|
Many of the jobs listed in the Search Centre are taught by the apprenticeship
method of training. Others may require post-secondary education, or may
be learned on-the-job.
What
is an apprentice?
The short answer... An apprentice learns a trade and gets paid for it.
The expanded
answer... Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training, work
experience and technical training.
Apprentices
spend about 80 per cent of the time learning on-the-job from a qualified
tradesperson. The rest of the time they take technical training, usually
at a college or technical institution.
An apprenticeship
program lasts 1 to 4 years, depending on the trade. There are more than
50 apprenticeship trades and crafts in Alberta.
In many cases,
students who have taken certain Career and Technology Studies (CTS) program
modules in high school may receive credits toward an apprenticeship. The
same applies for those who have taken certain kinds of post-secondary
training. These credits can shorten the time it takes to complete an apprenticeship
and become a certified journeyman.
The
money...
From Day One, apprentices earn money for their time on the job. First
year apprentices earn about half of a journeyman's wage. The pay increases
as the training progresses.
Graduation...
Apprentices
build up their hours on the job, and advance through technical training
until they have mastered their trade. When they complete their apprenticeship,
they graduate to certified journeymen. The Alberta Journeyman Certificate
proves to themselves and to any future employer that they meet Alberta's
high industry standards.
Most tradespeople
can write a "Red Seal" exam and earn a Red Seal on their journeyman certificate.
This lets them work in most Canadian provinces and territories.
Who's eligible?
Anyone of any age. But...to be an apprentice, you need to:
- complete
grade 12 (Although some trades don't require Grade 12, many employers
prefer to hire high school graduates)
- write or
pass an entrance exam, or
- take part
in the Registered Apprentice Program (RAP)
while you're still in high school, earning an income and credit toward
your apprenticeship and your high school diploma.
|
