Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are open to people of all ages. If you are about to finish high school or you’ve just finished and already working but you’re looking for something challenging and rewarding that suits you better, then apprenticeship in skilled trades is your path to a career where tradespersons earn better than average salaries.
In British Columbia (BC) apprenticeship programs combine on the job training and (technical) in-school training leading to a BC Certificate of Qualification or an Inter-Provincial (Red Seal) endorsement. On the job training accounts for about eighty to eighty-five percent of an apprenticeship while the in-school portion takes up fifteen to twenty percent of the time. An apprentice program can take anywhere from two to four years to complete.
Apprenticeship is a low-cost post-secondary training option compared to most others. An apprentice may also qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) while attending in-school training. Apprentices may also be eligible for Federal and Provincial grants and tax credits as well as the Tradesperson Tool Deduction.
Apprentices start earning a salary from the first day on the job while working for an employer/sponsor who helps the apprentice learn a trade. There is usually an agreement in place for the apprentice to remain working for the employer for an agreed time after he / she becomes certified.
There are many apprenticeship choices in the Road, Rail, Marine and Aerospace industry sectors. transCDA has responsibility for four Accredited (Red Seal) programs and a large number of Recognized (BC) programs.