To be eligible for clinical placement as a Practical Nursing student, you must complete the steps below and submit the specific requirements. Please note that students are responsible for all costs associated with the Clinical Placement requirements.
The deadline to submit your clinical placement documentation is the beginning of the third week of the term. Students who do not receive clearance prior to the deadline may not attend clinical placement. Attendance for clinical placement is mandatory, thus, clinical absences hinder the ability to be successful.
Clinical placement documentation must be submitted through Placement Pass by Paramed. See the “Submission Instructions” section below.
1. Police Record Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check
- Algonquin College only accepts Police Record Checks with Vulnerable Sector Check (PRCVSC). A scanned copy must be submitted to Placement Pass by Paramed, and the original copy kept in your personal file to be provided to agencies upon request.
- You must be at least 18 years of age to obtain a PRCVSC. Contact the Clinical Coordinator if you are under 18.
- It must be dated after June 30 (Fall start) or after October 31 (Winter start).
- A PRCVSC may take up to 6-8 weeks to obtain depending on your local police service.
- Those without a clear PRCVSC may not be eligible for the Practical Nursing program.
2. Immunization Records, 2-step TB testing & Immunity Blood Work
Screening for immunity to certain diseases and verifying that your immunizations are up to date is a requirement of this program.
- Immunization requirements include: Covid- 19 vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine, 2-step TB test and copy of childhood immunization records or equivalent indicating tetanus, diphtheria, polio and pertussis and measles, mumps, and rubella.
- Please refer to the Placement Pass by Paramed Clinical/Pre-Placement Health Form for Practical Nursing Year 1 for more information on immunizations and required blood work.
- Arrange an appointment with your healthcare provider or an Algonquin College Health Nurse to have your immunization and blood work requirements completed.
Please note: If you do not have a healthcare provider, a Health Nurse at Algonquin College Health Services can assist with the form completion at no cost. Please contact the Health Services early to ensure the requirements can be completed prior to the deadline. All visits to Health Services must be pre-booked by telephone.
Health Services, Room C141 (1st floor, C Building)
(Campus map)
Phone: 613.727.4723 ext. 7222
3. Release Of Healthcare/Police Information Form
- The Release of Healthcare/Police Information Form will be provided to you during your first week of class.
- All students are required to sign this authorization which allows the release of medical information and information contained in the Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen to the placement agencies that the student is assigned to attend for the duration of their program.
4. Level C or CPR-HCP/BLS Certification
- CPR-C/AED Training is required annually. First aid is not required.
- Only Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) approved courses are valid. “Blended Learning” CPR courses are accepted. Full online courses, that do not offer face-to-face practice, will not be accepted.
5. N95 Mask Fit Test
- Mask-fit testing appointments will be available on campus for two days at the beginning of the term. The Clinical Coordinator will provide you the information at the beginning of the term so you may book this.
6. Seasonal Influenza Vaccination
- Influenza vaccine is required annually.
7. COVID-19 Vaccination
- COVID-19 vaccination is required for clinical placement. Learners should follow NACI recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Learners who choose not to have COVID-19 vaccination should be notified that college and clinical agency policies may preclude them from clinical teaching and/or clinical placements that are curricular requirements. Currently that includes a series of 2 initial vaccinations (or if immunized with Johnson & Johnson, one shot) plus at least one booster shot.
Clinical placement documentation must be submitted through Placement Pass by Paramed. See the “Submission Instructions” section below.
1. Police Record Check with a Vulnerable Sector Screen
- Algonquin College only accepts Police Record Checks with Vulnerable Sector Screen. Scanned copy must be submitted to Placement Pass by Paramed, and original copy kept in your personal file to be provided to agencies upon request.
- Deadline to submit your Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen to Placement Pass by Paramed is August 18.
- Must be dated after May 31.
- Please print the Police Letter Form to provide to your local police service in order to obtain your Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen.
- A Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen may take up to 12 to 16 weeks to obtain depending on your local police service.
- Applicants with a notation on their Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen must contact the Academic Chair of the Health & Community Studies Department to determine program suitability. If a student has been charged or has pending charges against them while in a clinical placement, the student must notify the Academic Chair. Failure to do so may result in loss of clinical placement.
2. Repeat 1-Step TB Test
- Deadline to submit your Repeat 1-Step TB Test requirement to Placement Pass by Paramed is August 19.
- Please refer to the Placement Pass by Paramed Clinical/Pre-Placement Health Form for Practical Nursing Year 2 for more information.
- Arrange an appointment with your healthcare provider or Algonquin College Health Nurse (which ever is more convenient for you) to have the Repeat 1-Step TB Test requirement completed.
- Only a medical exemption is accepted for immunization accommodations.
Please note: If you do not have a healthcare provider, a Health Nurse at Algonquin College Health Services can assist with the form completion at no cost. Please contact Health Services early to ensure the requirements can be completed prior to the deadline. All visits to Health Services must be pre-booked by telephone.
Health Services, Room C141 (1st floor, C Building)
(Campus map)
Phone: 613.727.4723 ext. 7222
3. CPR Recertification
- CPR Recertification must be completed within 1 year of obtaining your CPR Level C requirement in your first year of study. CPR NEEDS TO BE CERTIFIED ANNUALLY.
- Only Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) approved courses are valid. “Blended Learning” CPR courses are accepted. Fully online courses, that do not offer face to face practice, will not be accepted.
- CPR must be dated after May 31 (current within 1 year for the entire year of the program) even if it says it does not expire until a later date on your certificate. CPR must be valid until May 31.
- Deadline to submit to Placement Pass by Paramed is August 19.
4. Seasonal Influenza Vaccination
- Influenza vaccine is required annually.
- Deadline to submit vaccination proof to Placement Pass by Paramed is December 15.
5. COVID-19 Vaccination
- Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is required for clinical teaching activities and clinical placements. Learners should follow NACI recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Learners who choose not to have COVID-19 vaccination should be notified that college and clinical agency policies may preclude them from clinical teaching and/or clinical placements that are curricular requirements. Currently that includes a series of 2 initial vaccinations (or if immunized with Johnson & Johnson, one shot) plus at least one booster shot.
- Deadline to submit this proof to Placement Pass by Paramed is the same as all other clinical requirements.
Submission Instructions
The clinical placement clearance process is done through Placement Pass by Paramed, an approved third-party agency who processes Algonquin College students’ documentation.
Upload and submit your documentation to the Placement Pass by Paramed platform
To have access to Placement Pass by Paramed platform you must:
- be registered (tuition fees paid)
- have received your Algonquin College network account information
**Please note that your Algonquin College network account will not be created until 2 weeks before the start of the semester. Your Algonquin College network account is used to access almost all college digital services including student email.
Adobe Scan or an alternate mobile app can be utilized to scan all of the documents you are required to upload/submit. Photos of documentation are not accepted.
A fee will apply once you submit documents. The cost for the first document submission will be $54.66, and a cost of $27.44 for any subsequent submissions. Fees are subject to change without notice.
To ensure clearance from the first submission, and to avoid having to submit documents more than once, it is strongly encouraged that you carefully review documents uploaded prior to submitting them, and submit all documents required at the same time.
Keep all original documents, as you may have to provide it to agencies upon request.
Missed Deadlines
Failure to adhere to the mandatory placement requirements deadlines may result in:
- An administrative late fee of $50.00. This fee is payable to Algonquin College – Ottawa Campus.
- An unsuccessful grade and the inability to progress through the program. Missed clinical shifts put students at risk of being unsuccessful. Those who miss the deadline will be placed on a Student Success Plan designed to maximize the chances for success.
Contact
If you have any questions or encounter unforeseen circumstances in submitting the required documentation, please contact the Clinical Coordinator prior to the requirement deadline.
Email: jadanv@algonquincollege.com
Phone: 613-727-4723 ext. 3115