One of the questions that we always get, both from students and teachers, is can co-op students be paid for placements?
Work placements are one of the most valuable components of both Co-operative Education (Co-op) and Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs. They give students a chance to apply classroom learning in real workplaces, explore career options, and build skills that matter — regardless of whether they’re headed to apprenticeship, college, university, or the workplace.
But one question keeps coming up among teachers, students, and parents alike: Should a placement be paid or unpaid? The answer isn’t as simple as “paid is better.” What matters most — and what teachers need to communicate clearly — is how a work experience fits educationally and legally into SHSM and co-op requirements.
The answer is that it depends. There is not a straightforward answer. It can change board to board with significant variance across the province.
Understanding the Basics: What Co-op Is and Isn’t
Co-operative Education (or “co-op”) in Ontario is a ministry-approved program that allows students to earn high school credits through workplace placements tied to their curriculum. These placements are arranged by the school and are designed to relate directly to classroom learning and career exploration. Ontario
Most co-op placements for secondary students — including those in SHSM — are unpaid work placements. That’s because they’re fundamentally about learning, not employment. These unpaid placements earn students credits, help them explore careers, and build their portfolio of skills and experience. Ontario
Paid vs. Unpaid: What’s the Difference (Legally & Practically)
Unpaid Placements
- Educationally Required: Unpaid placements are embedded within a curriculum course, especially co-op tied to SHSM. The priority is on learning outcomes, not compensation. Ontario
- Legal Framework: In Ontario, unpaid placements are permitted only when they are part of a formal educational program — such as high school co-op, college co-ops, or professional practicums. Outside this framework, unpaid placements can violate employment standards. LaunchKO+1
- Outcome-Focused: The goal isn’t income but skill acquisition, reflection, and documentation that aligns with curriculum expectations. Ontario
Because SHSM requires students to complete two co-op credits directly connected to their sector, these unpaid placements are standard — and they count toward graduation and SHSM requirements. Upper Grand District School Board
Paid Placements
A paid placement means the student is treated as an employee under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA). This has significant legal and logistical implications:
- Minimum Wage & Employment Standards: If a student is paid, they must receive at least minimum wage and all other ESA protections (vacation pay, statutory benefits, etc.). LaunchKO
- WSIB and Insurance: Paid students must be covered under workplace insurance appropriate to paid employees — which differs from how unpaid student placements are covered (often by the board or educational insurer). LaunchKO
- Education vs. Employment: Paid work may not meet the Ministry of Education’s co-op criteria for curriculum-linked learning unless it is structured as a formal co-op program approved by the school. Ontario
For SHSM students, this matters because only learning-focused placements can be counted toward co-op credits — they must include planned learning experiences, supervision, reflection, and assessment designed by the school. Ontario
When Paid Work Can Be Compatible With SHSM Goals
It is possible for a student to undertake paid work that supports their SHSM pathway — but not all paid jobs qualify as co-op or educational placements. Here’s how teachers can distinguish them:
✔ Approved Co-op Employers Offering Paid Co-op Roles
Some employer partners are willing to pay students but structure the work as an approved co-op placement with a learning plan, supervision, and curriculum linkages. In these cases:
- The student stays in the educational co-op framework.
- The work still earns a co-op credit because it meets the Ministry and board criteria.
Teachers must confirm ahead of time that the role will be treated as co-op with the school’s approval.
✔ Paid Work That Doesn’t Count as Co-op
A student’s part-time job or casual paid work — even if it’s in a relevant sector — is not automatically a co-op placement. Unless the school structured it as part of a co-op course with learning objectives and assessment, it cannot be used toward SHSM requirements.
Highlight this distinction to students: earning money is valuable, but it doesn’t substitute for co-op credit unless it’s formally recognized as such.
Key Risks Teachers Should Help Students Avoid
❗ Misclassifying Work as a Co-op Placement
A common pitfall is assuming that any job in a related sector counts as co-op. It does not — unless the school has integrated it into the co-op curriculum plan with learning, assessment, and supervision. Ontario
❗ Skipping Learning Plans
Even with paid placements, students must have a Student Cooperative Education Learning Plan that identifies goals, activities, and assessment criteria before placement starts. Without it, the experience may be disallowed in SHSM audits.
❗ Ignoring Insurance and Legal Coverage
Paid roles must be treated as employment; boards and employers need to establish correct insurance and safety coverage. Missteps here can put both students and schools at risk. LaunchKO
What Teachers Should Tell Students (And Parents)
Here are concise messages you can use with students — either in classroom presentations, individual planning, or parent communications:
- “Paid work is great — but it only counts toward your SHSM co-op if we’ve approved it through the co-op program.”
- “Unpaid co-op placements are educational first; they are designed to help you reflect on your learning, not just work.”
- “Before you accept any job as part of SHSM co-op, let’s check if we can build a learning plan and link it to your curriculum.”
Bottom Line: Protecting Students and Program Integrity
Paid employment has real benefits — especially for students needing income — but it is not interchangeable with co-op placement unless properly structured. Unpaid co-op placements remain the core way that SHSM students earn credits, develop sector-specific skills, and demonstrate readiness for post-secondary pathways. Ontario
Some school boards permit paid placements during summer,while others only after school.
Regardless of the school board position, it is important to set expectations and ensure that students, parents and employers all understand the rules, responsibilities and expectations of the work placement.
Your role as a teacher is to help students navigate the difference, make choices that align with both their learning and legal requirements, and ensure that every work experience counts toward their success — academically, professionally, and developmentally.