SLSS Volunteer/work experience FAQ's
For graduation, as per the BC Ministry of Education, you need to complete 30 hours of volunteer/work experience.
This can come from:
Below are some FAQs about this requirement:
1. Can volunteering in the school count? (e.g., library, clubs, coaching, STUCO, Shark Ambassadors, etc.)
Examples of Activities that DO NOT Count:
2. Can I count hours if I am self-employed?
This can come from:
- Volunteering
- Part-time employment
- Work experience programs (WEX)
Below are some FAQs about this requirement:
1. Can volunteering in the school count? (e.g., library, clubs, coaching, STUCO, Shark Ambassadors, etc.)
- YES – with restrictions.
- You need the teacher/club sponsor to sign off on the form. It is a good idea to keep them updated on your activities and contributions, so they feel confident signing off.
- Hours going towards a COMMUNITY SERVICE counts – so regular club meetings or club-only events don’t apply.
- Think about how the activity relates to service learning – are you doing something for the community? Doing something impactful? Is there a benefit to people not in your club?
Examples of Activities that DO NOT Count:
- Your club is creating care packages for unhoused people in DTES
- Shark Ambassadors volunteering during Parent-Teacher Conference Night or for Grade 8 Camp
- STUCO organizing a canned food drive and is spending time collecting donations
- Your club is hosting a fundraiser to donate proceeds to a charity
- Scorekeeping and refereeing for games; coaching sports teams
- Helping in the library with shelving books, organizing, cataloguing, etc.
- General or executive club meetings
- Your club is hosting a movie or games night with no charitable or wider community benefit
- Your club is having a fundraiser to increase club funds
2. Can I count hours if I am self-employed?
- Unfortunately, being self-employed will not satisfy the 30-hour requirement.
- When it comes to being self-employed, as you don’t have a supervisor and there is no way to verify your hours and the accuracy of your forms, we cannot accept this experience. It is fantastic you are finding innovative and flexible ways to broaden your skills and gain experience, but only work experience that has an official supervisor will count.
- Yes, your Gr 10-12 hours count towards this 30-hour Requirement!
- As these are graduation requirements, finish them before the end of grade 12! The sooner the better.
- If you finish your 30 hours early, hold onto your forms and you can submit them during grade 12.
- Yes, use the tracker to keep your hours organized.
- In fact, having a variety of experiences benefits you when applying for future jobs and to post-secondary programs as you'll have multiple experiences to draw examples from as you reflect.
- For most students, the requirement is 30 hours.
- You do 80 hours ONLY if you are enrolled in a work experience program (WEX). The requirement is 80 hours as a major component of your program already involves working.