Co-op Employment Program

The Co-op Employment Program is one of the most successful ways of recruiting new talent into the BC Public Service. Over 1,500 current employees started their careers through this program. 

On this page

• Overview
• Eligibility criteria
• Hiring
• Pacific Leaders tuition grants for co-op employees
• Apply
• Employment Programs Resource Office

Overview

The Co-op Employment Program provides post-secondary students with a work placement in the BC Public Service that allows them to explore the public service and expand their skills and competencies by working on projects that augment their field of study.

Under the Co-op Employment Program, the nature of the work is aligned with the student's academic discipline and significant emphasis is placed on training, learning, development, growth, support and mentoring.  

Co-op work terms are typically 4-, 8- or 12-month auxiliary appointments to align with the post-secondary trimester system:

• Winter: January to April
• Summer: May to August
• Fall: September to December

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the BC Public Service Co-op Employment Program:

• Co-op students must be enrolled in a recognized co-operative education program at an accredited co-op institution
• Students enrolled in an accredited co-op program outside of B.C. are also eligible for the BC Public Service Co-op Employment Program
• Visit ACEWIL (BC/YUKON) and CEWIL Canada for more information and to access the list of accredited institutions

Although co-op employees participating in the co-op program are BC Public Service employees, the co-op component of a student's degree forms part of their formal education (for example: each co-op work term is worth academic credit). Students who are not enrolled in a cooperative education program at their post-secondary institution are not eligible for the co-op program with the BC Public Service. 

The Youth Employment Program is an alternative employment program that provides students not registered in a cooperative education program with an opportunity to gain practical work experience in the BC Public Service.

Hiring

The process for hiring a co-op student is easier than many other hiring options within the BC Public Service. Hiring managers are encouraged to use the Co-op Hiring Manager Handbook (IDIR restricted) to assist with navigating this process.

Hiring managers are encouraged to post co-op opportunities at participating post-secondary institutions with related academic programs. Visit the Co-op Connect Hub - Resources for Hiring Managers page (IDIR restricted) for a list of recognized cooperative education programs, along with the post-secondary institution contacts. 

The Co-op Employment Program offers 2 employment options depending on the level of schooling of the co-op student:

• Level 1 is for students working towards a diploma or bachelor’s degree
• Level 2 is for students working towards a post-graduate degree

For more information about the program, please refer to Article 34.2 in the BCGEU Collective Agreement (PDF, 3.7MB).

Check out the Salary Look-up Tool for the most up to date salary information.

Pacific Leaders tuition grants for co-op employees

Pacific Leaders Tuition Grants for Co-op Employees is one of the BC Public Service's corporate programs. Under the Pacific Leaders Tuition Grants for Co-op Employees Program, co-op employees may apply for co-op work term tuition fee reimbursement of up to a maximum of $1,000 per term. Other tuition fees, university fees and books are not eligible.

Each ministry is responsible for funding Pacific Leaders Tuition Grants for co-op employees, which is funded by the individual branch budget and recorded under STOB5220. Students that participate in the BC Public Service Co-op Program are eligible to receive up to $1,000 each work term to cover their co-op work term tuition fees. 

Co-op employees meet the eligibility criteria to apply for the grant if they are:

• Enrolled in an accredited co-op education program at a participating post-secondary institution, and 
• Currently participating in the Co-op Employment Program with BC Public Service

Apply

For students interested in finding a co-op job with the BC Public Service, check your post-secondary institution's co-op job site and follow the application instructions listed in the job posting:

• British Columbia Institute of Technology
• Camosun College
• Capilano University
• College of the Rockies
• Douglas College
• Kwantlen Polytechnic University
• Langara College
• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
• North Island College
• Okanagan College
• Royal Roads University
• Selkirk College
• Simon Fraser University
• Thompson Rivers University
• University of British Columbia – Arts
• University of British Columbia – Business
• University of British Columbia – Engineering
• University of British Columbia – Forestry
• University of British Columbia – Kinesiology
• University of British Columbia – Land and Food Systems
• University of British Columbia – Science
• University of British Columbia (Okanagan)
• University of Northern British Columbia
• University of the Fraser Valley
• University of Victoria
• Vancouver Island University

If your post-secondary institution is not listed above, check your institution’s co-op job site to see the co-op opportunities available to you.

Employment Programs Resource Office

The Employment Programs Resource (EPRO) Office is a corporate resource within the BC Public Service Agency for all Co-op program employees and Youth Employment Program employees and their supervisors.

The office was launched in May 2017, born out of our corporate plan, as one of the ways in which the organization is looking to replenish the workforce, better reflect the citizens we serve, incorporate a variety of perspectives and backgrounds to enhance both creativity and innovation and solve problems more effectively.

The Employment Programs Resource Office, through a centralized cohort approach, creates a consistent, single-employer experience for co-op and YEP employees and their supervisors and supports them through their co-op journey.

The office plans and delivers events and workshops that provide professional and personal learning and networking opportunities to student employees and their supervisors. Find more information about the resources and events offered by the Employment Programs Resource office on the Co-op Connect Hub (IDIR restricted).