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Technological Education Admissions

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SKILLED WAGE-EARNING EXPERIENCE

Introduction

In our evaluation of skilled wage-earning experience we are looking for evidence of core competencies and practices related to your selected area of broad-based technology AND ALSO that you have knowledge of codes, policies and regulations pertaining to your subject area and within the context of the contemporary Canadian workplace.
 

What is Acceptable Skilled Work Experience?

To be considered "skilled", the work experience must have been undertaken after completion of a formal and defined period of training and skills-acquisition that is acceptable to OISE. (See previous section for information about formal technical education.)

• Work experience must be skilled, in a formal employment setting, in the BBT teaching subject for which you are applying and related to the formal technical education and qualification that you have completed.
   
• In trades/professions for which we require a relevant Certificate of Qualification, skilled wage-earning experience must occur after the granting of the C of Q.
   

• Work experience that has been used as a basis to challenge a C of Q exam (in trades where this is permitted) cannot be counted towards our skilled work experience requirement.
   
• In trades/professions for which we require a relevant diploma/degree, skilled wage-earning experience must occur after completion of the academic program.
   
• Skilled wage-earning experience must involve the actual provision of services or the creation of an end product using skills within the BBT teaching subject for which you are applying.
   
• Examples of activities that are not considered "skilled wage-earning experience" as intended here include: teaching experience, regulatory oversight, supervisory oversight, management activities, customer service functions, sales activities. Such activities cannot be counted even if they require knowledge of the BBT.

NOTE: Applicants should be aware that assessment of skilled wage-earning experience by OISE is for admissions purposes only. The Ontario College of Teachers is not obliged to accept our assessment of your background and will make its own evaluation for certification purposes.

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Documenting Skilled Wage-Earning Experience

In order for your work experience to be credited towards satisfying the skilled wage-earning requirement of the Technological Education program you must provide specific and detailed documentation of these activities. There are three possible protocols to follow in preparing this documentation, depending on the employment situation. They are:

• Documentation From an Employer
• Documentation When a Company is No Longer in Business, and
• Documentation of Self-Employment.

NOTE 1: Skilled wage-earning experience that cannot be documented in an acceptable manner will not be considered.

NOTE 2: A resumé is not an acceptable document for providing evidence of skilled wage-earning experience.

Documentation from an Employer

If you have been a paid employee of a company or business enterprise, then skilled wage-earning experience must be supported by original signed letters from a supervisor, personnel manager, and/or other persons in authority who would be familiar with your work, skills and responsibilities.

When evaluating documentation from an employer we will look for:

1. an original dated and signed letter for each skilled wage-earning activity that has taken place at a company where you were/are a paid employee
   
   • The letter must be on company letterhead that shows the company address and phone number.
   
   NOTE: If the company is owned by a family member and/or if the letter has been signed by a family member, this must be disclosed in the letter.
    
2. an original signature of a supervisor, personnel manager, and/or other persons in authority who would be familiar with your work, skills and responsibilities
   
   • The printed name and title of the position of the person signing the letter must accompany the signature.
    
3. a clear statement of the title of the position you hold/held
    
4. a clear statement of the duration of your employment, including start dates and end dates (day/month/year)
    
5. a clear statement of your typical hours per week. If hours per week have tended to vary, then there must be a clear breakdown of this. If the employment has been part-time or seasonal, this must be disclosed in the letter.
    
6. a clear statement of the nature of the work that you perform/performed
    
7. a detailed list of the duties and skills that you use/used in the position (i.e., a detailed description of the job)

NOTE: For applicants submitting one letter for multiple positions held within one place of employment, each position declared must include items 3-7 (see above).

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Documentation When a Company is No Longer in Business

In the event that a company is no longer in business and the forgoing is not available, you must provide an original Sworn Statement, notarized by a Commissioner of Oaths. This must be accompanied by tax records that provide evidence of your association with the employer for the duration of your employment with this company that is stated in your sworn statement.

We require an original Sworn Statement, notarized by a Commissioner of Oaths for each skilled wage-earning activity that you have listed in Part D of the Technological Education Profile, that took place at a company which is no longer in business. The Sworn Statement must include the following:

1. the name of company, the nature of its business, and when it went out of business
    
2. a clear statement of the title of the position you held and of the nature of the work that you performed
    
3. a clear statement of the duration of your employment, including start dates and end dates (day/month/year)
    
4. a clear statement of your typical hours per week. If hours per week tended to vary, then there must be a clear breakdown of this. If the employment has been part-time or seasonal, this must be disclosed.
    
5. a detailed list of the duties and skills that you used in the position (i.e., a detailed description of the job)
    
6. Tax Records, notarized copies of T4s which support the entire period of employment.

NOTE: The documentation of income must support the employment pattern (full-time, part-time, seasonal) described in item 4 above).

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Documentation of Self-Employment

Self-employed applicants must provide an original Sworn Statement, notarized by a Commissioner of Oaths. This must be accompanied by a letter from your accountant confirming income (or tax records), a letter from at least one major supplier of materials representing the period of self-employment and attesting to materials purchased, at least one letter from a major client attesting to the work completed, and a copy of your business license or registration. The accountant letter/tax records and business license/registration must support the period of self-employment noted in the sworn statement.

When evaluating documentation of self-employment we require:

1. an original Sworn Statement, notarized by a Commissioner of Oaths for skilled wage-earning activity that is self-employment and which you have listed in Part D of the Technological Education Profile. The Sworn Statement must include the following:
   
   • a clear statement of the duration of your self-employment activities,
      including start dates and end dates (day/month/year)
   
   • a clear statement of your typical hours per week (ie. full-time, part-time, seasonal).
      If hours per week have tended to vary, then there must be a clear breakdown of this.
   
   • a clear statement of the nature of the work that you performed
   
   • a detailed list of the duties and skills that you used in your self-employment activities
      (i.e., a detailed description of the activities within your business)
        »  within this list you must to indicate the percentage or allocation of time
            spent on management, supervisory, sales or administrative duties.
   
   • a list of all major clients and full employment details for each client
      (employment details should support the list of duties and skills provided above)
    
2. an original (not photocopied) letter from your accountant or notarized copies of tax records (confirming Net and Gross Income – as listed on Lines 135 - 143 and Lines 162 - 170, respectively –  and supporting the duration of self-employment stated in the Sworn Statement.)
   NOTE: The documentation of income must indicate successful operation of a business (i.e., sustainable self-employment).
    
3. an original (not photocopied) letter from a Major Supplier (this must support the duration of self-employment stated in your sworn statement)
   NOTE: The letter must be on company letterhead that shows the company address and phone number.
    
4. an original (not photocopied) letter from a client (which supports your sworn statement)
    
5. a third original (not photocopied) letter from either a major supplier or a client
    
6. a copy of a Business License or Registration (this must support the duration of self-employment stated in your sworn statement)

» If the nature of your business does not require a formal business license or
    registration, than documentation (such as a letter from your bank) of a business
    bank account that supports the duration of self-employment stated in your Sworn
    Statement can be submitted

NOTE: Applicants are advised to obtain at least three original copies of all materials used to document skilled wage-earning experience because original copies will also be required by the College of Teachers and for the purposes of salary determination (e.g., by a Board of Education/QECO/OSSTF). Send only 1 copy to OISE. 
 

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