To become an apprenticeship, students need 2 things:

• basic skills needed to enter the trade 

• an employer, or journeyperson, willing to hire and train them in the trade

For this reason, students can begin their apprenticeship journey at anytime, even after graduation.  Developing those basic skills and networking to find a journeyperson to hire you can be difficult, so beginning this process while in high school is best. 

For the most prepared, below is how to best use your high school experience to begin your apprenticeship journey into the skilled trades.

Starting your Apprenticeship Journey

• Connect with your Guidance counselor and/or the Co-op Dept. to explore your options and learn about the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP).

• Include Co-op in your course selections for grade 11 and/or 12.

• Consider selecting courses that link with your trade(s) of interest.

  • Examples: technological studies, food, and fashion courses

Grade 10 Year

September - February:  Connect with Guidance and/or Co-op about Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and co-operative education courses.

February:  Complete course selection for Grade 11 and include Co-op in your selections

• Does BHSS offer courses that link with your chosen trade?  If so, consider selecting them!

Summer:  Consider getting a job or volunteering in your trade of interest.  You are more likely to secure a journeyperson to hire and train you if you have some experience and skill in that area. 

Grade 11 Year

October:  Consider attending an OYAP Open House session at a college or training centre to learn more about OYAP.  Guidance will share this information in the parent newsletter and on the Guidance Google Classroom.

February:  Complete course selection for Grade 12 and include Co-op in your selections

• If you are completing one of the 12 trades offered as Accelerated OYAP at the YRDSB and plan on entering this program, you MUST select 4 credit Co-op. 

• If you are completing traditional OYAP, you may select 2 credit or 4 credit Co-op.

• Some OYAP trades require completion of a specific senior math or science course.  Choose these if required.  You can see some of those requirements here.

• Does BHSS offer courses that link with your chosen trade?  If so, consider selecting them!

June:  If you planning on completing Accelerated OYAP in grade 12, complete the YRDSB application before the end of Grade 11:  http://www.bit.ly/DCOYAP

Summer:  Consider getting a job or volunteering in your trade of interest.  You are more likely to secure a journeyperson to hire and train you if you have some experience and skill in that area. 

Grade 12 Year

• Those in traditional OYAP will have co-op in semester 1 or semester 2.  Those in Accelerated OYAP will have full-day co-op in semester 2. 

• Your Co-op teacher will help find potential employers who will sponsor your apprenticeship.

• You will attend Co-op classes for a few weeks.  By week 4, you will likely begin working at your placement with your supervising journeyperson.
  
  

September:  Those who applied for Accelerated OYAP will have received a confirmation email with instructions to complete a formal application to your specific trade.  This is due at the end of October. 

September:  Your Co-op teacher will connect with you to start your OYAP application, including a resume and cover letter.

October:  Those in Accelerated OYAP must attend a OYAP Open House session at a college or training centre with a parent/guardian.  Guidance will share this information in the parent newsletter and on the Guidance Google Classroom. 

October:  ALL applications are due for OYAP and Accelerated OYAP.

April:  Those in Accelerated OYAP will pause their Co-op work and begin their 8 week in-class program, usually at a college, to complete their Level 1 Apprenticeship theory.

June:  Accelerated OYAP students will write their Level 1 Apprenticeship Test.

June:  Graduation!  You made it, congratulations!

Summer:  Continue working with your Journeyperson to advance your apprenticeship, or take the next step to find your next journeyperson through the links below, or by connecting through the Support Ontario Youth Program https://www.supportontarioyouth.ca/