Apprenticeship is
a structured system of supervised training leading to certification in
a designated trade, occupation or craft. It is a systematic 2-4 year program
of on-the-job training supplemented by in-school instruction lasting from
4 to 10 weeks per year, depending on the trade.
Students must be employed
in a trade area and become registered through their employer in order
to be eligible for this type of training. The process of becoming enrolled
as a formal apprentice is called the "indentureship" process.
Once indentured, an apprentice can expect to earn 50% of a journeyperson's
wage, with yearly incremental increases over the duration of the apprenticeship
term. Unionized employees who are apprentices may receive different amounts
according to guidelines outlined within their collective agreements.
You can become an
apprentice while still in high school through the Secondary
School Apprenticeship Program.
The Red
Seal program is a Canada-wide program that encourages standardization
of provincial and territorial apprenticeship training and certification
programs. The "Red Seal" allows qualified tradespersons to practice
their trade in any province or territory in Canada where the trade is
required to have certified workers, without having to write further examinations.
To date, there are 44 trades included in the Red Seal Program on a national
basis.
