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What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and classroom learning that leads to a skilled trade credential: 

Certificate of Apprenticeship (CoA)

A provincial credential issued by SkilledTradesBC to a registered apprentice who has successfully completed all requirements of a trades training program.

Certificate of Qualification (CoQ)

A provincial credential issued by SkilledTradesBC, enabling you to work in a certain trade across B.C.

Red Seal Endorsement (RSE)

A nationally recognized credential issued by SkilledTradesBC for Red Seal trades, enabling you to work in a certain trade across Canada.

 

How does an apprenticeship work?

Most apprenticeships take an average of four years to complete, with 80 per cent of the training taking place on the worksite under the supervision of a certified journeyperson and 20 per cent in the classroom with a SkilledTradesBC-designated training provider.

Work-based Training 80%

The majority of your training is through practical, hands-on learning that happens at work with the support of your sponsor (who is often also your employer). Each trade has a mandatory number of work-based training hours required at each level and for certification.  

In-class Technical Training 20%

The classroom is where you learn the technical knowledge to complement your work-based training. It must be completed through a SkilledTradesBC-designated training provider. Depending on the trade, there may be multiple levels of technical training required, and trade programs include Standard Level Exams. 

Certification

After you’ve completed both your work-based and in-class technical training, you will need to successfully write a certification exam and obtain a Recommendation of Certification from your sponsor to be officially certified!

Step-By-Step Guide for Your Apprenticeship Journey

 

Not sure where to start? Take our quiz and explore the best trades for you.

Browse the specific trade pages and review the Program Profile (often near the middle of the trade page) carefully. Pay attention to details like how many levels of in-class technical training you need, the number of hours you’ll need to work to get certified. 

Once you’ve selected a trade, you may want to consider signing up for the trade’s Foundation Program to gain some experience and familiarity with a trade before finding a sponsor for your apprenticeship. 

 

Every apprentice has both, and in most cases, the sponsor and employer are the same person or organization. The sponsor is responsible for helping you get opportunities to learn on the job and reporting how many work-based training hours you acquire; the employer hires you and pays for your work. 

Building a good working relationship with them is important to make sure the investment in your apprenticeship benefits everyone. Communication is key—make sure that both you and your employer and/or sponsor understand your own responsibilities as well as the requirements for you to achieve certification. If anything is unclear, ask an Apprenticeship Advisor.

 

Once you’ve found a sponsor, register your apprenticeship by creating a SkilledTradesBC Portal account. Ensure that your sponsor has also created an account so that they can confirm your registration.

 

The classroom is where you will pick up the technical knowledge to complement your work-based training. Make sure to register as early as possible to secure a seat for technical training with a SkilledTradesBC-designated training provider. 

Your trade program may be available at a school in your community or you may have to travel to relocate for a couple of weeks each year. Trades Training BC and EducationPlannerBC provide helpful search tools to find where your trade program is being offered across the province. 

We recommend scheduling your in-class technical training once a year throughout your apprenticeship to get a balance of theory and on-the-job practical experience. It’s important to communicate with your employer about the best time to be away from work for in-class technical training. 

Ensure you apply for Employment Insurance (EI) to receive the benefits while attending in-class technical training. 

 

Sign into your SkilledTradesBC Portal account regularly to make sure the hours you have worked are being reported by your sponsor. We recommend sponsors to report your work-based training hours every 3-6 months. Please note that only sponsors are able to report your hours.

 

Once you’ve completed all levels of your in-class technical training, you will be tested on your entire apprenticeship through a certification exam. Your instructor will spend time on exam preparation, including a review of the theory from all levels. Take advantage of this, spend time to review your training materials, gather study resources and consider applying for an exam accommodation if you require additional support. 

If you do not get a pass mark of 70 per cent or higher, we provide rewrite opportunities to help you achieve certification.

 

After you’ve completed both your work-based and in-class technical training, including passing the certification exam, SkilledTradesBC will ask your sponsor and the certified journeyperson (or equivalent) who supervised you to provide a Recommendation for Certification (RFC) to confirm that you are working at the skill level of a certified journeyperson.

Once we receive their recommendation, we will send the certificate package to your sponsor to sign and present, making you officially certified! 

Resources for Apprentices