Career Pathways

Click here to learn about all our credit programs and begin registration.

We will reach out to you using the contact information you provided above to confirm registration.

If you have any questions, please contact us at dceinfo@ddsb.ca or call 905-440-4539.

For deposit returns or to withdraw from a program, please complete this form.

Program Summary

Looking for a job in a custodial, restaurant, warehouse or office setting? Train for these jobs while earning credits and certifications in one of our pathway programs.

For additional information on our available Business Pathways, please see our Business Pathways Brochure.

Once you have registered your interest for the PSW course, you will receive an email in the second week of November. This email communication will invite you to register for one of our orientation sessions to be held at our site.

Personal Support Worker(PSW) Pathway Program

PSW Pathways Program Page

Office Administration Pathway Program

Appointments

If you can't find an appointment date and time that would work for you, please call 905-440-4539 for additional information.

Online appointment booking form

Certifications and Program Overview

Students will upgrade their skills and knowledge for employment in an office environment as a receptionist, a data entry clerk, a filing clerk or a photocopy clerk. Students will also improve their computer skills as well as their soft skills. Students will attend classes for 18 weeks at Durham Continuing Education. During the in-class portion of the course students will:

Earn 4 credits towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma
Improve their computer skills in Word, Excel, QuickBooks, Power Point, Publisher and OneNote
Improve their keyboarding and telephone skills
Receive training on office equipment
Improve their social media skills
Upgrade their math and marketing knowledge related to an office environment
Add to their certifications and job readiness skills

Students will earn the following certifications:

Dealing with Difficult People
First Aid/CPR
Personality Dimensions
WHMIS Awareness Training

Co-op Opportunity

Eligible students will take part in a 9 week community placement with an experienced person who can provide further training. Students should obtain a criminal background check prior to commencing their cooperative education placement.

Fees

The program fee includes the following:

Student registration
Registration fees for all program certifications

Program Location

E. A. Lovell ACEC - Map

120 Centre St. S.

Oshawa, ON

L1H 4A3

Educational Assistant Pathway Program

Durham Continuing Education’s EA Pathway program is a dynamic academic program that focuses on the roles and responsibilities of an Educational Assistant in both an elementary and secondary school setting.

Students enrolled in this program will be taking 5 courses total:

2 classroom-based courses

IDC3O – Autism in the Ontario Education System
IDC4O – EA Skills and Certifications

1 e-learning course

HPD4C1 - Working with School Age Children and Adolescents

2 co-operative education courses.

DCO3O9

In addition to the 5 academic courses there will be several certifications earned during the program such as BMS and First Aid/CPR.

Please Note: This program is an in-person program with one asynchronous course. The in-person courses are taught at DCE Oshawa (120 Centre Street South, Oshawa) and the Co-operative placements will be within the Durham District School Board.

Student eligibility:

Students must have earned a minimum of 27 credits towards their OSSD
Grade 12 English and Grade 11 Math credits must be included in the 27 credits earned to date
Successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy requirement
Vulnerable Sector Check (must be valid for the duration of the program)

Application process

1. Complete the DCE registration form here

2. DCE guidance will reach out requesting all required documentation.

3. Once your documentation is reviewed you may be moved onto the interview phase.

4. Candidates will be contacted, and successful candidates may be offered a seat in the program.

Program details

This full-time program runs Monday to Friday from January 29, 2026, to June 17, 2026. Classes are from 9am – 2:30pm with an 30 minute lunch built in. Daily attendance is mandatory, and program removal may result if not met. Co-op placement times will depend on the bell times of the schools assigned to.

A course fees of $350 will cover certifications and workshops.