Apprenticeship
Help Navigating a Path to an Apprenticeship
Depending on where you are in your decision-making, a dual credit might be a great opportunity to consider. Click on the section below that best describes your situation:
I am in high school and
There are 144 trades in Ontario that allow you to learn through an apprenticeship. These are organized into 4 sectors:
1. Construction sector: includes trades such as carpenter, brick and stone mason, electrician
2. Industrial sector: includes trades such as welder, general machinist, tool and die maker
3. Motive Power sector: includes trades such as auto service technician, heavy duty equipment technician, motorcycle mechanic
4. Service sector: includes trades such as cook, retail meat cutter, hairstylist, child development practitioner, child and youth worker
The web sites below will help you to find out more about these occupations including what the work involves, training needed, salary, future job opportunities and more:
Skilled Trades Ontario
Apprenticesearch.com
In Ontario, 23 of the trades are “compulsory”. That means you need an apprenticeship Certificate of Qualification to work in those trades. You can learn more about these trades on the Skilled Trades Ontario web site.
The remaining 121 trades are “non-compulsory”. You can learn more about these trades on the Skilled Trades Ontario web site.
Apprenticeship is one option to prepare to work in these trades but there are other pathways as well. Many colleges offer certificate and diploma programs related to these trades. You can explore those options on the Ontario Colleges web site.
1. Construction sector: includes trades such as carpenter, brick and stone mason, electrician
2. Industrial sector: includes trades such as welder, general machinist, tool and die maker
3. Motive Power sector: includes trades such as auto service technician, heavy duty equipment technician, motorcycle mechanic
4. Service sector: includes trades such as cook, retail meat cutter, hairstylist, child development practitioner, child and youth worker
The web sites below will help you to find out more about these occupations including what the work involves, training needed, salary, future job opportunities and more:
Skilled Trades Ontario
Apprenticesearch.com
In Ontario, 23 of the trades are “compulsory”. That means you need an apprenticeship Certificate of Qualification to work in those trades. You can learn more about these trades on the Skilled Trades Ontario web site.
The remaining 121 trades are “non-compulsory”. You can learn more about these trades on the Skilled Trades Ontario web site.
Apprenticeship is one option to prepare to work in these trades but there are other pathways as well. Many colleges offer certificate and diploma programs related to these trades. You can explore those options on the Ontario Colleges web site.
Learning through an apprenticeship is a different option than going to college or university to earn a diploma or a degree. At the end of successfully completing an apprenticeship, you will earn a Certificate of Qualification.
Rather than spending most of your time learning in a classroom, in an apprenticeship, you will spend about 90% of your time learning on the job under the supervision of a qualified journeyperson. You will spend about 10% of your apprenticeship in a classroom completing the in-school portion of your training. This training could take place in a college or in a non-college training facility like a union training centre.
Admission requirements are quite different. For most trades, you’ll need your OSSD but there will be a focus on skills that an employer would want you to have, not necessarily marks in specific high school courses.
There isn’t an online application process. You’ll need to find an employer who will hire you and agree to provide the on-the-job training you’ll need.
You can learn about the differences between apprenticeship and college and university in terms of cost, length of time to completion, salaries and more on the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) web site.
Rather than spending most of your time learning in a classroom, in an apprenticeship, you will spend about 90% of your time learning on the job under the supervision of a qualified journeyperson. You will spend about 10% of your apprenticeship in a classroom completing the in-school portion of your training. This training could take place in a college or in a non-college training facility like a union training centre.
Admission requirements are quite different. For most trades, you’ll need your OSSD but there will be a focus on skills that an employer would want you to have, not necessarily marks in specific high school courses.
There isn’t an online application process. You’ll need to find an employer who will hire you and agree to provide the on-the-job training you’ll need.
You can learn about the differences between apprenticeship and college and university in terms of cost, length of time to completion, salaries and more on the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) web site.
- Consider high school courses that are related to the field you’re interested in
- Consider job shadowing or informational interviewing
- Explore part-time or summer job opportunities related to your field of interest
- Enrol in a co-operative education program that will give you first-hand experience in the actual job setting.
- Find out about dual credit opportunities in your school. You could take a college course that is related to your field of interest. If you pass the course, you will get a credit towards your OSSD as well as a college credit
- Consider a pre-apprenticeship program as a way of “test-driving” a particular trade and building your skills. These programs are offered by both colleges and other institutions. on the Career Foundation website Ontario Pre-Apprenticeship Programs - Skilled Trades are for Everyone.
You might be able to take a dual credit technology-related college course will let you learn more about the work involved in the trade and what the in-school portion of an apprenticeship would be like. You see can examples of these dual credit courses on the Dual Credit Courses page on this web site.
In addition to gaining more insight into a particular trade, if you successfully complete a college-delivered dual credit, you will earn a credit that counts towards your OSSD as well as counting towards a post-secondary credential.
While on the college campus, you will have the support of a secondary school dual credit teacher who will help you access supports and services you might need on campus.
Talk to your guidance counsellor about what’s available, how a dual credit would fit into your timetable, and details about transportation to the college. There is no cost for you to participate.
