Apprenticeship Program

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Apprenticeship Program

Advanced Education and Technology
Last Verified: 2008-01-30

Apprenticeship: The short story

An apprentice is someone learning a trade while he or she is employed.

Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training, work experience and technical training in a trade.

Apprentices spend about 80% of the time learning on-the-job from a qualified tradesperson. The rest of the time they take technical training, usually at a college or technical institution. Depending on the trade and the region in Alberta, there may be other methods of delivery of technical training.

An apprenticeship program lasts 1 to 4 years, depending on the trade. From day one, apprentices earn money for their time on the job. First-year apprentices earn about half of a journeyman's wage. The pay increases as the training progresses.

When apprentices successfully complete their apprenticeship program, they graduate to certified journeymen. The Alberta Journeyman Certificate proves to themselves and to any future employer that they meet Alberta's high industry standards.

There are 51 apprenticeable trades in Alberta (see Trades & Occupations).

Eligibility Criteria

Who can enter an apprenticeship program?

Age doesn't matter. You can enter apprenticeship during high school or any time after. Most first-time apprentices are in their late teens or early 20s.

To be an apprentice you need to:

complete grade 12 (some trades don't require Grade 12, but many employers prefer to hire high school graduates), or
write and pass an entrance exam, or
take part in the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) while you're still in high school, earning an income and credit toward your apprenticeship and your high school diploma

In many cases, students who have taken certain Career and Technology Studies (CTS ) program modules may receive credits toward an apprenticeship. The same applies for those who have taken certain kinds of post-secondary training. These credits can shorten the time it takes to complete an apprenticeship and become a certified journeyman.

A person who has previous training or work experience in a trade and wants to find out if they qualify for entry or advanced standing in an apprenticeship program may apply for a Prior Learning Assessment.

Summary

Alberta Advanced Education is taking steps to increase the participation of Aboriginal people in the trades through its Enhancing Aboriginal Participation in the Trades Communication Initiative. Aboriginal people interested in becoming an apprentice to learn a trade may find useful information in the Step Into the Trades brochure.

Also available are the Step into the Trades Colouring and Activity Book and Playing Cards which together are meant to expose students in K-Grade 4 to the trades as a viable career option.

'OK, I'm interested. What's next?'

Step One: Choose a trade

Check the list of apprenticeable trades and narrow your choices (see Trades & Occupations). Get as much information as you can about your choices from school counsellors, the Internet, your local library, or your nearest Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.

Next, talk to people working in the trades that interest you. Speak to their employers – maybe they'll let you 'job-shadow' to see what the day-to-day work is like. Ask lots of questions!

Step Two: Find an employer

Thousands of employers hire and train apprentices. But there's no getting around the fact that finding an employer to train you is the hardest part of the process. You must be employed to be an apprentice.

Many employers already know the apprenticeship training process. But take a copy of our brochure 'Training apprentices' to your interview in case you find one who doesn't. The brochure explains apprenticeship for employers. It's available from Apprenticeship and Industry Training Offices.

Step Three: Apply

Once you have an employer, download and print an Apprenticeship Application and Contract or contact any of our offices for an application. You and your employer complete the application/contract, and you return it to one of our offices. Then, we'll help you with Step Four.

Step Four: The Apprenticeship Contract

The application/contract is an agreement between you and your employer. It outlines who's responsible for what during your apprenticeship.

You are responsible for completing both your technical and on-the-job training.

Your employer is responsible for paying you a certain percentage of the journeyman wage rate, increasing your pay as you progress through training, training you on the job, and for allowing you to attend technical training.

Technical training can involve 4 to 12 weeks of classroom sessions annually. In some trades alternate delivery methods are available including distance learning, weekly apprenticeship training (attend classes one day a week), and Competency-Based Apprenticeship Training (CBAT).

Year-by-year: Do it!

To move from one year of apprenticeship to the next, and to receive your wage increases, each year you need to:

have the required number of months of on-the-job training
have the required number of hours of on-the-job training
successfully complete technical training
pass the industry exams
ensure your record book is updated by your employer, and
send your record book to the nearest Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office for a Certificate of Progress stamp

How much does apprenticeship training cost?

There is a tuition fee for technical training. Like all other adult learners, apprentices pay a portion of the cost of their training. The apprentice must pay the tuition fee to the educational institution before commencement of the class.

Tuition fees for 2006-2007 are:

· $81.25 per week ($650 for 8 weeks)

Additional costs include student association, locker, parking and other facility fees, textbooks and other classroom materials. Apprentices who must travel to receive technical training are responsible for travel, accommodation and meals.

Financial assistance is available to apprentices in a variety of forms:

There are approximately 165 annual awards of $1000 each for apprenticeship and occupational training programs.
Most apprentices are eligible for employment insurance (EI) while attending technical training.
Based on need, financial assistance may be available to apprentices while attending technical training.

For more information see Scholarships and Awards and Financial Assistance.

How do apprentices register for technical training?

In May of each year, employers and apprentices receive a mailing from Apprenticeship and Industry Training that includes information about where and when training is available, and instructions on how to apply at each institute or college.

The apprentice, after consulting with their employer, applies directly to the institute or college before the training starts.

Class registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Early application is recommended because training space may be limited.
The apprentice may need to pay either the full tuition fee or a deposit at the time of application.

The institute or college will verify the apprentices eligibility and provide written confirmation of registration to both the apprentice and the employer.

More information about Alberta's Apprenticeship Program

Trades & Occupations
Apprenticeship Application and Contract
Apprenticeship Application and Contract for Applicants in Other Canadian Jurisdictions
Apprenticeship Application and Contract for International Applicants
Earn while you learn! (brochure in PDF format)
Training apprentices. (brochure in PDF format)

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