Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a training agreement between a person who wants to learn a skill and an employer who needs a skilled worker. To become a certified tradesperson it requires a combination of on-the-job and in-school training. On the job, apprentices learn skills and competencies by completing various operations associated with the trade under the supervision of a qualified tradesperson. This process takes from 2 to 5 years depending on the occupation, but the apprentice is earning wages while learning a trade.

What You Need to Understand About Apprenticeship  

The Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) is an industry-driven, professional regulatory body that protects the public by regulating and promoting the skilled trades. One of the main responsibilities of this College is to ensure that individuals performing the skills of compulsory trades have the training and certification required to legally practice their trade in Ontario. www.collegeoftrades.ca.

Apprentices must maintain an active membership in OCOT. (www.collegeoftrades.ca/membership)

In school, apprentices learn the theoretical aspects of all phases of the trade and apply this theory to complete practical assignments.

Upon successful completion of both on-the-job competencies and the in-school training, apprentices will be awarded a Certificate of Apprenticeship and, where required, write the Certificate of Qualification Examination to become a certified journeyperson.

Spring Start Dates

Please refer to the Spring 2021 Dates PDF for updated start dates.

PLEASE NOTE:

The following Apprenticeship Programs were able to continue as scheduled in January 2021

• 401A Level 3 – Brick and Stone Mason
• 415A Level 2 – Cook
• 309A Level 2 ( August 2020 start) – Electrician: Construction and Maintenance
• 309A Level 1 ( August 2020 start) – Electrician: Construction and Maintenance
• 442A Level 3 (August 2020 start) – Industrial Electrician

The following Apprenticeship Programs did not have enough enrollment, and were cancelled:

• 332A Level 2 – Hairstyling (January 2021 start)

Currently St. Clair College offers the following Apprenticeship Programs:

Block Release Apprenticeship - Windsor Campus

Part-Time Release Apprenticeship - Windsor Campus

Information for Current Apprentices

• Final Grades and Convocation
• Next Steps to Writing your Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) Exam
• 2018-2019 Apprenticeship Orientation Guidebook/Manual
• Loans available for Apprentices
• Financial Incentives for Apprentices & Employers

Exam Prep Classes

Exam Prep classes are delivered throughout the year as requested by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD). Exam Prep classes normally run after the completion of the delivery of the last level of in school curriculum in a particular trade.

Those in the current final level are given preference to the available seats in that class. If you are currently an apprentice who completed your last level previously and did not take the Exam Prep class at that time - but would like to get in on the next one for your trade, please contact the (MLTSD) Employment Ontario Local Apprenticeship office (Windsor - 519-973-1441, Chatham - 519-354-2766) to be invited to attend the next class. If you are not currently an apprentice but have gone through the Ontario College of Trades to request eligibility and are approved to write the Certificate of Qualification Exam for your trade, you may also contact the local Apprenticeship Office to request to be added to the Exam prep Class. The charge to attend the Exam Prep Class is $50.

Exemption Testing

Exemption Testing is testing that can be done on a particular level within a specified Trade. Individuals who have worked in a trade for a number of years may wish to try to get an Exemption on one or more of the levels within their trade. St. Clair College provides Exemption Testing for many of the Apprenticeship Trades. There is a charge and a 70% pass rate must be achieved in order for it to be recognized. Anyone can attempt to write an exemption test. We recommend that before attempting to do this, review the in-school curriculum for your trade on the Ontario College of Trades website www.collegeoftrades.ca/training-standards to ensure you feel confident with all of the outcomes that are identified for that trade. For further information on pricing and to schedule an Exemption test please contact 519-972-2727 Ext. 4406 in our Learning Commons Department.