Where do I Start? When starting a career in a field, it is easy to become overwhelmed with all the training options available to you. Why are some course much more expensive but done in short time-period and why do others seem more accessible? What are the best options and how can you know for sure?

What are the Programs and What do they Mean?

High School Programs:

Check out the School to Career website for more information on all programs offered to students

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP):

a program where students can register as apprentices and work towards becoming certified journeypersons in a skilled trade while also completing their secondary school diploma

• Available for those that are in high school and interested in a skilled trade

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM):

lets students focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests. Each major is a bundle of 8-10 courses in the student's selected field. Skilled trade based courses can include:

• Agriculture, Aviation and Aerospace, Construction, Energy, Environment, Forestry, Horticulture & Landscaping, Manufacturing, Mining, Transportation

Community Agency Based Programs:

Employment Resource Centres and Career Resource Centres (ERC'S and CRC'S): provides free access to computers, internet, photocopiers, fax machines and employment counselors available to assist job seekers in their job search or to allow job seekers work independently

• CRC'S are located within school's/ school property and provides students and the general public with free access to all resources and employment assistance

Ontario Colleges: an interactive website run by the Ontario College Application Services (OCAS) to provide program information, course offerings, locations, background information and applicant services to residents wanting to apply to college
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program: a post-secondary training option for job seekers looking to enter the skilled trades, offered by government-approved training providers and community colleges and providing skills upgrades

• Up to 40 weeks in-class training and 8 weeks on-the-job placement
• Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs are great ways to get a basic training in the skilled trades once you're completed high school

NOTE: Pre-Apprenticeship courses are also offered by private career colleges at a fee; check out the list of approved Private Colleges in Ontario, here

• Some private colleges are exempt from the MTCU Private Career Colleges Act and must provide students with written notice about this exemption when offered acceptance to their programs: The Centre for Skills is exempt from the Private Career Colleges Act because they fall under the Halton District School Boards governance model. The Centre and the programs that The Centre offers are exempt from the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005 (PCCA). This means that The Centre does not require registration under the PCCA and the programs offered by The Centre do not require approval under the PCCA.