The SHSM–Transportation provides students with a strong foundation for a wide variety of careers in the transportation sector, from those focusing on the service, repair, and modification of vehicles and vehicle systems to those related to the organization and management of transportation services and mass-transit systems. The SHSM–Transportation enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.

Required Components for the SHSM–Transportation

The SHSM–Transportation has the following five required components:

1. A bundle of nine Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits

These credits make up the bundle:

  • four transportation major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills. The four courses must include any combination of Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits, and may include up to three cooperative education credits related to the sector. (These cooperative education credits would be additional to the two that are required in the bundle; see below);
  • three other required credits from the Ontario curriculum. Schools may commit to including a contextualized learning activity (CLA) for the transportation sector in each of the three credits. In each credit, some of the course expectations are then met through the CLA. (Schools that do not formally commit to including CLAs are still free to offer them in one or more of the credits.) The three credits include one in each of the following:
    • English; footnote 1
    • Mathematics; and
    • Science or Business studies or an additional major credit or an additional cooperative education credit related to the sector, which would be additional to the two cooperative education credits required in the bundle; see below;
  • two cooperative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting, enabling students to refine, extend, apply, and practise knowledge and skills outlined in the cooperative education curriculum as well as sector-specific knowledge and skills.
CreditsApprenticeship
Training
Grades 11-12
College
Grades 11-12
University
Grades 11-12
Workplace
Grades 11-12
Major Credits
May include up to 3 cooperative education credits related to the sector (this is in addition to the 2 required cooperative education credits)
4444
English
may include a CLAs
1111
Mathematics
may include a CLAs
1111
Business Studies or Science
may include a CLAs
May be substituted with 1 additional major credit or 1 cooperative education credit (this is in addition to the 2 required cooperative education credits)
1111
Cooperative Education2222
Total number of credits9999

Note: Multiple credits in the Ontario technological education curriculum allow additional instructional time for the practice and refinement of skills needed to develop student performance to the levels required for certification, entry into apprenticeship programs, or participation in school–work transition programs (see The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Technological Education, 2009, page 17).

2. Sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs

This SHSM sector requires students to complete a specified number of compulsory and elective sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs, as indicated in the following table. NOTE: Where an item in the table is capitalized, it is the proper name of the specific certification or training course/program that is appropriate for the SHSM. Where an item is lowercased, it is the name of an area, type, or category of training for which specific certifications or training courses/programs should be selected by the school or board. The requirements are summarized in the table below.

Four (4) compulsory

  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C – includes automated external defibrillation (AED)
  • Standard First Aid
  • health and safety – basic
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) – generic (i.e., not site-specific) instruction

Three (3) electives from the following

  • advanced training in a technique
  • air brakes
  • basic electrical safety
  • customer service
  • elevated work platforms
  • ergonomics
  • filling propane and motor fuel tanks
  • first aid/CPR/AED awareness
  • introduction to logistics
  • leadership skills
  • original equipment manufacturer's training
  • Pleasure Craft Operator
  • project management
  • sector specific software 1 (323)
  • specialized skills training program/competition (e.g., Skills Canada provincial level)
  • Working at Heights
  • advanced training in a technology
  • anti-oppression and allyship training
  • computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
  • Drive Clean
  • environmental spills
  • fall protection
  • fire safety and fire extinguisher use
  • infection control
  • ladder safety training
  • lockout/tagging
  • ozone-depletion prevention
  • portfolio development
  • sector-specific regulations and legislation
  • sector-specific vehicle operation and safety
  • vehicle lift safety

3. Experiential learning and career exploration activities

Experiential learning and career exploration opportunities relevant to the sector might include the following:

  • one-on-one observation of a cooperative education student at a placement in the transportation sector (an example of job twinning)
  • a day-long observation of a skilled tradesperson in the transportation sector (an example of job shadowing)
  • a one- or two-week work experience with a member of an industry association or a professional in the sector (an example of work experience)
  • participation in a local, provincial, or national Skills Canada competition
  • a tour of an automobile dealership, specialized transportation business, or municipal transportation department office and garage
  • attendance at a transportation sector trade show, conference, or job fair

4. Reach ahead experiences

Students are provided one or more reach ahead experiences – opportunities to take the next steps along their chosen pathway – as shown in the following examples:

  • Apprenticeship: visiting an approved apprenticeship delivery agent in the sector
  • College: interviewing a college student enrolled in a sector-specific program
  • University: observing a university class in a sector-related program
  • Workplace: interviewing an employee in the sector

5. Sector-partnered experiences (SPEs)

Students engage with a sector partner and apply skills to gain insight into the relationship between this sector and ICE (innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship), coding, and/or mathematical literacy.

Occupations in the Transportation Sector

The following table provides examples of occupations in the transportation sector, sorted according to the type of postsecondary education or training the occupations would normally require.

Apprenticeship Training

  • Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers 
  • Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics 
  • Motor vehicle body repairers 
  • Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, and other related mechanics 
  • Other automotive mechanical installers and servicers 
  • Other small engine and small equipment repairers 

College

  • Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors 
  • Boat assemblers and inspectors 
  • Deck officers, water transport 
  • Industrial designers 
  • Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians 
  • Machine operators and inspectors, electrical apparatus manufacturing 
  • Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians 
  • Supervisors, motor transport, and other ground transit operators 

University

  • Aerospace engineers 
  • Industrial designers 
  • Urban and land use planners 

Workplace

  • Air transport ramp attendants 
  • Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors 
  • Boat and cable ferry operators and related occupations 
  • Boat assemblers and inspectors 
  • Bus drivers, subway operators, and other transit operators 
  • Delivery and courier service drivers 
  • Heavy equipment operators (except crane) 
  • Other automotive mechanical installers and servicers 
  • Railway yard and track maintenance workers 
  • Retail salespersons 
  • Service station attendants 
  • Tire repairers and servicers 

Footnotes

  • footnote[1] Back to paragraph Note that a compulsory English credit is required in Grade 11 and in Grade 12 for graduation with an OSSD. Schools may determine whether the CLAs, if offered, is completed in the Grade 11 or Grade 12 English course.