Health and Public Safety Practicum Requirements

To align with Alberta Health Services’ Standard for Immunization of Post-secondary Healthcare Students and the standards of other SAIT practicum partners, SAIT is required to maintain accurate immunization records of all students on practicum.

Students enrolled in SAIT’s School of Health and Public Safety (“SAIT Healthcare Students”) are required to provide copies of their immunization records prior to, and as a condition of, participating in any work-integrated learning practicum or clinical experiences.

SAIT Healthcare Students undertaking their work-integrated learning practicum or clinical experiences in a health care facility may encounter clients/patients or materials from individuals with both diagnosed and undiagnosed infections. This places SAIT Healthcare Students at risk of exposure to various diseases, including vaccine-preventable diseases. There is also a risk that healthcare students could transmit an undiagnosed vaccine-preventable disease to others.

Maintenance of immunity through immunization is an important preventative and infection control strategy which safeguards post-secondary students and protects health-care workers, clients, and patients. Therefore, SAIT strongly recommends that SAIT Healthcare Students be fully immunized and follow Alberta Health Services’ immunizations recommended for Health Care Students.

Important:

• Deadlines and specific instructions will be provided in the "Pre- Placement Immunization" PDF document, included as part of the Practicum Readiness package you will receive by email before the start of your program.
• SAIT Dental Assisting students and immunization for Hepatitis B – Primary Series: Dental Assisting students participate in clinical labs early in the first term of study. If you are not already vaccinated, contact the SAIT Health Clinic or another immunization provider to begin your Hepatitis vaccination series as soon as you are accepted into the program.

Your program may require a current CPR and/or a Standard First Aid certificate. Some programs only accept a Heart and Stroke Foundation BLS provider CPR certificate, which must be valid for the duration of your practicum.

Important:

• Do not complete any BLS, First Aid or CPR certificate before receiving your program's practicum requirements.
• All deadlines and specific instructions regarding the BLS/CPR Certificate required for your program will be provided in your Practicum Readiness package in the PDF document "Pre- Practicum Requirements". You will receive this package by email before the start of your program.
• Failure to complete this process may lead to ineligibility for practicums.

In compliance with Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code 2009, students in some SAIT Health and Public Safety programs are Fit‐Tested for Respiratory Masks prior to their practicum.

Fit testing is arranged for students to complete at the SAIT campus with program staff prior to the practicum and is used to determine which make and model of an N95 respiratory mask an individual should use.

Important:

• Your program will provide you with instructions on how to book a fitting appointment closer to the start of your practicum.
• Some medical conditions may require a medical assessment prior to completion of your N95 mask fit testing. Review the N95 PDF for additional information.
• Failure to complete an N95 mask fit test may result in a restricted practicum and/or limited employment.

To align with the Protection for Persons in Care Act, SAIT’s School of Health and Public Safety and practicum sites require that you must:

• Provide proof of a clear Criminal Record Check (CRC) or Police Information Check (PIC) with or without Vulnerable Sector Search (PIC with VSS) as required by your program.
• Inform the Academic Chair of your program of any change in your Criminal Records, criminal convictions, or criminal charges throughout the term of your enrollment, which may preclude your eligibility for practicum(s). Failure to self-report any changes in your Criminal Records may result in the immediate termination from your program.

Important:

• Do not secure a PIC or CRC in advance. All deadlines and specific instructions regarding the Police Information Check required for your program will be provided in your Practicum Readiness package in the PDF document "Pre- Practicum Requirements". You will receive this package by email before the start of your program.
• Failure to complete this process may lead to ineligibility for practicums.