Work Experience placements may be paid work hours, as long as all the requirements for WEX have been met. When taking WEX12B, students must first be able to demonstrate new learning from their WEX12A course.

Requirements for enrolling in WEX

• Have completed Career-Life Education (CLE)
• Complete a WEX Application Package – This can be completed digitally and emailed or printed and handed in to your school WEX  Coordinator
• Take the Workplace Safety Quiz and achieve 90% or higher

Once these three items have been satisfied, your WEX Coordinator will connect with you regarding your next steps.

Activities during WEX placements can include:

• Hands-on work experience at a standard worksite (business, government, non-profit, or volunteer organization), supervised by a worksite employee
• Job shadowing of a worker at a standard worksite
• Career mentoring with a worker at a standard worksite
• Hands-on work experience and career simulation activities at a non-standard community site, created specifically for occupations where hands-on work experience is not available (e.g., simulations for flying, shipping, driving, health care, firefighting, forestry, and heavy-duty machinery operations)

Age and work restrictions

The Ministry of Labour’s Employment Standards Regulation identifies age restrictions and hazardous work for youth. Schools are advised that under Section 32(1)(b) of the Regulation, secondary school students in a Ministry-authorized and school-supported work study, work experience or occupational study class are exempt from these provisions, as are trainees or apprentices registered with SkilledTradesBC.

WorkSafeBC Coverage

WorkSafeBC has the authority to extend coverage to students participating in Ministry-authorized WEX placements at standard worksites. Students are deemed to be “workers of the Crown” for these purposes. In the event of a workplace accident during a WEX placement, WorkSafeBC provides compensation, health care benefits, and rehabilitation benefits on the same terms and conditions as for any other worker. Students must be 14 years of age or older and participating in a school-arranged, school-monitored, and unpaid placement. For paid placements, the student is covered the same way as any employee in BC.

WEX Placement Standards

• provide a safe working and learning environment
• provide a site-specific safety orientation and site-specific training before hands-on activities begin
• provide the student with an orientation addressing hours of work, breaks, dress code, and employer expectations
• introduce the student to regular worksite employees with an explanation of the student’s position
• assign an employee to supervise the student whenever possible, select jobs and activities appropriate for the length of the WEX placement and the student’s skills and interests, while allowing the student to
  participate in a variety of work activities that support the student training plan
• immediately notify the school of any injuries or emergencies, difficulties, or other problems with the student

If you are interested in having grade 11/12 students earn work experience credits through your organization, please contact the Trades/Careers Coordinator at either Houston Secondary or Smithers Secondary.