A Developmental Services Worker supports people who have a developmental disability to realize their full potential. Developmental Services Workers are employed by organizations that provide support to individuals with special needs, including faith and culture-based agencies and by school boards to assist in the classroom. Specifically, a Developmental Services Worker assists people with developmental disabilities by:
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. Generally, the time-frame to become competent in the trade of Developmental Services Worker is 4,500 hours (approximately two and a half years) consisting of 3,720 hours of on-the-job work experience and 780 hours of in-school training.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s apprenticeship training standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade.
As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade.
IN-SCHOOL TRAINING
A Developmental Services Worker apprenticeship includes 12 reportable subjects totaling 780 hours of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:
Depending on the training delivery agency, in-school training may be available in one of the following ways:
Developmental Services Worker is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.
This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship. This is the highest level of certification available for the trade.
As there is no certifying exam in this trade, Skilled Trades Ontario does not issue a Certificate of Qualification and therefore cannot accept Trade Equivalency Assessment applications for this trade.
As this trade is non-compulsory, the information of individuals practicing this trade will not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.
Those who complete the apprenticeship are encouraged to continue their studies to obtain a Developmental Services Worker Diploma from an Ontario college of applied arts and technology which may include completing general education courses, a practicum and residency.