In addition to gaining more insight into a particular trade, if you successfully complete a college-delivered dual credit, you will earn a credit that counts towards your OSSD as well as counting towards a post-secondary credential.
While on the college campus, you will have the support of a secondary school dual credit teacher who will help you access supports and services you might need on campus.
Talk to your guidance counsellor about what’s available, how a dual credit would fit into your timetable, and details about transportation to the college. There is no cost for you to participate.
You might be able to take a Level 1 apprenticeship dual credit. Most trades include 3 levels of in-school training. By successfully completing a dual credit, you could already have that first level completed before you finish high school. In a traditional apprenticeship, you might have to work for a year or more before you get the chance to take your Level 1 training. You could check with your guidance counsellor to find out more about what options are available to you and how to get involved.
Usually, Level 1 dual credits are delivered on the college campus by a college instructor. They would have a credit value of at least 2.0 credits towards your OSSD and might take place every day for 8 weeks or they might be spread out over a longer period of time. While on the college campus, you will have the support of a secondary school dual credit teacher who will help you access supports and services you might need on campus.
Some Level 1 dual credits are delivered on the campus of a non-college training delivery agent. You can access a list of those institutions here.
Talk to your guidance counsellor about what’s available, how a Level 1 dual credit would fit into your timetable, and details about transportation to the training location. There is no cost for you to participate.
Level 1 dual credits are sometimes delivered in a team-taught format in your secondary school. In this type of program, a college instructor would join your secondary school teacher in delivering both the college Level 1 curriculum and the senior secondary school course during your regular school day.
Usually, Level 1 dual credits are delivered on the college campus by a college instructor. They would have a credit value of at least 2.0 credits towards your OSSD and might take place every day for 8 weeks or they might be spread out over a longer period of time. While on the college campus, you will have the support of a secondary school dual credit teacher who will help you access supports and services you might need on campus.
Some Level 1 dual credits are delivered on the campus of a non-college training delivery agent. You can access a list of those institutions here.
Talk to your guidance counsellor about what’s available, how a Level 1 dual credit would fit into your timetable, and details about transportation to the training location. There is no cost for you to participate.
Level 1 dual credits are sometimes delivered in a team-taught format in your secondary school. In this type of program, a college instructor would join your secondary school teacher in delivering both the college Level 1 curriculum and the senior secondary school course during your regular school day.
You might be able to take a Level 1 apprenticeship dual credit. Most trades include 3 levels of in-school training. By successfully completing a dual credit, you could have that first level completed before you finish high school. In a traditional apprenticeship, you might have to work for a year or more before you get the chance to take your Level 1 training. You could check with your guidance counsellor to find out what other options are available to you and how to get involved.
Usually, Level 1 dual credits are delivered on the college campus by a college instructor. They would have a credit value of at least 2.0 credits towards your OSSD and might take place every day for 8 weeks or they might be spread out over a longer period of time. While on the college campus, you will have the support of a secondary school dual credit teacher who will help you access supports and services you might need on campus.
Talk to your guidance counsellor about what’s available, how a Level 1 dual credit would fit into your timetable, and details about transportation to the college. There is no cost for you to participate.
Level 1 dual credits are sometimes delivered in a team-taught format in your secondary school. In this type of program, a college instructor would join your secondary school teacher in delivering both the college Level 1 curriculum and the senior secondary school course during your regular school day.
Usually, Level 1 dual credits are delivered on the college campus by a college instructor. They would have a credit value of at least 2.0 credits towards your OSSD and might take place every day for 8 weeks or they might be spread out over a longer period of time. While on the college campus, you will have the support of a secondary school dual credit teacher who will help you access supports and services you might need on campus.
Talk to your guidance counsellor about what’s available, how a Level 1 dual credit would fit into your timetable, and details about transportation to the college. There is no cost for you to participate.
Level 1 dual credits are sometimes delivered in a team-taught format in your secondary school. In this type of program, a college instructor would join your secondary school teacher in delivering both the college Level 1 curriculum and the senior secondary school course during your regular school day.
Talk to your guidance counsellor. Even if you are not currently enrolled, guidance staff at your local school will assist you in exploring your options and planning your next steps.
News
Students and parents may be interested to learn that the success of Dual Credit courses in providing a pathway to High School graduation and to a career focused College education has been noted in the media. Some of the articles on Dual Credit courses are listed below.
Partnership carves early path for carpentry career
TIMMINS - When students graduate from École secondaire catholique Thériault's Grade 12 construction program, they'll already have a foot in the door towards post-secondary studies, and even a career.
Toronto Sun Shines on Durham Centre for Success
When Amanda Moore began attending the Durham College Centre for Success last fall, she hoped to earn enough credits to complete her high school diploma.
Not only did she achieve her goal within a few months, she also earned a college credit and was accepted into the college's paralegal diploma program beginning in the fall.
Students to graduate with high school, college credits from new summer school at Algonquin College
Michaela Eyre was missing one credit as a result of a health issue she had.
But through a new summer program offered by the college along with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and Ottawa Catholic School Board, Eyre is completing her high school requirements this week and is to receive a college credit to go along with it.
