There are more than 140 skilled trades that can be practiced through Ontario's apprenticeship training system. Confederation College provides apprenticeship training in Ontario for a variety of careers including:
- Industrial Millwright (433A),
- Automotive Service Technician (310S),
- Truck and Coach Technician (310T),
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (421A),
- General Carpenter (403A),
- Electrician — Construction and Maintenance (309A),
- Industrial Electrician (442A),
- Welder (456A),
- Roofer (449A),
- and Cook (415A)
supporting careers that are in demand and integral to the functioning of Ontario's economy.
Apprenticing in a trade is the fastest way to begin earning in a promising career path. Skilled workers are in high demand in a variety of sectors such as residential, commercial or industrial construction, maintenance, and infrastructure operation.
Apprentices learn a skilled occupation by combining in-school training courses with paid on-the-job training. About 90 percent of apprenticeship training is provided in the workplace by an employer, while the remainder involves in-school instruction at a training institution like Confederation College.
How to Become an Apprentice:
- To be eligible for an apprenticeship, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age (16 years of age in limited cases)
- Have legal permission to work in Canada (i.e., have a valid social insurance number)
- Meet the educational requirements of the trade. Grade 12 or equivalent is the generally accepted standard, however, grade 10 or equivalent may be accepted by some sponsors.
- Have a sponsor located in Ontario. This can be a private employer, association or union.
- Apply for an apprenticeship through Skilled Trades Ontario. This step is usually completed when you have received an offer of employment from a sponsor.
- After completing the apprenticeship application, a Registered Training Agreement will be drafted by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). The apprentice and their sponsor will both sign this document, officially recognizing the apprentice to begin the training process through their employer.
People who want to become apprentices must apply directly to employers, unions or joint apprenticeship training committees for the trade they are interested in. Most trades require between two and five years of work and training to become certified. During that time apprentices will be notified of offers to attend in-class training at the closest available training facility. Apprentices are permitted to attend other training facilities within Ontario if they choose by making arrangements with their local Ministry office in advance.
Apprenticeship Programs Catalogue
Explore our Apprenticeship Programs below and take the first step towards a successful career in your field.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Apprenticeship Programs
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- Experienced, trade-certified professors
- Up-to-date lab and shop facilities (Take a virtual tour to see all the college has to offer.)
Complete classroom training in the North to reduce expenses, planning and travel requirements.
Low program fees for students when compared to traditional full time studies. -
Most apprenticeships last two to five years (4000-9000 work and study hours). Two to four levels of classroom training will be completed within that time, depending on the trade. See our program pages above for details of each trade's on the job and classroom requirements.
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In general, a minimum of Grade 12 is required for most skilled occupations. Apprentices must be at least 18 years old in most circumstances. Some pathways such as the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program allow secondary school students who are 16 or 17 years old to begin early training in select occupations such as Carpenter or Automotive Technician. Find out more about OYAP.
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- To be eligible for an apprenticeship, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age (16 years of age in limited cases)
- Have legal permission to work in Canada (i.e. have a valid social insurance number)
- Meet the educational requirements of the trade. Grade 12 or equivalent is the generally accepted standard, however, grade 10 or equivalent may be accepted by some sponsors.
- Have a sponsor located in Ontario. This can be a private employer, association or union.
- Apply for an apprenticeship through Skilled Trades Ontario. This step is usually completed when you have received an offer of employment from a sponsor.
- After completing the apprenticeship application, a Registered Training Agreement will be drafted by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD). The apprentice and their sponsor will both sign this document, officially recognizing the apprentice to begin the training process through their employer.
In Ontario you must have a sponsor to oversee your training and employment. Sponsors provide the work environment and hours required to fulfill the appropriate Apprenticeship Training Standard. Apprentices may change sponsors throughout their training at any time. For example, this may be done to seek more working hours or gain experience in different sectors or work environments. When the requirements of the training standard are satisfied, the apprentice is eligible to write the licensing exam for their trade. Successfully completing the exam will award the apprentice a Certificate of Qualification and Journeyperson status in their trade.
- To be eligible for an apprenticeship, you must:
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Registered apprentices who are eligible to attend classroom training will be queued in the automated Ministry (MLTSD) system. Eligible apprentices are notified when seats are available to apply for. If the apprentice successfully applies for a seat, the student's information is then forwarded to the College of choice for enrollment and processing.
- Some considerations are:
- The queue system does not factor in accumulated work hours. Generally, most apprentices will work for at least one year prior to being eligible for a seat offer.
- Apprentices studying high-demand programs may wait up to two years for a local seat. They may inquire with the Ministry regarding alternate facilities with available seats.
- Apprentices must ensure they are financially ready for classroom training. There are many supports available through government and employer sources, however, most apprentices will receive reduced income during classroom training periods.
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You can refer to the specific Apprenticeship Program pages provided for more information regarding the trade you are interested in, or by contacting the School of Engineering Technology and Trades at Confederation College (807) 475-6384 or the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities Apprenticeship branch in Thunder Bay, Ontario (807) 346-1550.
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Federal and Provincial financial help is available for Apprentices. Some of the programs that may be available to you include:
- Apprenticeship completion grant
- Financial supports for Ontario apprentices
- EI benefits during classroom training
- Supplementary benefits through private employers and unions are also available in many cases.
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The Red Seal endorsement is a national program that allows qualified tradespeople to practice their trade in any province or territory in Canada where that trade is designated without having to write further examinations.
Additionally, there are 23 trades designated as "compulsory" in Ontario. Compulsory trades, by law, require all persons performing the work of that particular trade to hold either a Certificate or Provisional Certificate of Qualification (Journeyperson class) or a Registered Training Agreement (Apprentice class). Confederation College offers training for the following compulsory trades- Automotive Service Technician (310T), Truck and Coach Technician (310S) and Electrician- Construction and Maintenance (309A).