In this course, you will actively work on-the-job. You will be supervised cooperatively by your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator and your employer’s on-site supervisor. Students must be employed prior to registration.

Courses offered: Career Internship 10 (OTH1910)
Prerequisite: Workplace Safety Systems (HCS3000)
Credits: 5

You will earn one credit for every 25 hours of work.

Course tuition for adult enrollments is capped at $875 per school year (September to August) for up to 20 credits of Work Experience and Career Internship courses.

Enrolling in a Career Internship

1. Your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator will verify you have the mandatory prerequisite, and a part-time/full-time job or volunteer placement.
2. Once approved, you may submit your application for a career internship through Vista Virtual School’s online registration.
3. Complete the online course introduction.
4. Complete the Work Agreement and Learning Plan with your employer.
5. With your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator and employer, schedule the worksite inspection as per Alberta Education’s guidelines.
6. Once your worksite is approved, your registration is complete. You may officially begin work on your course.

Requirements

Supervision: You will be supervised cooperatively by your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator and your employer. Your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator will maintain regular contact with both you and your employer.

Employee Conduct: Students must adhere to the policies and procedures outlined by their employer.

Attendance: You must attend your internship regularly. We expect that you will not be absent except for extreme extenuating circumstances. If you must be absent from your work, you must notify your employer in advance. Sporadic attendance will result in you being removed from the career internship program.

Hours of Work: Students may only work between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Students aged 15, 16, and 17 years old may not work more than eight hours per day.

Compensation: Payment is not required to the student. Any pay received by the student from the employer is at the employer’s discretion.

Workers’ Compensation: Students working at approved workstations are covered by Workers’ Compensation through Alberta Education.

In Community Volunteerism courses, you will volunteer, examine, and evaluate the role of volunteers in a community and non-profits in a society, and evaluate your experiences through off-campus education.

Courses offered: Community Volunteerism 1 (CCS1080) and Community Volunteerism 2 (CCS2080)
Credits: 1 per course

You will earn one credit for 25 hours of volunteer work.

Enrolling in Community Volunteerism

1. Contact Associate Principal Treena Bradbury to request a volunteer proposal form.
2. Complete and return the volunteer proposal form to share where you intend to spend your time.
3. Once the Associate Principal approves your proposal, we will register you in the course.
4. You may officially begin work on your course.

Course Work

• The supervisor at your volunteer site will be your main supervisor as you complete your volunteer work. Your volunteerism supervisor will need to sign your log sheet(s) and provide written feedback.
• Once you complete 25 hours of work, you will submit your signed log sheet and feedback.

Evaluation is based on:

• Your initial proposal
• Your completed and signed log sheets
• Feedback from your supervisor
• Your self-evaluation of your experience at the volunteer activity
• For CCS2080 only: your final assignment

The Green Certificate Program is an agricultural training program. Through an apprenticeship-style delivery, you will learn through practicing the skills required in your chosen area of specialization. Students must find their own trainer/placement prior to registration.

You will be supervised cooperatively by your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator, an Alberta Agriculture specialist, and an on-site farmer trainer. If you complete this program successfully, you will earn a Level 1 Technician Certificate.

Courses offered: Green Certificate (Course Codes Vary)
Prerequisite: Agriculture Safety (AGR3000) and Workplace Safety Systems (HCS3000)
Credits: 16
Materials: Workbook provided by Alberta Agriculture

Enrolling in a Green Certificate Program

1. Contact a VVS Off-Campus Coordinator.
2. The VVS Off-Campus Coordinator will register you in Green Certificate courses.
3. Students work with their trainer, the Green Certificate Coordinator, and the VVS Off-Campus Coordinator. They are monitored throughout, and there are testing periods in the spring and fall. All sites need to be approved through a site visit prior to registration.

The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is made up of five-credit trade-focused courses for senior high school students 15 years of age or older. This program allows you to earn high school credit while working as a registered apprentice in the trade of your choice. Students must be working with a certified journeyperson.

Prerequisites: Workplace Safety Systems (HCS3000), Workplace Safety Practices (HCS3010), Career Internship (OTH1910) – 5 credits, and Tradesecrets’ minimum requirements for the trade you have chosen.

Career Internship 10 (125 hrs) must be completed prior to and at your intended RAP placement, before enrollment is approved. Completing Career Internship 10 allows both you and the employer assurance that the apprenticeship will be a good fit. You may register in Career Internship 10 with Vista Virtual School as soon as you acquire a placement.

Credits: Up to 40.

You will earn five credits for every 125 hours of paid work.

How Do I Get Started?

Step 1: Do Your Research

• Visit the Trades and Occupations list and become familiar with your trade of interest.
• Talk to friends, family, and others who work in the trade.
• If applicable, check out the Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples in the Trades on www.alis.alberta.ca.

Step 2: Find an Employer

• Conduct a standard job search using newspapers and online job posting sites.
• Tell everyone you know that you are looking for an apprenticeship position.
• If an employer says they are not hiring, ask if they know of another company that is.
• More job searching resources are available on the ALIS website.

