All Practical Nursing students must submit several documents prior to the start of the program. These are the requirements of our clinical agencies for students (and their staff) in order to work at their hospital or long-term care agency. Please note that students are responsible for all costs associated with the Clinical Placement requirements.
Placement requirement documentation must be submitted through Placement Pass by ParaMed. See “Submission Instructions” section below.
All requirements and associated due dates are in the following documents:
Step 1 – Police Record Check / Vulnerable Sector Check (PRC-VSC)
- Algonquin College only accepts Police Record Check-Vulnerable Sector Checks (VSC). A scanned copy must be submitted to Placement Pass, and 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 PRC-VSC. If you are under 18, please reach out to our Placement Clerk, Lindsay Burbage at burbagl@algonquincollege.com for further instructions.
- Please print the agency letter and fill in your name and student number to provide to your local police service to obtain your PRC-VSC.
- A PRC-VSC may take up to 12 weeks to obtain depending on your local police service. Apply for it after May 1st (if you are beginning in September) and September 1 (if you are beginning in January) as it is valid for one year and we want it to last your entire first year.
- International Students: it would be advisable to apply for PRC-VSC during your ICHS course. Students have to be in the country for 6 weeks and be able to provide proof of address (a bank statement or a utility bill) in order to apply. If you wait to apply after the semester starts, you will likely not get cleared in time to attend clinical.
- Students with a notation on their VSC 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.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form document above for due date.
Step 2 – Immunization & Blood Work Requirements
- Immunization requirements include: Covid-19 vaccines, 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.
- If you do not have a childhood immunization record, you will require bloodwork to check for immunity. If that bloodwork tells us that you are not immune, you will be required to have vaccines and some of them have multiple doses that must be spaced 1 month apart. If you have not completed all doses, the clinical agencies will not allow you to attend and you will have to be withdrawn from the clinical course for that semester meaning that you won’t progress to the next level at the time you originally planned.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for more information on immunizations and required blood work.
- Arrange an appointment with your healthcare provider or Algonquin College Health Services (please note closed mid-June to mid-August) to have your immunization and blood work requirements completed. Begin this process in May or as soon as possible to ensure that you can have your requirements completed by the deadlines on the health form above.
- Only a medical exemption is accepted for immunization accommodation. Details are contained in the Health Form above.
Please note: If you do not have a healthcare provider, the Health Nurse at Algonquin College 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. Individuals will be seen in Health Services by appointment only. (please note Health Services is closed mid-June to mid-August)
Health Services Contact Information:
Laurie Ann Klawitter – Health Nurse
E-mail: klawitl@algonquincollege.com
Phone: 613-735-4700 ext. 2748
Step 3 – Ministry of Labour Health & Safety Learning Modules – WHMIS & OWHSA
- After you have received your Algonquin College email and password (usually in August), students will be able to complete the WHMIS and OWHSA requirements through this link: www.yowcanada.com/algonquin/students
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 4 – Authorization to Release Healthcare and Police Information Form
- After you have your Algonquin College email, password and student number, you can create an account on Placement Pass (details below) and the authorization is there for you to sign.
- 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.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 5 – CPR-C/BLS/HCP Certification
- Only Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) approved courses are valid. Online CPR-C/BLS/HCP courses will not be accepted. Please contact the Clinical Placement Clerk if you want to know if a course you are registering for is valid.
- Health Care Providers are required to recertify in CPR annually, regardless of the expiry date on your card.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 6 – N95 Mask Fit Test
- Opportunities to complete mask fit requirement will be provided at the College after the semester begins. Details will be available on your Homeroom BrightSpace after the semester begins.
- Students are responsible for the cost of $40 (subject to change) and the fitter accepts cash payments only.
- It is valid for 2 years and does not expire prior to the end of the second academic year.
Step 7 – Seasonal Influenza Vaccination
- Influenza vaccine is required annually.
- Annual immunization is typically available by mid-October each year and students can get this at Health Services or any local pharmacy.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 8 – GPA (Gentle Persuasive Approach)
GPA education will be provided by the College after classes have started. You will learn of the date and time of your course on your Home Room BrightSpace.
