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Frequently Asked Questions By Employees and Students
(Last Updated 2/20/2009)


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What is an apprenticeship?
An Apprenticeship is a contract between a person who wants to learn a highly skilled trade and the provincial government.  The apprenticeship, sponsored by an employer, is a commitment between the employer, employee and the government and includes “On-the-Job Training” and “In-School Training”. An apprenticeship can last from 3 to 5 years depending on the trade. A certificate of apprenticeship is issued upon successfully completion of the program and the apprentice is now eligible to write the Red Seal inter-provincial exams. The Red Seal Certification will allow the tradesperson to work anywhere in Canada.

What is an apprentice?
An apprentice is an employee who learns the skills of the trade working directly with a skilled tradesperson while he/she is on the job. The apprentice will also attend trade school classes.

What is a tradesperson?
A tradesperson is a skilled worker in a particular trade or craft. He or she is highly skilled in both the theoretical and practical aspects of the job, which provides creative and intellectual challenges. The complex skills learned as a tradesperson make it a highly profitable and sought after profession.

How would I start an apprenticeship?
First, you must find someone who is willing to sponsor you as an apprentice in the trade of your choice. Secondly, enter into a contract with the provincial government. Once the contract is signed, you will alternate on the job training (where you will be working side by side with a tradesperson to learn the different skills of the trade) and attend trade school (where you will learn the classroom portion of the trade). Both your on the job and classroom training will be guided by the apprenticeship training standards which outline the knowledge and skills you will need to master before you can graduate. Upon completion of the on the job and classroom training, you will receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship (C of A) and you will be eligible to write the Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) Exam. The Certificate of Qualification is your “ticket” for the trade that you have been registered to on the contract. 

What are the different apprenticeships?
Different industry sectors offer different apprenticeships. Here is a list of apprenticeships from some of our key sectors.

Construction Sector
  Boilermaker Bricklayer Carpenter Construction Electrician
  Glazier Hoisting Engineer Plumber Power Line Technician
  Sheet Metal Worker Sprinkler and Fire Technician Steam Fitter Welder
         
Industrial Sector
  CNC Operator Diesel Mechanic Electrical Motor System Technician Fitter
  Industrial Electrician Industrial Instrumentation Industrial Mechanic/Millwright Machinist
  Metal Fabricator Tool and Die Maker    
         
Motive Power Sector
  Alignment Technician Auto body Technician Auto Service Technician Small Engine Technician
  Technician Truck and Coach Technician    
         
Service Sector
  Appliance Service Technician Baker Early Childhood Educator Electronics Service Technician
  Hairstylist Network Cabling Specialist    

Which trades are in greatest demand?
Although there is a shortage of most skilled trades in almost all sectors, the trades that are in greatest demand in the industrial sector are Industrial Electrician, Industrial Instrumentation, Industrial Mechanic/Millwright, Mechanical Technician, Bricklayer, Hoisting Operator, HVAC Technician, Welders, and Heavy Equipment Operators.

How do I qualify?
To qualify for an apprenticeship, you must be at least 16 years of age and have successfully completed grade 12. Although the government’s minimum requirement to be an apprentice is grade 12, employers have the right to set their own minimum requirements. Some employers will require you to have successfully completed a two-year technician program while others may even require a three-year technologist diploma. Some employers may also require that you complete a pre-apprenticeship course.

Can I get any financial assistance from government?
Both the federal and provincial governments offer different financial support in the form of scholarships, grants, tax credits for tools etc. However, each province is different in terms of what it offers and how much it offers. You can check out the links below for the federal government programs and for the provincial programs in your province. The information is presented for those provinces where CSTEC provides its apprenticeship services.

What is my next step?
If you are currently a high school or college student, you should contact your guidance councillors for a list of apprenticeship programs and companies who are looking to hire apprentices. You can contact the company of your choice and talk to the Human Resource Department about their apprenticeship programs.  You can also get more information from the following websites: