The Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission Can Help You Get Started in a Trade

BY RON MERASTY

One of his roles is attending career fairs and passing out information to youth. He makes contacts with both teachers and students, letting them know what career opportunities there are and informing them on how to get credit for apprenticeship programs while they’re still in high school.

“Some students here have actually passed out contracts so that they get indenture and get their apprenticeship started,” D’Amour said.

The apprenticeships can be in trades such as: aircraft mechanics, electrician, carpentry, plumbing, framing, or hairdressing. Hairdressers apprentice for two years, while plumbers and electricians would require a four-year period of apprenticeship.

The Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission of Saskatchewan has a new program where students have an opportunity to explore different trades and technologies. They can explore as many choices as they want during their high school program, and once they’ve decided to go into apprenticeship, the Commission will waive at least their $150 indentureship fee and their first-year tuition at a learning institution, which could be approximately $240.

“When you get into a trade, you have a chance to check out the job to determine if it is something they want to do permanently,” D’Amour said. “The employer similarly has an opportunity to rate the potential employee. They look for certain characteristics: are they a good and competent worker; are they at work on time; what kind of work ethic do they have?”

If both employer and employee decide that they like it, they call the Commission, which signs the employee to an apprenticeship (training) contract. The employer agrees to train the employee to the best of their ability, as 80 percent of what one learns in apprenticeship is on-the-job. The other 20 percent is learned in school. An employee needs to work a required number of hours in each level of his apprenticeship before they must take further training in a learning institution, and they must report their hours on a regular basis to the Commission. Once that employee has enough hours, the Commission schedules them for school, with two months’ notice.

D’Amour works with employees and apprentices out in the field and facilitates with the registration process when they’re going to school as part of their apprenticeships. Students may be eligible for home allowances and other benefits, paid for by Employment Insurance.

The Commission pays their tuition. They get a temporary layoff for the purpose of attending training, which is paid for by EI. If they have to travel more than 50 kilometres and have to maintain another residence, they are entitled to a $94/week allowance. A resident of northern Saskatchewan would be entitled to $125/week to pay room and board while attending school. The schooling can take place at any of the Saskatchewan technical institutes or regional colleges.

“It’s a cheaper way to get an education, it’s free. When you’re done, people with journeyman’s status are well paid – no student loans, no debts,” D’Amour said.

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