Provincial ministry responsible for administration of laws and programs relating to post-secondary education and skills training.

Offers registration and support to:

• new apprentices who have arranged a sponsoring employer or who have prior education and related work experience
• also offers consultation to sponsoring employers

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

• school-to-work transition program offered through Ontario secondary schools
• students earn cooperative education credits in the summers before grades 10, 11 or 12 through work placements in skilled trades
• interested students full-time high school students 16 years and older entering Grade 11 should contact their guidance counsellor, co-op education teacher or the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Coordinator for the local school board

Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program

• job skill development and trade readiness for unemployed individuals wanting careers in skilled trades
• programs are at various community locations, and up to 52 weeks long including a minimum 8-12 week paid work placement
• free, with costs covered for tuition, textbooks, safety equipment and tools

This office is not an exam centre

Mon-Fri 8:30 am-5 pm

• persons 16 years or older with minimum Grade 10 education for construction trades (employers may ask for higher education) or minimum Grade 12 education (unless otherwise defined by specific trade regulation) for industrial, motive power and service trades

• must be qualified to train an apprentice in the trade, be able to provide structured training and supervision, and pay wage where appropriate

Apprenticeship programs

• individuals must first find a sponsor (usually an employer) willing to hire and train them
• the individual then applies for the apprenticeship program through Skilled Trades Ontario
• if the individual is eligible, local apprenticeship staff will contact the individual and sponsor to sign a training agreement

Foreign- trained professionals or trade certification candidates

• contact Skilled Trades Ontario for requirements for certification and evaluation of skills