I'm Graduating...What Are My Next Steps?

By: Rachelle Provost, Student Member

​Congratulations on completing your degree! You have put countless hours and effort into your education. Regardless if you are completing further education, entering into the work force or taking time for yourself before deciding your next steps, you’ve completed a significant milestone. Through my discussions with other students I found individuals are looking forward to pursuing their designation. However, many new graduates find themselves unaware of the process required to apply to become a Professional Home Economist (PHEc). In this post, I will list the steps you will need to complete to pursue the PHEC designation. 

To qualify for the P.H.Ec designation in Ontario, you need a degree from a university program that falls under one of the realms of Home Economics/Human Ecology (textiles, family social science, or nutrition). This includes anyone graduating in the required program from one of the qualifying Ontario institutions below:​

1. Ryerson University
   Ryerson offers a BASc in Nutrition and Food. To qualify for the P.H.Ec. designation, you must take FNP 100, Introduction to Professional Practice.
2. Brescia University College
   To qualify for the P.H.Ec. designation, students must successfully complete Human Ecology 2222 F/G Professional Perspectives as part of the Foods and Nutrition, Family Studies, or Nutrition and Families module.
3. If you have a Degree in Nutrition / Home Economics / Human Ecology or similar, but have not graduated from either Ryerson University or Brescia University, don’t fret! You can take a home study course to become a Professional Home Economist. The OHEA Professional Home Economics Self-Study Course is an informative and reflective online opportunity that provides the background and significance of the profession of home economics. This opportunity also provides you with a supportive OHEA mentor who will provide formative feedback on the reflections and invite discussion with each participant. The online course is offered through www.schoology.com. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact us: info@ohea.on.ca

I’ve completed these – what are my next steps?
At this point, you will need to contact Eileen Stanbury, OHEA’s Administrator/Registrar, and send her your final official transcript. The transcript needs to show that you have graduated from your program. Therefore, you will have to wait until AFTER you receive your diploma at graduation to request this transcript or else it will not show that you have graduated.

The transcript must show proof of a credit course or equivalent, recognized and approved by the Board of Directors, which includes orientation to the philosophy and practice of Home Economics. At Brescia, this course is called Professional Perspectives. At Ryerson, the course is called Professional Practices. Currently, Guelph does not have such a course, but OHEA is working on this. As of currently, Guelph graduates are required to complete the Self Study Course before they can be approved to use the Professional Home Economist designation.

Your transcript will be reviewed by the Vice Presidents of Membership and, if approved, a motion will be made for your membership and is presented to either the Executive or the Board of Directors, whomever is meeting next. After the meeting, Eileen Stanbury will contact you and give you a link to pay your membership. New Graduates pay a reduced fee ($100 + $13.00 HST for the 2018-2019 membership year) for the two years following graduation.

​Once this membership is paid, Eileen will then send you a certificate which will be dated and signed by herself and the President. At this point in time you will be eligible to use the Professional Home Economist designation, and be held accountable to an established code of professional conduct and OHEA’s Code of Ethics.

Summary

1. Complete the required course
2. Request and mail your transcript after you have graduated
3. Wait for approval
4. If approved, pay your membership fees
5. You can now use the PHEc designation

Once you have completed these steps I highly encourage you to utilize your membership. Subscribe to the newsletter to keep up to date on items happening within the Association, join committees, volunteer, attend the annual conference and/or contribute to OHEA’s blog. You have worked hard to get to this position – now reap the benefits! Spread the word about this process and post a comment below if you will be pursuing your designation. I look forward to seeing the wave of new PHEcs as graduation season approaches.


​Rachelle Provost recently completed her degree at Brescia University College in the Nutrition and Dietetics stream, and will be graduating in June 2018. In May, she began a one-year post-degree Diploma in Public Relations from Western University’s Continuing Studies and will be pursuing the Professional Home Economist designation. She looks forward to joining a strong network of professionals with similar interests, and encourages other new graduates to consider pursuing this opportunity.