Study Developmental Services Worker part-time
Ontario College Diploma
100% graduate satisfaction. Small class sizes. Caring, knowledgeable faculty. Lots of hands-on learning. Active community partners/employers.
Please refer to the Developmental Services Worker program page for all of the main details, including admissions requirements.
Program information
Program description
Students develop the knowledge and skills to support children, youth and adults who have a developmental disability in all aspects of life across the lifespan. Respecting an individual’s right to direct their life, students develop advocacy skills that promote self-determination and assist individuals in the development of skills that encourage independence, community engagement, and citizenship.
In the counselling and apartment labs, students practice sign language, medication administration, health care skills, counselling supports, and use of assistive devices and technology. In collaboration with community partners, students plan and implement activities that promote inclusion and self-determination. Other areas of study include intellectual, physical and mental disabilities, autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, support options, health and well-being, social relationships, and teaching strategies.
Students consolidate this learning in fourteen weeks of supervised field placements in their preferred geographical location.
What career paths can I take in developmental services?
Your Developmental Services Worker diploma gives you many career opportunities
Diverse opportunities within the field of developmental services are available in educational, community living, and day services organizations. Job titles include direct support professional, educational assistant, community support worker, community living counsellor, vocational coach, senior’s program counsellor, developmental services advocate, supported independent living counsellor, home care provider, life skills instructor, specialized care provider, employment coach, family support worker, and recreation inclusion counsellor.
Review program admission requirements and information about career opportunities.
Course information
Course offerings and equivalents
Currently available courses are linked below. Please see our course listings of available General Education and Communications courses for this program.
How to apply to the part-time Developmental Services Worker diploma program
Register on a course-by-course basis, paying as you go
Part-time students do not go through an application process for this program. To register for courses, you’ll need a Georgian College student number and declare your major. Declaring a major allows you to take all courses under that major.
- Request a student number via the online form
- Declare your major by emailing registrar@georgiancollege.ca or calling 705.722.1511
- From the course listing, select the course(s) you want to register for
- Add the course(s) to your cart and proceed to checkout and submit payment
Need help with registration?
Contact the Office of the Registrar
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Finance and fees
As a part-time student, you may be eligible for OSAP funding, depending on the number of courses you take per semester.
For more information about OSAP, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the OSAP/financial aid webpage.
As a part-time student, you can take one to three courses per semester, paying on a course-by-course basis.
For course fee information, select a course from the course information section of this page.
Online learning
These courses are offered through OntarioLearn. Visit the OntarioLearn webpage to learn more.
OntarioLearn courses are set up as equivalents to the Georgian courses. You can choose to take the ODE courses or the Georgian courses.
When a Georgian course isn’t available to be delivered online, we’ve listed an OntarioLearn course in the delivery schedule. The majority of the Georgian courses have ODE equivalents set up. You can choose to take either course.
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
Previous postsecondary education: If you’ve completed courses, or some or all of a program, at another accredited postsecondary institution, you may be able to transfer all or some of your courses into a related program at Georgian.
Relevant work or life experience: If you have relevant work and/or life experience that relates to your program(s) of interest at Georgian, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is an academic credit option.
To learn more about transfer credit and PLAR, visit the Credit for Prior Learning webpage.
Do you have questions about studying Developmental Services Worker part-time?
Questions about the program?
Continuing Education
- Complete our online form to connect with the Continuing Education team