Northern College Kirkland Lake Campus

This program provides the specialized training required to become a licensed drinking water and/or wastewater systems operator under Ontario’s rigorous standards. You’ll train for interesting, good-paying, stable work opportunities that are making a real difference in our environment. It’s a trades-focused, hands-on operator’s line of work – where operators and practical environmental stewardship meet. Students have a choice of studying under the original compressed co-op delivery program or an uncompressed, non-co-op delivery. Both options include a blended program combining on-site and distance learning.

Co-op Delivery Option
Co-operative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with an academic credit for practical work experience. Our original program co-op delivery option provides students with the fastest path to becoming fully licensed operators in Ontario. Students follow a continuous 6-semester cycle of academic and placement semesters, taking 2 years of continuous study or placements until graduation. This compressed (4 academic semesters into 3) delivery prepares students with a strong combination of theory and the opportunity to obtain up to one year of paid co-op practical systems operator experience. Because it is a compressed delivery, the academic semesters have up to 27-28 hours classes/ week. Northern College will make every effort to assist students in finding co-op employment, but cannot guarantee co-op employment. Students are encouraged to speak with local employers in water and/or wastewater treatment plants about co-op placements prior to starting the program.

Students write the Ontario Operator-In-Training (OIT, a kind of “learner permit”) examination and the Drinking Water Operators Entry-Level Course exam, and through three 4-month-long co-op placement semesters have the opportunity to obtain the year of work experience required to take their full industry certification exams and enter the industry as fully licensed Class I operators. This program is now recognized by OACETT as meeting the requirements for the Certified Technician designation for graduates

Mechanical Technician – Welding Fitter’s diagnose, install and maintain plant machinery in a systematic manner with a high degree of efficiency. A Welding Fitter will fabricate, and weld various parts and structural steel as required, and install, repair, and fabricate cones, chutes, hoppers and other shapes.

The Mechanical Technician – Welding Fitter program provides students with training equivalent to the advanced level of the in-school component of a welding apprenticeship. In addition, the student increases his/her skills in communications, computers, computer-aided drafting, and gains hands-on welding fitter training.

Designed for those interested in gaining entrance to and/or a competitive advantage in the mineral exploration job market. This program provides students with the entry-level knowledge and skills to function as a valuable member of a mineral exploration team on projects in grassroots exploration to mine-site exploration. The two-semester program incorporates both classroom teaching and valuable hands-on experience during a culminating two-week field school. The modular format and distance or in-class delivery of this program provides the flexibility for students to study while maintaining their employment and caters to students in remote northern communities. Graduates are ready to enter the job market with a college certificate after only one year of study.

Important Information
The Mineral Exploration Techniques program is a blended program combining on-site and distance learning. Students require the use of a personal computer to access course content, submit assignments, and complete online tests.

Pathways to Success
Certificate to Diploma: Graduates of the Mineral Exploration Techniques program may choose to continue their studies in the Haileybury School of Mines – Mining Engineering Technician Diploma program at Northern College, with advanced standing in three common courses. Certificate to Diploma to Degree: Once graduates of the Mineral Exploration Techniques certificate program have successfully completed their Mining Engineering Technician diploma program, they may be eligible to enroll in the Bachelor of Mining Engineering Technology degree (BTech) from Queen’s University (blended learning format) in two additional years plus a bridging semester.

Further your skills development by changing your certificate in to a diploma! The Office Administration Executive Program improves the skills acquired in year one, while increasing knowledge in specialized areas of office administration. Students will soon realize that they will have the ability to transfer learned skills to relevant situations in several work environments. Our Office Administration Executive Program focuses on:

• Medical Terminology
• Legal Terminology
• Desktop Publishing
• Transcription
• Document Processing
• Networking
• Web Design

Students gain valuable, hands-on experience with a one-day-per-week placement in the fourth semester. This practical opportunity allows for further educational and career prospects.

Personal support workers are unregulated health care providers. They work under the supervision of a regulated health professional, supervisor, or in the supported independent living environment under the direction of the client. They provide clearly identified personal care, routine activities of daily living and home management services, by following care/service plans and established policies and procedures. Personal support workers are responsible for their work to their clients and to their employers. Workers providing long term care and support services form the backbone of both community and facility services. They are often the people with whom clients/consumers have the most contact and with whom they develop close relationships. The attitude and approach of workers and their abilities are critical to the well being, comfort, safety and health of the people they support.

Education to prepare support workers assists them to develop a broad range of abilities beyond dexterity skills, which emphasizes the value of their role and reflects true sensitivity and respect for the individuality of each consumer/client. This program was developed as part of the Ontario provincial government’s plan to reform long term care and support services provided to people living at home and in long term care facilities. The Personal Support Worker Program is a two semester program consisting of theory and clinical practice in both institutional and community settings