Fall registration now full. Watch for upcoming AQ courses.
The Ontario School Counsellors’ Association offers Additional Qualification Courses in Guidance and Career Education Parts I, II and Specialist (Part III) in Winter, Spring and Summer and Fall.
OSCA’s online, interactive courses are user friendly and allows real-time practice of the skills needed for the effective Guidance Teacher-Counsellor. We have a virtual classroom where we meet in real time to practice counselling skills, listen to guest speakers, and watch videos. This feature is very popular and it really makes OSCA’s AQ experience prominent.
As part of the course, you will require earphones and a microphone to participate. A built in microphone is acceptable, but please ensure you use earphones. (Using external speakers causes unwanted background noise in the online classroom). You can find a cheap set of earphones/earbuds at any dollar store.
The videos and interactive nature of the course require the most recent Adobe Reader (http://get.adobe.com/reader/) and Quicktime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/) downloads. Both of these are free downloads.
If you choose to log in at school you may experience some difficulty. Please check with your help desk and they will be able to assist you. You should have no difficulty from your home computer.
Before the course begins, you will receive an email containing a link to OSCA’s virtual classroom, as well as a user login ID and password. Please bookmark this classroom link for easy access in the future. When you are first able to login, we suggest you review all the required modules in the course and map out gauge your time lines.
All assignments are due by the end of your course. We use an adult education model – you are responsible for your learning and are in charge of your learning. Please note, that at the time of registering for the course, one must be certified by the Ontario College of Teachers, as your OCT # is part of the process to register.
As part of your OSCA AQ registration, you automatically become a member of OSCA for the upcoming (or current) school year, if one does not have a current subscription. As such, you will have access to the OSCA member’s lounge which is full of resources for guidance counsellors in Ontario. Each person will receive the weekly OSCA News (from Sept to June), and OSCA Today, the professional magazine of the association, published three times a year.
Please do not hesitate to contact your instructor if you have any questions! They are here for you and your continuing education.
This online, interactive course is user friendly and allows real-time practice of the skills needed for the effective counsellor.
OSCA’s Ethical Guidelines (download free when you register)
Part 2 requires a Teaching Experience Form
Course Cost:
$675.00
There is no longer a text for this course.
Course Refund and Course Completion Policy:
Please refer to the refund policy in the About Us section of the OSCA website.
After we receive and process your registration:
- You will receive a confirmation e-mail with your receipt. Please check your spam for your receipt if you do not get a receipt in your inbox. Please save this receipt.
- You will be receive a link to register as an OSCA AQ member, if you are currently not an OSCA member. Your instructor will provide you with the instructions. This subscription is valid for the current school year only.
- You will receive the Ethical Guidelines for Ontario School Counsellors for free. On your receipt, click on the ‘Product Download’ link in order to download your copy of ethical guidelines. Link maybe used once. Please save your copy to a memory stick for further use.
- You will also want to complete your profile in full to take advantage of all OSCA’s publications including our professional magazine, OSCA Today, our weekly OSCA News
- You will also have immediate access to a wealth of guidance specific resources
- You will also have the opportunity to attend OSCA conferences and events at a preferred rate
- Your instructor will contact you with a brief introduction to the course and your login instructions for the online sessions
- Your instructor will be available before the course starts for any questions you may have
As with all Additional Qualification Courses, the Ontario College of Teachers regulates the content, delivery and number of hours that must be dedicated to each course. At the time of registering for the course, a person must be certified by OCT. No exceptions. Upon successful completion of a course your results will be uploaded to the OCT database.
The Specialist (Part Three) of the Additional Qualification Courses for Guidance and Career Education is focused on the counsellor as a school leader and agent of change within the educational environment.
You will be asked to review and examine a variety of materials, resources and documents, as well as instructional techniques, ideas and strategies that are designed to enhance and guide your own growth as a guidance counsellor-teacher. These tools will be made available inside the course website and maybe used to inform your practice.
Throughout this course we will be practicing counselling skills and solution focused, in our online classroom and you will have the opportunity to talk to guidance counsellor – teachers from across the province. An important aspect of this interaction is a chance to learn from your colleagues in guidance as well as access OSCA-made materials to enhance your learning.
