Apprenticeship 101

Questions relating to “Apprenticeship Basics”:

1. How do I become an apprentice?
2. How long does it take to complete an apprenticeship program and become a certified tradesperson?
3. How is completing an apprenticeship recognized?
4. How much does an apprentice earn?
5. What are compulsory trades?
6. What is a designated trade?
7. How do I get more information?

Questions relating to “Apprenticeship in Canada: A public and private sector partnership”:

8. I will be taking the Red Seal examination shortly and I was wondering if any resource materials are available to help me prepare for the exam.
9. Why is my trade not a Red Seal trade?
10. Who should I contact to obtain more information on the Red Seal Program?

Questions relating to “The Business Case for Apprenticeship”:

11. What are the benefits to an employer who sets up an apprenticeship program?
12. What are my responsibilities as an employer?
13. Are there any government programs available to help me cover the costs of an apprenticeship program at my workplace?
14. Where do I go to receive more information about hiring apprentices?

1. How do I become an apprentice?

In most provinces/territories you need to have an entry level job in the trade. Your employer must register you as an apprentice in that trade with the provincial/territorial apprenticeship branch. There are academic requirements that vary by trade and province/territory, although Grade 12 is recommended for most trades. As a registered apprentice you will be expected to attend in-school technical training as well as learning on the job.

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2. How long does it take to complete an apprenticeship program and become a certified tradesperson?

The length of the training varies depending on the trade and the province or territory, but generally ranges from 2-5 years in total (visit the campaign website www.careersintrades.ca for more information). Most of the training-on average about 85%-is provided in the workplace. Normally an apprentice works for 40 to 44 weeks a year and goes to school for a six-to-eight week block of training.

3. How is completing an apprenticeship recognized?

An apprenticeship program has been completed once the apprentice has attended all in-school technical training sessions, worked the prescribed number of hours on-the-job and passed all required exams. The provincial/territorial government then issues Certification of Qualification* that identifies the holder as certified in the trade

4. How much does an apprentice earn?

For most trades apprentices are paid a proportion of the journeyperson's rate. The proportion generally increases for every year/level the apprentice progresses in the apprenticeship program. In some jurisdictions, these proportions are set out in trade regulations.

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5. What are compulsory trades?

A compulsory trade is one where you must, by law, be a certified journeyperson or registered apprentice to do the work of that trade. The trades that are compulsory vary by province/territory.

6. What is a designated trade?

A designated trade is one regulated by a province's or territory's legislation. This legislation generally provides for formal training and certification for trades that have been "designated".

7. How do I get more information?

The best starting point is the Apprenticeship Branch in your province/territory.

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8. I will be taking the Red Seal examination shortly and I was wondering if any resource materials are available to help me prepare for the exam.

No examination-specific resource materials exist. However, you can obtain a copy of the National Occupational Analysis (NOA) for the Red Seal trade in question which will provide you with an exhaustive list of tasks and sub-tasks that a fully competent journeyperson in that trade would be expected to know. Questions asked on the Red Seal examinations are restricted to the scope of the tasks and sub-tasks identified within the NOA.

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9. Why is my trade not a Red Seal trade?

For a trade to be designated Red Seal, a significant number of provinces and territories should already have it independently designated for apprenticeship training and certification. It is the industry's responsibility to submit a request for the designation of a trade under the Red Seal Program. A jurisdiction will only consider a trade for designation if an extensive industry base exists, thereby supporting the need for training. Another consideration would be the commonality of skill sets across the country. National standards, which define the scope of the trade, can only be developed and ratified by jurisdictions if the skills for a specific occupation are generally consistent among the provinces and territories.

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10. Who should I contact to obtain more information on the Red Seal Program?

If inquiring from within Canada, or know within which province or territory you will be working when you arrive in Canada, you should direct your questions to the apprenticeship branch for that jurisdiction. For general information about the Red Seal Program you can also contact the Red Seal Secretariat at Human Resources and Social Development Canada as follows:

Red Seal Secretariat
140 Promenade du Portage
Phase IV; 5th Floor
Ottawa/Gatineau K1A 0J9
Fax: (819) 994-0202


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11. What are the benefits to an employer who sets up an apprenticeship program?

There is a strong business case for setting up an apprenticeship program. You get an opportunity to have a young person come in and make a long-term commitment to your business, someone who will be trained to work to your standards, who will understand your corporate culture and the industry you work in, and someone who will probably be very loyal to you and appreciate the fact that you've trained them. As an employer, you're also making sure that as your certified tradespeople retire, you will have trained staff to take their place. Those are important advantages.

Although an employer will likely incur some expenses initially, training apprentices is a long-term investment that helps to give your business a competitive advantage and often helps you to attract and retain excellent employees.

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12. What are my responsibilities as an employer?

The employer’s obligations are to:

1. Complete the employer part of the contract and send the final document to the local apprenticeship branch.
2. Work with the apprentice to successfully complete the required on-the-job training.
3. Pay the apprentice’s wages (usually set at a rising percentage of the journeyperson wages).
4. Arrange for the apprentice to have time for in-school technical training (usually four to eight weeks) at each stage of the program.
5. Keep accurate records of the on-the-job training hours and type of work – usually in an official record book or log.
13. Are there any government programs available to help me cover the costs of an apprenticeship program at my workplace?

Your Provincial/Territorial government apprenticeship office can best advise you on the programs or services that may be available. Please click here:
http://www.apprenticetrades.ca/EN/displayContent/default.asp?userAction=LOADARTICLE&txtArticleID=1036

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14. Where do I go to receive more information about hiring apprentices?

To find detailed information on the steps to hiring an apprentice, visit www.apprenticetrades.ca for information that is specific to your trade and your province or territory.

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