Purchase of the GPA Basics Manual is mandatory and is part of your book list. Each student must own their own paperback copy (in the current edition) of the text and bring it to the course. The cost is approximately $40 (subject to change). Online versions will not be accepted.
Step 9 – HSPnet Consent Form
The Health Sciences Placement Network, or HSPnet, provides a web-based system for managing practice education in the health sciences. A consent form is on the Placement Pass website and requires your signature.
Placement requirement documentation must be submitted through Placement Pass by ParaMed. See “Submission Instructions” section below.
All requirements and associated due dates are in the following documents:
Step 1 – Police Record Check / Vulnerable Sector Check (PRC-VSC)
- Algonquin College only accepts Police Record Check-Vulnerable Sector Checks (VSC). A scanned copy must be submitted to Placement Pass, and 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 PRC-VSC. If you are under 18, please reach out to our Placement Clerk, Lindsay Burbage at burbagl@algonquincollege.com for further instructions.
- Please print the agency letter and fill in your name and student number to provide to your local police service to obtain your PRC-VSC.
- A PRC-VSC may take up to 12 weeks to obtain depending on your local police service. Apply for it after May 1st (if you are beginning in September) and September 1 (if you are beginning in January) as it is valid for one year and we want it to last your entire first year.
- International Students: it would be advisable to apply for PRC-VSC during your ICHS course. Students have to be in the country for 6 weeks and be able to provide proof of address (a bank statement or a utility bill) in order to apply. If you wait to apply after the semester starts, you will likely not get cleared in time to attend clinical.
- Students with a notation on their VSC 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.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form document above for due date.
Step 2 – Immunization & Blood Work Requirements
- Immunization requirements include: Covid-19 vaccines, 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.
- If you do not have a childhood immunization record, you will require bloodwork to check for immunity. If that bloodwork tells us that you are not immune, you will be required to have vaccines and some of them have multiple doses that must be spaced 1 month apart. If you have not completed all doses, the clinical agencies will not allow you to attend and you will have to be withdrawn from the clinical course for that semester meaning that you won’t progress to the next level at the time you originally planned.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for more information on immunizations and required blood work.
- Arrange an appointment with your healthcare provider or Algonquin College Health Services (please note closed mid-June to mid-August) to have your immunization and blood work requirements completed. Begin this process in May or as soon as possible to ensure that you can have your requirements completed by the deadlines on the health form above.
- Only a medical exemption is accepted for immunization accommodation. Details are contained in the Health Form above.
Please note: If you do not have a healthcare provider, the Health Nurse at Algonquin College 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. Individuals will be seen in Health Services by appointment only. (please note Health Services is closed mid-June to mid-August)
Health Services Contact Information:
Laurie Ann Klawitter – Health Nurse
E-mail: klawitl@algonquincollege.com
Phone: 613-735-4700 ext. 2748
Step 3 – Ministry of Labour Health & Safety Learning Modules – WHMIS & OWHSA
- After you have received your Algonquin College email and password (usually in August), students will be able to complete the WHMIS and OWHSA requirements through this link: www.yowcanada.com/algonquin/students
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 4 – Authorization to Release Healthcare and Police Information Form
- After you have your Algonquin College email, password and student number, you can create an account on Placement Pass (details below) and the authorization is there for you to sign.
- 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.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 5 – CPR-C/BLS/HCP Certification
- Only Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) approved courses are valid. Online CPR-C/BLS/HCP courses will not be accepted. Please contact the Clinical Placement Clerk if you want to know if a course you are registering for is valid.
- Health Care Providers are required to recertify in CPR annually, regardless of the expiry date on your card.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 6 – N95 Mask Fit Test
- Opportunities to complete mask fit requirement will be provided at the College after the semester begins. Details will be available on your Homeroom BrightSpace after the semester begins.
- Students are responsible for the cost of $40 (subject to change) and the fitter accepts cash payments only.
- It is valid for 2 years and does not expire prior to the end of the second academic year.
Step 7 – Seasonal Influenza Vaccination
- Influenza vaccine is required annually.