As in all of the OSCA AQ courses, the underlying focus of our practice is on the complexity of diversity (beyond ethnicity and race).
In addition to discussions around Ethical Guidelines, professional practice, collaborative inquiry and instructional strategies for guidance curriculum, we will examine the comprehensive guidance program and all that it entails. This will inform your practice and development as a guidance leading learner. This course is developed for teachers, guidance counsellors and other educators who have a deep understanding of pedagogy, learning, and instruction.
This AQ course is written by guidance counsellors for guidance counsellors.
Course Prerequisites:
You must have completed Guidance and Career Education Parts I and II.
You must download and duly complete, sign and return the OSCA Teaching Experience Form .
This form is due no later than one week before the course starts and is to be sent to oscadesk@gmail.com
Course Resource: OSCA’s Ethical Guidelines (free when you register). One link per person.
Course Cost: $675
Course Refund and Course Completion Policy:
Please refer to the Refund Policy found in the About Us section of the website.
After we receive and process your registration:
- You will receive a confirmation e-mail with your receipt. Please check your spam for our receipt if you do not get a receipt in your inbox.
- You will receive a link to registered as an OSCA AQ member, if you are currently not a member. Your instructor will provide you with the instructions. This subscription is good for the current school year.
- You will and receive the Ethical Guidelines for Ontario School Counsellors for free. On your receipt, click on the ‘Product Download’ link in order to download your copy of ethical guidelines. Please save your copy of this resource to a memory stick.
- You will also want to complete your profile in full to take advantage of all OSCA’s publications including our professional magazine, OSCA Today, our weekly OSCA News (Sept to June).
- You will also have immediate access to a wealth of guidance specific resources
- You will also have the opportunity to attend OSCA conferences and events at a preferred rate
- Your instructor will contact you with a brief introduction to the course and your login instructions for the online sessions
- Your instructor will be available before the course starts for any questions you may have
As with all Additional Qualification Courses, the Ontario College of Teachers regulates the content, delivery and number of hours that must be dedicated to each course. Upon successful completion of a course your results will be uploaded to the OCT database. At the time of registration, each participant must be a member of the OCT. No exceptions.
1. How much work is there?
Each course involves 125 of work as required by the Ontario College of Teachers. This is true for all online courses. The course work is self paced allowing you to work at any time.
2. How often am I required to be online?
As an enhancement to our courses we have guest speakers, online practice sessions and lessons one time per week in our virtual classroom. You are encouraged to attend these as often as possible. It is a great way to role play and try out your microcounselling skills. Otherwise you can be online according to your own schedule.
3. Can we speak to each other while online?
You will be able to chat, share ideas, issues and program together in the virtual classroom.
4. If I am already a member of OSCA, do I get next year’s subcription for free?
As a feature of taking your AQ through OSCA you are treated to a one year free subcription. This entitles you to reduced conference rates, access to the Members’ Lounge on the OSCA website, our professional publication OSCA Today, and our weekly “OSCAnews” keeping you current on all things guidance. All registrations after June 1st will receive the following school year’s membership.
5. Is my Pay Pal receipt enough evidence for my taxes?
It is, but you must claim in the section called, “Other types of tuition fees.”
6. Are the live sessions “taped” for later review?
Our sessions with guest speakers are taped for review as often as you like.
7. Does this course count if I have a Technical Teacher Certificate?
Right now this AQ will not count towards your certificate at this time.
8. Do I have to have active counselling experience before I can take your Specialist AQ?
According to OCT you are required you produce evidence of guidance experience before taking the Part Three Specialist course. You can download the form HERE
9. Do I need a letter of permission from my principal to take any of the AQ courses?
Not for Part one or Part Two, but evidence of guidance work for Part 3 is required.
10. Do I need to provide transcripts of previous AQ courses to enroll?
As long as the course is listed on your Teacher Record Card no further evidence is required.
11. When does the course start and end
Each session’s start date will as announced on that course’s information page and posted in the AQ general information sections.
