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. For more information about Apprenticeship, contact your local Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Apprenticeship office.

Benefits of Apprenticeship Training:

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.

Changes to the Apprenticeship Training and Certification System

Apprenticeship training and trade certification system is legislated in Ontario. Historically, one legislation, the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act (TQAA) 1964 applied to every trade.

The Ontario government recently reformed the apprenticeship system with the new Apprenticeship and Certification Act (ACA). This new legislation came into effect in January 2000 and applies only to the service, automotive, and manufacturing/industrial sectors, representing approximately 100 trades. However, at the request of the construction sector, the TQAA (the 1964 act) continues to apply to the all construction trades, approximately 30 in total.

Using two different legislations means there are two different models. The focus of the new legislation, ACA, is on the conditions and nature of the training and emphasizes the completion of skills sets. This is called a competency-based model which differs from the time-based model of the TQAA. The following highlights the differences between the two models:

Competency-Based Model:

governed by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act (ACA) since January 2000
applies to all Industrial, Service and Motive Power Trades
apprenticeship contract is called a Training Agreement
sponsor refers to the trainer, who may or may not be the apprentice's employer
minimum age of 16
completion of academic and training standards as prescribed by affiliated Industry Committees
grade 12 minimum if no standard is prescribed

Time-Based Model:

governed by the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act (TQAA)
applies to all Construction trades
apprenticeship contract is called Contract of Apprenticeship
employer refers to the company who has entered into a contract of apprenticeship and has agreed to provide wages and training by a qualified trainer
minimum age of 16

And to further confuse matters, each legislation also has its own terminology! This is why there are multiple terms meaning the same thing.

Restricted or Compulsory mean the same in regard to apprenticeship training: the apprentice must train under a journeyperson qualified in the selected trade and a person must be an apprentice to work in that trade. An example of this type of trade is an electrician or hairstylist.

Non-restricted, Non-compulsory or Voluntary all mean the same in regard to apprenticeship training: the apprentice may train under a person who may otherwise meet the qualifications and the person doesn't have to complete an apprenticeship to work in that trade. An example of this type of trade is an Auto Parts Person or Cook.

TQAA	ACA
Term	Term	Definition
Compulsory Trade	Restricted Trade	to work in a trade licensed under 'restricted' or 'compulsory', one must be a registered apprentice or journeyperson
Voluntary Trade	Non-Restricted Trade	refers to trades that do not require being a registered apprentice or licensed journeyperson
Contract of Apprenticeship	Registered Training Agreement	an agreement registered under which the employer or sponsor agrees to train and instruct the apprentice
Provincial Advisory Committees	Industry Committees	comprised of industry representatives who advise the Minister with respect to apprenticeship programs

There are two basic categories of trades:

1) Regulated

The Province of Ontario has established guidelines surrounding the certification and apprenticeship process of the skilled trades. Many regulated trades are governed by a set of regulations set out by the industry standards for a particular trade.

Examples of regulated trades: electrician, tool and die maker

2) Non-regulated

The province of Ontario has worked to establish schedules of training for trades that are non-regulated. These are usually employer-established trade areas that have demonstrated a need for a formalized training program through apprenticeship. Quite often those trade areas that become regulated began as employer based training programs.