- Annual immunization is typically available by mid-October each year and students can get this at Health Services or any local pharmacy.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 1 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 8 – GPA (Gentle Persuasive Approach)
GPA education will be provided by the College after classes have started. You will learn of the date and time of your course on your Home Room BrightSpace.
Purchase of the GPA Basics Manual is mandatory and is part of your book list. Each student must own their own paperback copy (in the current edition) of the text and bring it to the course. The cost is approximately $40 (subject to change). Online versions will not be accepted.
Step 9 – HSPnet Consent Form
The Health Sciences Placement Network, or HSPnet, provides a web-based system for managing practice education in the health sciences. A consent form is on the Placement Pass website and requires your signature.
Placement requirement documentation must be submitted through Placement Pass by ParaMed. See “Submission Instructions” section below.
All requirements and associated due dates are in the following documents
Step 1 – Police Record Check / Vulnerable Sector Check (PRC-VSC)
- Algonquin College only accepts Police Record Check – Vulnerable Sector Checks (PRC-VSC). A scanned copy must be submitted to Placement Pass, and original copy kept in your personal file to be provided to agencies upon request.
- Please print the agency letter and fill in your name and student number to provide to your local police service to obtain your PRC-VSC.
- A PRC-VSC may take up to 12 weeks to obtain depending on your local police service.
- Students with a notation on their PRC-VSC 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.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 2 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form document above for due date.
Step 2 – Repeat 1-Step TB Test
- A repeat TB 1-step skin test is required annually (after you have had your original 2-step).
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 2 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form document above for due date.
Step 3 – WHMIS Module
- Once registered and network account active, students will be able to complete the WHMIS requirement through this link: www.yowcanada.com/algonquin/students
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 2 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 4 – CPR-C/BLS/HCP Renewal
- The CPR-C/BLS/HCP certification must be renewed annually. Health Care Providers are required to recertify in CPR annually, regardless of the expiry date on your card.
- Only Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) approved courses are valid. Online CPR-C/BLS/HCP courses will not be accepted.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 2 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Step 5 – Seasonal Influenza Vaccination
- Influenza vaccine is required annually.
- Annual immunization is typically available by mid-October each year and students can get this at Health Services or any local pharmacy.
- Please refer to the appropriate Year 2 – Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form (above) document for due date.
Students are responsible for all costs associated with the Clinical/Field placement requirements.
Submission Instructions
Clinical/Field Placement Requirements clearance process is done through Placement Pass by ParaMed, an approved third-party agency who processes Algonquin College students’ documentation.
To upload and submit your documentation to the Placement Pass website, go to: https://algonquincollege.requisite.ca/.
To gain access to Placement Pass by ParaMed you must:
– be registered (tuition fees paid)
– have received your Algonquin College email address and password.
**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.
Instructions on how to activate your Placement Pass student account, and upload and submit documents can be found in the Placement Pass by ParaMed: Student User Guide.
Adobe Scan or an alternate mobile app can be utilized to scan all the documents you are required to upload/submit.
Fee(s) will apply once you submit documents. The cost for your first comprehensive submission will be $65 (subject to change) in your first semester. All other submissions in the same semester will be at no additional cost.
In your second semester and on, the first submission of the semester will be $32.50 (subject to change) with additional uploads being free. However, if you are only submitting a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC), proof of Influenza vaccination or COVID vaccination those uploads are always free, and you will not be charged $32.50. If you are required to submit proof of other immunizations, bloodwork, or certifications there will be the $32.50 fee associated with that upload.
Fees include unlimited nurse interactions via the “Ask a Nurse” feature, and access to student drop-in sessions.
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 – Pembroke Campus
- Failure to complete all requirements and be cleared by Placement Pass to enter clinical placement will result in you being withdrawn from the clinical course in that semester. This will require you to complete that course (and its corequisites) in a future semester. This will result in you progressing to the next level, and thus graduating, at a later date than originally planned.
Contact
If you have any questions or encounter unforeseen circumstances in submitting the required documentation, please contact the Clinical Placement Clerk prior to the requirement deadline.
Lindsay Burbage
Clinical Placement Clerk
Email: burbagl@algonquincollege.com
Phone: 613.735.4700 ext. 2671