Depending on a graduating student’s circumstance after high school graduation, there are several starting points in beginning the pathway toward a trade career in Saskatchewan. A listing of all designated trades in Saskatchewan can be found at https://saskapprenticeship.ca/designated-trades-searchable/. Factors influencing trade training include type of high school programming, employment in the trade industry, and training preference. The various starting points are listed below:
1. Registering as an Apprentice- If you are working for a company, and the company agrees to indenture you as an apprentice, you can register as an apprentice with the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship & Trade Certification Commission (SATCC). To be able to register, you must have completed specific high school Math and Science classes (see pdf below regarding trades and required classes):
Entrance-Requirements-for-Apprenticeship-Training-Updated-June-2024.pdf
2. Pre-Employment Programs- There are several training programs available for young people not yet employed within the trade industry. SK Polytechnic - www.saskpolytech.ca - has many certificate programs in designated trades, and completion of these programs will develop skills in a specific trade, allow a person to become more employable within industry, and contribute to apprenticeship completion once a person is registered as an apprentice. Regina Trades & Skills Centre has the 12 to Trades program https://rtsc.org/12-to-trades/ that grade 12 students can apply for in the Spring of their graduation year. Successful candidates will begin skills training at RTSC right after graduation in July, and RTSC will find them a company to begin their apprenticeship training with. RTSC also runs Adult programs https://rtsc.org/adult-training/ throughout the year, based on labour market demand in the Regina area. Adults enrolled in these programs will receive skills training in a specific sector, and employers in that sector will seek out promising program candidates.
3. Applying for Certification as a Skilled Journeyperson- A person who finds work in a trade industry sector can, based on work-based experience, develop skills in a specific trade. Tradespersons are skilled workers who work in one of the voluntary trades and have not entered into an apprenticeship agreement- APPLYING FOR CERTIFICATION AS A SKILLED TRADESPERSON . A tradesperson must work a set number of hours in the trade before they can apply to have their skills assessed as a Trade Qualifier (TQ). If their application is approved, they could then challenge the Journeyperson exam.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO BECOMING AN APPRENTICE?
Find an employer willing to provide the necessary on-the-job training and supervision.
Submit an apprenticeship application with the employer through MyATC.
Work and learn on the job for the required period of time.
Submit your hours of work – trade time – through MyATC every few months.
Self-register for technical training in MyATC when you’ve met the required number of hours for your trade.
Pass your technical training.
Upon successfully completing the apprenticeship program and passing the certification exam, the apprentice receives a Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship and a Journeyperson Certificate of Qualification.
Congratulations, you are a professional journeyperson now!
For more information, see: What is Apprenticeship? and Entrance Requirements for Apprenticeship
Please see the resource links regarding SYA and Apprenticeship below:
What is Apprenticeship? | SATCC
Apprenticeship Information | SATCC
"Your Journey Through Apprenticeship"
STUDENT SYA REGISTRATION
Students can register themselves in the SYA program through MyATC. They will require a Saskatchewan Account and must select MyATC as a service to connect to their account. A guide to MyATC registration for students can be found here. Once in MyATC, they can submit an SYA application. For more information contact the SYA Coordinator at youthapprenticeship@gov.sk.ca.
CONSTRUCTION CAREER PATHWAYS
The demand for skilled workers has been increasing steadily for more than a decade.
There’s no worry about doing the same thing day in, day out.
No two days are alike and every job is different.
And you’re always learning new things.
You have the ongoing opportunity to learn from other professionals, and the ability to learn new technologies as they emerge or evolve.
To learn more about construction careers and how to get started, go to the weblink below:
CISC (CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION) CANADIAN APPRENTICESHIP HIRING INITIATIVE
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The CISC is proud to be an official Apprenticeship Funding Resource chosen by the Canadian government to provide small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) financial support to hire first year apprentices and encourage training for underrepresented groups in the Trades
ARE YOU A JOB SEEKER? SIGN UP USING THE LINK BELOW TO GET NOTICED BY INDUSTRY LEADERS!
ENROL NOW TO MAKE YOUR APPRENTICE SPONSORSHIP SEARCH EASIER !
By enrolling into the program, you allow participating companies to see your profile and contact you directly with possible apprenticeship opportunities. Go to Canadian Institute of Steel Construction - FUTURE APPRENTICES (cisc-icca.ca) to learn more about this fantastic opportunity and register!
Regina Trades & Skills Centre offers a 12 to Trades employment program. The program is designed for recent high school graduates that are looking for a start towards a career in the trades. The choice is yours regarding which trade you want to get in to. We provide safety training, workplace readiness and then we place you with a mentor company in that specific area. This is a get your boot in the door opportunity, although there is no trade specific training in the classroom, your base knowledge allows you to learn on the job with high chances of indentureship. There is not cost for the program, wages are paid during the entire program and RTSC secures the work placement opportunity for you. Applications for Summer 2026 will open in April.
NOTE: Must be 21 years of age or under and complete a Grade 12 or equivalent.
Safety Construction Orientation Training (SCOT)
Construction Site Safety
Fall Protection and Aerial Platform Awareness
Rights & Responsibilities
Get Paid while you Learn & Work
Work with a Company & a Mentor
Receive Job Coach Support
The Opportunity to earn Employment after the placement
Scholarship Opportunity through SATCC
Grade 12 Required (must complete Grade 12 or equivalent between July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 and under 21 years of age or under
A Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check may be required by your work placement
Valid Class 5 Driver’s License required (Drivers abstract will be required to confirm admission into the program)
Excellent school attendance | Excellent school academics
Must have base knowledge of your trade (ie: PAA classes, CRP, work experience)
Compliance to RTSC’s Fit for Duty Policy
For more selection criteria, please visit rtsc.org/why-train-with-us
Trades Available:
Autobody
Auto Mechanic
Carpentry
Concrete
Construction
Heavy Duty Mechanic
Roofing
Culinary Arts
Electrical
Plumbing
Powerline Technician
Sheet Metal
Welding
Students can register at Register Now
For more information about the Regina Trades & Skills Centre 12 to Trades program and other RTSC programs, go to the weblink below:
Talent Fits Here
Canada's Construction Industry – Talent Fits Here
When you think construction, you might not think about technology, or creativity or design, but in an industry as innovative as ours, there's a fit for you.
