What is Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is a post-secondary education pathway. An employer uses training standards provided by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) to ensure that an apprentice becomes competent.

• An apprenticeship is a hands-on training program for people who enjoy learning by doing and earning while learning.

• The training provides access to jobs that demand a high level of skills, judgment and creativity.

• Employers provide about 90 percent of apprenticeship training in the workplace. The remaining 10 percent involves classroom instruction on theory which is usually delivered at an approved community college or training delivery agent.

• Upon successful completion of the practical and in-school components, an apprentice has an opportunity to write the provincial/interprovincial exam to become a certified journeyperson in a skilled trade

• For more information about apprenticeships in Ontario, please visit the MTCU website Start Apprenticeship

What is OYAP?

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a School to Work program that opens the door for students to explore and gain training in apprenticeship occupations starting in Grade 11 or Grade 12 through the Cooperative Education program. There are over 150+ skilled trades to choose from!

Students have an opportunity to become registered apprentices and work towards becoming certified in a skilled trade while completing their secondary school diplomas. The goals of OYAP are to:

• Provide students with the opportunity to start training in a skilled trade while completing the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma;

• Enable students to make the school to work transition by direct entry into apprenticeship training;

• Provide employers with the opportunity to train the skilled workers they require;

• Provide a viable solution to address the problem of skilled tradespeople shortages in general, and specifically the lack of young people joining the trades.

Who is it for?

Every student, aged 16 or older with 16 or more credits enrolled full time in a York Region secondary school, has the opportunity to be involved in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP). Students must be enrolled in a grade 11 or 12 Cooperative Education Program, Personalized Alternative Education Program, or Exploring Opportunities Program at their school. Students, parents/guardians and employers are encouraged to explore the benefits of OYAP, to read testimonials and to discover how OYAP provides choices and pathways towards exciting careers through the OYAP website. ​

What are the benefits?

Applying for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program could be the first step in beginning a rewarding career in the skilled trades:

• OYAP is a smart choice if you wish to jump-start your career. Jobs in the skilled trades can pay well and challenge your intellect and creativity.

• OYAP is often the first step towards a career path in the trades that can lead to supervisory, administrative or management positions, or even to a self-employed business career.

• Students who participate in OYAP will be trained in a specific set of skills leading to a registered apprenticeship program and will be able to obtain apprenticeship hours/competencies and high school credits at the same time.

How does it work?

Students select Co-op/OYAP as part of the regular course selection process. They will then be invited to a pre-placement interview to determine program readiness and placement choice. Co-op/OYAP credits are linked to a related curriculum course that has already been taken or will be taken, concurrently, by the student.

Teachers are responsible for selecting students for the program. They work with the placement supervisor and subject-related teacher to develop a Cooperative Education Learning Plan (CELP) that is designed to complement the students' strengths, interests, and needs, thus enhancing the students' preparation for the future.

Placement supervisors guide the student's learning through appropriate training and supervision. The supervisor meets with the teacher to assist with the development of the CELP and to provide formative evaluation of the student's work performance.

Students participating in OYAP may have the opportunity to be formally registered as apprentices in the province of Ontario through the OYAP program.

What is Accelerated OYAP?

Accelerated OYAP is a program in which a student in semester 2 of their graduating year of high school, is registered as an apprentice, completes all or part of their Level 1 (Basic) apprenticeship schooling in a specific trade at a college or training institution, and earns hours/competencies towards their apprenticeship. Students spend time on the job and in the college classroom, while obtaining high school credits and apprenticeship hours.

The documents below are excellent resources to help prepare you for your Level 1 - Basic, in school component of the Accelerated OYAP program.

Documents

All resources below can be found on the Buildforce Canada website at www.buildforce.ca

Using Trades Math - Designed for educators, trainers, tradespeople, apprentices and people considering construction careers, this Essential Skills workbook offers exercises that students can use to refresh their math skills. The curriculum-based exercises are built around typical construction workplace tasks. - Using Trades Math.pdf

Essential Skills Activities for Trades - Designed for educators, trainers, tradespeople, apprentices, and people considering construction careers, this collection of activities links Essential Skills with workplace applications. Students use the workbook to practice Essential Skills, including Reading, Document Use and Math, by doing exercises based on actual construction materials and situations. - Essential Skills Activities for Trades.pdf

Preparing for Carpenter Training - This Essential Skills tool, developed with the Carpenters and Millwrights Training Centre of New Brunswick, can assist people interested in careers in the Carpenter trade who want to assess their current Essential Skills and their readiness for technical training. The booklet provides exercises that students can use to practice and assess their grasp of the Numeracy and Math skills they will need during technical training and on the job. - Preparing for Carpenter Training.pdf

How do Your Skills Measure Up? - This Essential Skills tool is for tradespeople, apprentices and people interested in construction careers who want to assess their current Essential Skills and their readiness for technical training. Based on typical construction workplace tasks, the exercises allow users to practice Reading Text, Document Use and Numeracy. The score sheet allows them to assess their skills and identify their strengths and weaknesses. - How do your skills measure up_self assessment.pdf

Who do I see in the school for more information about OYAP/Cooperative Education programs?

Please see the Co-operative Education or Guidance Departments, as well as the APPRENTICESHIP page of this website.

Additional YRDSB information: OYAP