College Diploma - Developmental Services Worker

This two year Ontario College Diploma prepares workers who support people with developmental disabilities: human development, disability studies, communication and behaviour support, health and medication, person centred planning, and advocacy grounded in current Ontario legislation.

Field placement is central and is recorded inside the two year structure. Students work in real residential, day program and community settings under supervision, which is where the practical judgement and the professional boundaries of this work are actually learned.

CIP code 19.0710 is published by the college for this program on its PGWP aligned list. The two year duration is what allows a Post Graduation Work Permit of up to three years, subject to IRCC for program code 0139, and meets the credential length used by the Thunder Bay Rural Community Immigration Pilot when exempting local public college graduates from its work experience requirement.

Admission per the source requires Grade 12 / High School with 50 percent, and English at IELTS 6 overall and no band below 5.5, recorded against Ontario college program code 0139.0 overall and no band below 5.5. Recorded tuition is CAD 18,515 for the year. Note that placements require police record checks and immunisation clearance, which international students should arrange early rather than at placement stage.

Applicants should understand the sector before enrolling. Developmental services work is relational, sometimes physical, and involves supporting adults with complex needs over long periods rather than delivering short interventions. Ontario has a documented shortage of qualified workers, which makes employment realistic, but retention in the field depends on genuine aptitude for the work. Thunder Bay has an established network of agencies providing residential and community support, so placements and later employment are usually local. The portal export records September starts only, with an application deadline of 26 July 2026 for the first cycle.