*If you require assistance with RAP placement opportunities, contact CAREERS: The Next Generation.

Step 3: Complete the Apprenticeship Application and Contract

Complete the online Apprenticeship Application and Contract.

• Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible for training in an apprenticeships program.
• An Alberta Student Number (ASN) is required to apply for all programs and services.
• You will need your journeyman’s contact information and your SIN number to apply for RAP.

AIT RAP scholarship information

What’s Next?

• After you have completed the prerequisite requirements, registered with Tradesecrets, and have your Bluebook, contact the VVS Off-Campus Coordinator.
• The VVS Off-Campus Coordinator will register you in RAP courses.
• If you completed Career Internship 10 (5 credits) with VVS, you will only be required to complete a new learning plan with your employer. If you completed Career Internship 10 elsewhere, you must be at the same placement, and a site inspection may be required.
• After all required forms are approved and properly submitted, you may start logging hours. You will be monitored by your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator, as well as your employer.
• To earn credit, you will be evaluated by both your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator and employer.
• You can earn 1,000 time credits and 40 high school credits towards your diploma requirements through RAP.
• Five credits = 125 hrs (work completed through RAP must be paid).

Special projects are a way for students to explore a topic or develop a skill not covered through high school courses or extracurricular activities. Some past special projects have included:

• Designing a website
• Writing a novel
• Creating a short film
• Composing a soundtrack
• Equestrian studies

Note that routine extracurricular activities, like school yearbooks, newspapers, or team sports will not count for special projects.

You may enrol in special projects courses as an individual or as a group of students.

Courses offered: Special Projects 10 (OTH1999), 20 (OTH2999), and 30 (OTH3999)
Recommended courses: Workplace Safety Systems (HCS3000) is recommended, though not required, prior to taking a Special Projects course.
Credits: 3 or 5

You will earn one credit for every 25 hours of logged work, for a minimum of three and a maximum of five credits.

Enrolling in Special Projects

1. Contact your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator.
2. Draft and submit a proposal of your project to your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator for approval.
3. Once approved, you may submit your application for a special project through Vista Virtual School’s online registration.
4. Once your application is processed and your registration is completed, you may begin work on your course.
5. You will work with your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator throughout the project.

Work Experience courses allow you to explore your career interests and gain valuable experience through your current job or volunteer work while earning credits through off-campus education. Students must be employed prior to registration.

Courses Offered: Work Experience 15 (OTH1998), 25 (OTH2998), and 35 (OTH3998)
Prerequisite: Workplace Safety Systems (HCS3000)
Credits: 3, 5, and 10

You will earn one credit for every 25 hours of logged work. You may use a maximum of 15 work experience credits toward your Alberta high school diploma requirements.

Course tuition for adult enrollments is capped at $875 per school year (September to August) for up to 20 credits of Work Experience and Career Internship courses.

Enrolling in Work Experience

1. Contact your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator. Your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator will verify that you have the mandatory prerequisite, and a part-time/full-time job or volunteer placement.
2. Once approved, you may submit your application for work experience through Vista Virtual School’s online registration.
3. Complete the online course introduction.
4. Complete the Work Agreement and Learning Plan with your employer.
5. With your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator and employer, schedule the worksite inspection as per Alberta Education’s guidelines.
6. Once your worksite is approved, your registration is complete. You may officially begin work on your course.

**If you do not contact an VVS Off-Campus Coordinator before registering, your application may be delayed and/or denied.  Please speak to a VVS Off-Campus Coordinator or Academic Counsellor prior to completing an application. You can email for approval by completing this Pre-registration Form. Students applying without pre-approval will have 72 hours to contact us after applying. 

Requirements

Supervision: You will be supervised cooperatively by your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator and your employer. Your VVS Off-Campus Coordinator will maintain regular contact with both you and your employer.

Employee Conduct: Students must adhere to the policies and procedures outlined by their employer.

Attendance: You must attend your work regularly. We expect that you will not be absent except for extreme extenuating circumstances. If you must be absent from your work, you must notify your employer in advance. Sporadic attendance will result in you being removed from the work experience program.

Hours of Work: Students may only work between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

Compensation: Payment is not required to the student. Any pay received by the student from the employer is at the employer’s discretion.

Workers’ Compensation: Students working at approved workstations are covered by Workers’ Compensation through Alberta Education.

Christie Borle for Off-Campus – North

Email: christie.borle@pembinahills.ca
Phone: 1-855-974-5333 x7214

Lori Goetjen-Lienau for Off-Campus – South and Special Projects – South

Email: lori.goetjen-lienau@pembinahills.ca
Phone: 1-855-974-5333 x7211

Wayne Rufiange for Special Projects – North

Email: wayne.rufiange@pembinahills.ca
Phone: 1-855-974-5333 x7212

Treena Bradbury for Community Volunteerism

Email: treena.bradbury@pembinahills.ca
Phone: 1-855-974-5333 x6225