A person seeking an apprenticeship is responsible for finding an employer who will sponsor him or her. The employer and apprentice registers with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities Apprenticeship Office, Signs a Contract of Apprenticeship, receives a Training Standards book whereby the apprentice pays a $40.00 fee. Then the apprenticeship-training period officially begins.

College Full-time Certificate & Diploma Programs
Many Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology offer certificate and diploma programs related to skilled trades. These programs require successful completion of secondary school or equivalent, and can take between one to three years to complete.

Most programs include practical hands-on training and may include a workplace component. A college graduate in a skilled trade area may be successful in marketing themselves to an employer willing to register him/ her as an apprentice.
Dual Credential Programs: Co-op Certificate/Diploma Apprenticeship Programs

These initiatives allow a student to pursue both a college diploma and an apprenticeship at the same time, recently introduced these programs. Apprentices are assigned to employers during the program; successful placements can lead to a continuation of an apprenticeship after a diploma is awarded.

Many Colleges offer part-time courses or programs that are geared to train individuals who wish to gain more trade specific skills but are unable to attend school on a full-time basis. By gaining trade specific skills you may be successful in marketing yourself to an employer willing to register you as an apprentice.

Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
These programs provide training in a specific trade to help prepare for apprenticeship. They are generally less than 52 weeks in length. Pre-Apprenticeship Programs offer academic upgrading for candidates that do not possess their Grade 12 or equivalent, which is the academic entry level in most trades. In addition, it offers introductory theoretical and practical training, Level 1 in-school apprenticeship training in a specific trade as well as a work placement component to gain hands-on experience. Organizations offering these programs often assist with job placement. Hours spent in pre-apprenticeship training can be credited towards the overall apprenticeship training, if the individual decides to sign on as an apprentice. Click here for more information.

Union or Industry Approved Training
Some unions or trade associations run their own training centres and hold Contracts of Apprenticeship with the apprentice, rather than the employer. Intake can be selective and may take place only at certain points in the calendar year. Links to unions and trade associations can be found at:
http://www.apprenticesearch.com/fpLinks/links.asp

Internationally-Trained Candidates/Persons with Previous Experience
If you have more than 5 years experience working a trade specific area from outside of Canada or within Canada, you may want to pursue challenging your Certificate of Qualification.