Skilled Trades
Apprenticeships & Career Paths

Wanna Trade?
Skilled Trades: train for a career with a future

A skilled trade is:

- An occupation for which a provincial or territorial apprenticeship program is available, plus
- The ability to perform with a specific degree of proficiency; or a specific defined behaviour or piece of work assigned to, or expected of, someone in a specified trade or occupation.
- Trade skills can best be learned through an apprenticeship
Source: Glossary: Skill; Trade, 2006

What is Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is a workplace-based training program for people who want to work in a skilled trade.
- About 90 percent of apprenticeship training occurs in the workplace under the supervision of skilled tradespeople, while the remainder involves classroom instruction, usually at a post-secondary institution or other approved training organization
- Apprentices are workers, so they can earn while they learn

You can get more information about apprenticeship from your local Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Apprenticeship office: www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/tcu/search.html

What is Pre-Apprenticeship?

Pre-apprenticeship is training that provides people with the basic skills in the field that they want to gain apprenticeship or work in.
- Employers want to know that whomever they hire has a demonstrated aptitude for the job they are being hired for
- Pre-apprenticeship training programs are offered through not-for-profit, private and college institutions

Why choose the apprenticeship track?

- Employers gain a skilled workforce that can produce and deliver goods and services to meet customer demand
- Apprentices earn while they learn a skilled trade
- This in turn fuels the engine of a strong economy

For you as an apprentice, achieving certification in a skilled trade means that you have achieved a measure of success and mastery in your chosen field. Your success is recognized and awarded not only by the dollars you earn, but also by the respect of your peers and your industry. Many of the people who work in the skilled trades can chose to relocate and work in any province in Canada and sometimes abroad. Some may start and run their own successful businesses.

Follow these steps to get on the apprenticeship track: www.iechamilton.ca/upload/uploads/Steps%20to%20Apprenticeship.pdf

Visit the Employment Ontario website for more apprenticeship resources:
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/tcu/apprentices/diggingdeeper.html

Learn more about the apprenticeship training and certification system: www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/brochure/trades.html

Join us for a free information session! For more details about this program or to attend a free information session, call 905-333-3499 ext. 121, or email trades@thecentre.on.ca.

Train for a career with a future.