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Work-Integrated Learning

Work-Integrated Learning and Security Clearances

Certain Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) positions, especially positions with the Federal and Provincial Governments and agencies, may require students to undergo security clearance check before an official letter of offer is extended.

Important: Job offers are conditional until the security clearance requirements have been met and an official letter of offer is extended to the student.

Any security clearances required by the employer are outside of the scope of RRC Polytech, and RRC Polytech has no authority over employer co-op position security requirements.

These security checks may take two to four months to complete and in some cases longer.

Please reach out to WIL@rrc.ca with any questions about security clearances.

About the Security Screening Process

  1. Students who have a conditional job offer and are waiting for security clearances may continue their WIL co-op job search until an official letter of offer is extended and accepted. If a student has a conditional co-op job offer and is waiting security clearances, and accepts a different co-op job offer, the student must:
    1. Inform the WIL Coordinator that another offer has been accepted.
    2. Inform the employer that required the clearances and withdraw from that position competition.
  2. The student must agree to provide personal information as required by the employer for the security screening process. The employer may also request additional documentation to complete the assessment.
  3. If, for any reason, the employer cancels your security screening, your conditional co-op job offer will be withdrawn. You will then need to either secure another co-op position by the deadline or defer your WIL term. Please connect with your WIL Coordinator to discuss alternate plans if you are notified that your conditional co-op job offer has been withdrawn.
  4. You cannot apply for security clearance before being selected for a co-op position. The prospective employer will initiate and manage the security clearance process once you are selected as a qualified candidate and provided a conditional co-op job offer.
  5. When you receive security screening application forms from the employer, it is critical to complete and return all documentation as soon as possible to avoid delays or risk to your job offer.

International Students

  1. If you accept a co-op job offer that requires security clearance, you must also apply for any available alternative WIL experience before the application deadline. Please discuss with your WIL Coordinators.
  2. If you do not receive an official co-op offer letter from the employer by the application deadline, you and your WIL Coordinator will decline the conditional job offer. Please contact your WIL Coordinator to explore any alternative WIL options, if your program offers alternative WIL options.
  3. If your program does not offer an alternative WIL, or if you do not wish to participate in alternative WIL, you will need to connect with your WIL Coordinator as well as International Education student support to review your options.

Additional Resources

For more information and details required for required for security clearances visit the Government of Canada website.

You may also want to learn about identity verification requirements for information related to the Government of Canada’s Contract Security Program.

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anishininwak, Dakota Oyate, and Denésuline, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.