How to Find an Apprenticeship

With salaries ranging from $65,000 to $100,000+ per year, a career in the trades industry is a lot more rewarding than people might think. 

If you like working with your hands and building things from scratch, then the trades sector might just be the right path for you. But before you can pursue a rewarding career in the trades, you’re going to have to complete an apprenticeship first.

Keep reading to discover how to find an apprenticeship. 

What Is an Apprenticeship?

With skilled tradespeople in high demand, more high school students turn to trades to obtain a well-paying and satisfying career. An apprenticeship is not only beneficial but also required if you want to enter the trade sector.

Under an apprenticeship, students are trained in a wide variety of practical skills—such as electrical, construction, or plumbing. Once students complete the program, they receive a certification that allows them to practice the trade they’ve chosen independently. In Canada, this certification can come in the form of a Red Seal endorsement, which allows the tradesperson to practice their trade anywhere across the country. 

While that seems simple enough, this involves time and effort—especially since students are required to complete a certain number of training hours both in class and while on the job.

To find the right apprenticeship for you, you must: 

1. Complete a Pre-Apprenticeship Course

To prepare potential applicants to find work as apprentices, a pre-apprenticeship training program helps them develop their job skills and trade readiness. The program also provides guidance on how to search for job opportunities, create a portfolio of their work, and apply for jobs. It also helps them to gain experience and build professional networks.

2. Research Available Opportunities

Research the trades that interest you, and check if there are any apprenticeship programs available in your area. 

If you’re unsure where to start, consider picking from the list of designated Red Seal trades. This will help narrow down your search and ensure that you are eligible to obtain a Red Seal endorsement once you’re done with training.

3. Check Your Eligibility Criteria

Each trade has its specific eligibility criteria, so make sure you meet the minimum requirements before applying. However, in any apprenticeship, you have to meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 16 years old;
• Completed high school or have equivalent educational attainment; and
• Passed the entrance exam for the chosen apprenticeship program.
  

4. Find an Employer Willing to Mentor You

You will need to undergo on-the-job training, followed by short periods of in-class learning and training as your apprenticeship progresses. This will allow you to get paid while you’re still in school. 

To start an apprenticeship, you must find an employer who will agree to provide you with on-the-job training. Once you do, you’ll enter into an agreement with them, and you can start your apprenticeship.

Training and Certification Requirements

As you pursue your career in the trade sector, you’ll need to be aware of the different requirements to become a skilled tradesperson. This will depend on the trade, but it can take you anywhere between two and five years of training to become a certified journeyperson. 

These are certified tradespeople whose combined work experience and in-school training have enabled them to master the necessary skills of their chosen trade.

To start your training and certification, you typically have to: 

• Look for an available apprenticeship: One that involves both classroom studies and on-the-job training under the supervision of a journeyperson.
• Enter the apprenticeship program: Remember that the requirements vary across Canada. However, in most provinces and territories, you must be at least 16 years old and have obtained a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Finish the required program length: Depending on the trade, the required length of training will also vary. Generally, a trade will involve a four-year course, with thousands of hours of on-the-job training and technical training.
• Get a certification: A certification is required in all provinces and territories in Canada. This tells employers and other workers that you are a licensed and skilled professional and helps you attain credibility when you want to secure more jobs.

How to Find an Electrician Apprenticeship

Becoming an electrician puts you in one of the most in-demand trades across the country. Electricians prepare, assemble, install, test, troubleshoot, and repair electrical wiring, fixtures, or other related devices in buildings or structures.

If you want to become an electrician, expect that on some days you’ll work full time (40 hours a week), or longer when there are peak periods that will require you to be on-call 24/7. It’s a physically demanding job but a very fulfilling one.

To find an electrician apprenticeship, you’re going to have to go through the steps we mentioned above. First, complete a pre-apprenticeship course spanning 12-weeks. This will set provide you with the necessary skills needed to succeed in an apprenticeship, as well as prove to your potential employer that you’re committed to the job.

Next, you need to look for available apprenticeships in your area and contact an employer that can provide you with the necessary training. Remember that when you start an apprenticeship, you earn while you learn and are paid by the hour. Wages typically start at about 40% of a journeyperson’s hourly rate. This will increase as your apprenticeship nears its end date.

Additionally, an electrician trainee must complete a four-year program that includes 6,000 on-the-job training and 1,200 hours of classroom training. After that, you can get a certification and qualify for the Interprovincial Standards’ Red Seal. 

How to Find a Plumber Apprenticeship

Plumbing services are always in high demand— and they’re proven to be a pandemic-proof job. Licensed plumbers can expect excellent compensation for their efforts in installing, repairing, and maintaining pipes, fixtures, and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution and wastewater disposal.

The standard work week for plumbers is the same as with electricians (40 hours per week), and they there might also be additional overtime work should there be a need for it. The work will require a lot of physical strength, as plumbers have to stand or crouch for long periods of time or be ready to lift heavy materials.

If you want to find an apprenticeship, you can look through a number of professional associations or trade unions, as well as through community or vocational colleges. The process is the same as above; complete a pre-apprenticeship program first, then apply for an apprenticeship with an employer who’s willing to guide you to become a skilled plumber. For apprenticeships of this nature, students can earn about 50% of a journeyperson’s hourly rate which increases as the training nears its end date.

Though it varies depending on the area you plan to work in, plumbing apprentices can expect to complete a four-year program and about 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 900 hours of classroom training.

Jump Start Your Career in Trades at Skilled Trades College

Now that you know how to find an apprenticeship, it’s time to further your career in the trades industry. 

Getting a good educational background is the best place to start. Not only does this show your commitment to your chosen trade, but it will also equip you with a skillset that you will need throughout your career. 

Skilled Trades College is an industry-recognized training centre that offers pre-apprenticeship programs—all designed to equip students with the necessary skills to succeed in their chosen careers. The students will also undergo simulated hands-on training, so they are job-ready upon completion of their training.

Contact us today to learn more about our courses!