When to apply for co-op work permit?

[raistlinn]

Hello everyone, hope you all are doing well. My co-op work term is going to start next summer, 2021. I have talked to my school's international student support regarding the co-op work permit. I was told to apply now but they told me the length of my co-op work permit will be as same as my study permit, which expires in 2021 summer and also added, I need to apply for extension for both 3-4 months before my study permit expires.
In the past, my school's international student support has misinformed me a couple of times so I'd like to ask you is this the process that I should be following?

Thanks