An apprenticeship is an agreement between an individual (apprentice) who wants to learn a trade and an employer who needs a skilled worker. It is a way to learn job skills while you work and earn good wages. Apprenticeship combines classroom study with on-the-job experience that lets you earn a living while you learn a skilled trade. An apprenticeship program leads to professional certification as a journeyperson.

Canada is experiencing a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople. Employers need highly skilled workers now and graduates of trades apprenticeship programs are in demand. A career in trades can offer you a promising future in a secure, well paid and challenging occupation.

To become an apprentice, you must find an employer who is willing to hire and train you. Most people apply directly to an employer, union or local committee.

Several government services, such as Job Bank or your local Employment Ontario office, can help you get started in the more than 150 skilled trades that can be learned through apprenticeship training.

For other helpful information and job listings visit Apprenticesearch.com

You CANNOT apply through ontariocolleges.ca or directly at Algonquin College for admission into an apprentice program.

Once you have found an employer willing to train you, contact the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development apprenticeship office nearest you in order to receive an application form for you and your employer to fill out. Once the documents are returned to MLTSD, an Employment and Training Consultant will contact you and/or your employer to schedule a registration session in order to sign a Registered Training Agreement (RTA). If you become an apprentice in a compulsory trade, your name will automatically appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. Apprentices do not pay any fees to Skilled Trades Ontario.

The in-class portion of your training will be scheduled in blocks ranging from 8-weeks to 16-weeks, depending on the trade and level which you are registered in. Most trades consist of three blocks of in-class training which are taken approximately one year apart. You will be scheduled for the in-class portion of your training by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Apprentices who have been scheduled for the in-class training will be sent an “Offer of Classroom Training” letter from the Ministry. It is important to note that seats are limited and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once you have confirmed with your employer that you can attend the in-class portion that you have been invited to, you must fill out the Register Online form.  You will be expected to make your payment by credit card through your Algonquin College ACSIS account. Payment instructions will be provided to you after filling out the Register Online form.

The tuition portion of your fees will range from $400 to $650 depending on the length of instruction. A program ancillary fee, technology fee and e-text fee may also be charged and costs vary by program.

Click here to view a list of Apprenticeship fees.

Apprentices are responsible for supplying their own work boots, safety glasses, supplies and textbooks. Textbooks are available at the Connections Bookstore, which is located on campus.

For some trades you will be expected to purchase the tools for that trade. For instance, some garages provide their mechanics with tools while others do not. The cost to purchase these tools can be substantial.

The Government of Ontario offers a “Tool grant” to apprentices in order to assist them with the cost of purchasing the tools and equipment which they need for their trade.

Your employer will lay you off in order for you to attend the in-class training. Apprentices may qualify for a training allowance or Employment Insurance benefits while they are in school.

Employment Ontario may also provide up to $1,500 of taxable financial support to apprentices who are not eligible to receive Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training. For more information, visit them online.

Apprenticeship programs are not eligible for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).

A Canada Apprentice Loan program is available through Employment and Social Development Canada. For more information visit canada.ca/apprentice.

The federal government’s Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) is a taxable cash grant of $1,000 per year for registered apprentices once they have successfully completed their first or second year/level (or equivalent) of an apprenticeship program in one of the Red Seal trades. The AIG is meant to encourage apprentices to complete their apprenticeship program and achieve their Red Seal designation by helping them cover some of their expenses for tuition, travel and tools.

After completing both the classroom and the on-the-job training, apprentices can receive journeyperson certification or a certificate of qualification, allowing them to earn a higher wage and work anywhere in Canada. Depending on the trade, it takes about 2 to 5 years as an apprentice to become a certified journeyperson. About 80% of the training is in the workplace; the rest is at a training institution.

The Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program allows qualified tradespeople to practice their trade in any province or territory in Canada without having to write additional examinations. Tradespeople are able to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their provincial/territorial certificates by successfully completing an interprovincial Red Seal examination. Red Seal certification improves labour mobility by allowing workers qualified for work in a particular occupation in one jurisdiction to have access to similar employment opportunities in any other Canadian jurisdiction.

To date, there are 52 trades included in the Red Seal Program on a national basis. For a list of these eligible trades, visit the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program website.

Please read the “Canada Apprentice Loan” document, from Employment and Social Development Canada, to find out if you qualify for the loan funding for apprentices registered in a Red Seal trade.

Apprentices who have been accepted and confirmed in their Apprenticeship class will receive a 16-digit Employment Insurance (EI) code via email from the Ministry. The email is titled Apprenticeship Notice: Confirmation of Classroom Training. If you are confirmed in your full time Apprenticeship program and you have not received this code, please contact Skilled Trades Ontario for assistance.

If you’d like to register for an individual course, send an email to apprentice@algonquincollege.com. Please make sure to include your full name, student number or date of birth, program name and the name of the course(s).