Youth Work in 

Trades Program 

Youth Work in Trades program, jointly supported by the Ministry of Education and Child Care and SkilledTradesBC, allows students to begin apprenticeship training as part of their secondary school education. This program combines paid work-based training and a provincial curriculum that focuses on connecting, applying, reflecting on, and refining workplace skills and safety, work ethic, and job readiness. 

Students enrolled in Youth Work in Trades earn up to 16 credits towards their high school diploma. They are also registered with the SkilledTradesBC as an apprentice (employer sponsored) and accumulate 480 work-based training hours required for provincially and nationally recognized industry trades credentials. 

Learn more about this program through Youth Work in Trades Program Guide.

Youth Work In Trades Award 

Students who have met the Youth Work in Trades Award criteria will receive $1000. The award is intended to help apprentices continue in the trade through the partial payment of tuition, or the purchase of tools or supplies. This award is a partnership between the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care (ECC) and SkilledTradesBC. 

To be eligible for a Youth Work in Trades Award, students must have: 

• Been registered with SkilledTradesBC as a youth apprentice 

• Graduated with a Grade 12 Dogwood Diploma or Adult Dogwood 

• Successfully completed WRK 11A, WRK 11B, WRK 12A, and WRK 12B 

• Maintained a C+ average or better on Grade 12 numbered courses 

• Reported a total of at least 900 hours to SkilledTradesBC by August 31 of the school year they turn 19.

On July 1, 2024, the Youth Work in Trades Award will transition to an application-based scholarship that can be used towards the costs of tuition and mandatory fees for a post-secondary trades training program. Students registered with SkilledTradesBC for the Youth Work in Trades program prior to June 30, 2024 will have their eligibility assessed on the award program’s original conditions. Students who register with SkilledTradesBC for the Youth Work in Trades program on or after July 1, 2024 will be assessed for the Youth Work in Trades Scholarship using the revised conditions. 

The Ministry of Education and Child Care and SkilledTradesBC are planning a redesign of the Youth Work in Trades Award to better support recipients’ transitions to their next level of formal trades training. Anticipated changes to the Award program would be implemented in the 2024/25 school year and would include legacy provisions for students entering the Youth Work in Trades Award program beforehand.

For more information about the Youth Work in Trades Award, please contact the Ministry of Education and Child Care (ECC): Educ.skills [at] gov.bc.ca (Educ[dot]skills[at]gov[dot]bc[dot]ca)

Forms

Youth Apprentice and Sponsor Registration Form 

Youth Work-Based Training Hours Report Web Form