Find Your Fit
Discover a career where your future is in your hands and your passion takes you further. Where you’re not just building, you’re Building a Better Canada. Explore the resources and programs you need to get started and discover where your talent can take you.
Talent Fits Here has information about the types of work found in the construction industry, as well as training information, community connections and stories from people employed in the industry.
To learn more go to the weblink below:
Saskatchewan Youth Internship Program (SYIP)- For High School Students Thinking Trade Pathways
What is SYIP?
The Saskatchewan Youth Internship Program provides students the chance to gain hands-on experience in various trades while earning high school credits. This year, RDIEC has expanded the program to include graduating Grade 12 students! Students must have a valid driver’s license to apply.
Why should students get involved?
Earn high school credits: For every 100 hours of work, students can earn 1 high school credit.
Hands-on experience: Students gain valuable experience in a wide range of trades, enhancing their skills and future job prospects.
Variety of placements: We have placements available in the following trades:
Lineman
Flooring
Masonry
Auto Mechanic
Construction
Sprinkler Systems
Agricultural Mechanic
Plumbing
Sheet Metal
Refrigeration
Electrician
Welding
and more …
Important Dates
The application form for the Saskatchewan Youth Internship Program (SYIP) 2025 is now available. The FIRM deadline for students to submit their applications will be in May 2026.
You can access the application form and additional program details on our webpage:
https://rdiec.ca/programs/saskatchewan-youth-internship-program/
or here: Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship 2025 Application is Live!
Additional Opportunity
If you know you will be working in the trades this summer, we are happy to partner with your employer and school to provide supervision so you can earn high school credits. This is a great way for students to gain formal recognition for the work they’re already doing.
If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to reach out to Meghan at meghan.gardiner@rdiec.ca. Also, check out the information poster below:
Women Building Futures is a non-profit that helps break down barriers for women and gender-diverse individuals in Saskatchewan looking to start or advance their careers in the skilled trades.
Journey to Trades is a hands-on training program that introduces students to a variety of different construction trades, such as: welding, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, millwright , steamfitter/pipefitter. The program is designed to help students prepare for and succeed as an entry–level construction trades apprentice.
Basic safety certifications and first aid training, Hands-on skills training in workshops for various trades, Workplace culture and financial literacy, Practical science and math for the trades, Interview and resume workshops to support employment, Ongoing mentorship and support through alumni advisors
Program Application Information- How to Apply - Women Building Futures
Application link- Login (womenbuildingfutures.com)
This program is free. Tuition is fully funded by our partners. Additional funding and awards may be available to support living expenses while in the program
After finishing the program, graduates will be interviewed for entry-level positions with WBF employment partners. Our employer partners are committed to safe, inclusive workplace cultures and to supporting our graduates’ career progression, which they show by signing on as a WBF Employer of Choice.
Not sure what you want to study? You're not alone, and you've got more options now than ever. Plenty of students still choose the four-year undergrad degree route, and may go on to further studies. The skilled trades offer another path: one where you learn by doing, working to build and maintain the critical infrastructure that keeps our modern world moving. No small task! Check out the SchoolFinder weblink below to see qhy your future could be in the skilled trades!
The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) has implemented a new initiative aimed at attracting women to the skilled trades and helping them achieve journeyperson certification.
Through this program, viable until June 30, 2026, women who register in eligible Red Seal trades will receive a rebate on their apprenticeship registration fee and Level 1 technical training tuition. Fees are required to be paid up front through MyATC. However, the full amount will be refunded to whoever paid the fees.
During this time, SATCC is also employing two Consultants to coach and mentor women apprentices in the eligible Red Seal trades and their employers. If you’re interested in accessing these coaching services, please contact us at apprenticeship@gov.sk.ca or 1-877-363-0536.
This initiative is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy through the Women in Skilled Trades program.
Eligible Trades
Boilermaker
Bricklayer
Cabinetmaker
Carpenter
Construction Craft Worker
Construction Electrician
Glazier
Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
Instrumentation and Control Technician
Insulator (Heat and Frost)
Ironworker (Reinforcing)
Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental)
Landscape Horticulturist
Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)
Machinist
Metal Fabricator (Fitter)
Mobile Crane Operator
Painter and Decorator
Plumber
Powerline Technician
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
Roofer
Sheet Metal Worker
Sprinkler Fitter
Steamfitter/Pipefitter
Tilesetter
Tower Crane Operator; and
Welder
Fee Rebate Details
The SATCC will rebate fees for new women apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades from January 8, 2024 until June 30, 2026.
Apprenticeship registration fees are refunded based on the date the registration fee was paid (must be January 8, 2024 or later).
Women must register for Level 1 technical training by June 30, 2026.
Women who enter apprenticeship with advanced standing will not receive a waived tuition fee – since there is no Level 1 tuition to waive.
The fees eligible for rebates are the apprenticeship registration fee and Level 1 technical training tuition.
Apprentices will be required to pay the fees up front via MyATC. However, the fees will later be rebated to whoever paid the fee.
There is no application process for fee rebates. Fee rebates are tracked automatically via MyATC.
To learn more about this initiative please visit Women In Skilled Trades Initiative | SATCC and watch the video below: