Part of the Pathways initiatives, the
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) provides practical learning and hands-on training in more than 140 skilled trades.
Specifically, OYAP is a School to Work program that opens the door for students to explore and work in apprenticeship occupations starting in Grade 10, 11 or Grade 12 through the Cooperative Education program. Students have an opportunity to become registered apprentices and work towards becoming certified journeypersons in a skilled trade while completing their secondary school diplomas.
Apprentices are paid while gaining work experience and wages increase with skill levels.
Become an apprentice in sectors such as:
- Construction work
- Chef
- Horticulture
- Information technology
- Educational assistant
- Hairstylist
- Transportation
- and more…
Goals of OYAP
- To provide students with the opportunity to start training in a skilled trade while completing the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
- To enable students to make the school to work transition by direct entry into apprenticeship training.
- To provide employers with the opportunity to train the skilled workers they require.
- To provide a viable solution to address the problem of skilled tradespeople shortages in general, and specifically the lack of young people joining the trades.
How long is an apprenticeship?
Becoming certified in a trade requires on-the-job and in-school training done at college, and lasting 2-5 years.
Is apprenticeship right for me? Consider pursuing an apprenticeship if:
- you enjoy hands-on learning and have good mechanical and spatial abilities.
- you enjoy fixing things, assembling and disassembling structures.
- you are able to solve problems, determine why something does not work and how it can be done better.
- you are prepared to complete an apprenticeship.
Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training (OYAP-FAST)
The Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training (OYAP-FAST) program is an accelerated stream within OYAP that provides Grade 11 and 12 students with the opportunity to gain expanded apprenticeship experience by earning additional cooperative education credits while completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Students who meet the completion requirements and all other OSSD requirements will receive the OYAP-FAST seal on their OSSD, and OYAP-FAST will be listed in the Specialized Program field of their Ontario Student Transcript (OST).
To participate in OYAP-FAST, students must meet the OYAP eligibility requirements:
-
Be at least 15 years of age or older
-
Have completed 14 credits toward the OSSD
-
Be enrolled as a part-time or full-time student in a secondary school or continuing education program
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Complete an OYAP Participation Form during a cooperative education in a skilled trade
-
Have signed parent/guardian consent (for students under 18 years of age)
To complete OYAP-FAST, students must:
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Earn eight to 11 co-op credits with their placement component in the skilled trades
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Register as an apprentice by securing a Registered Training Agreement (RTA) before completing an eighth co-op education credit
Course Selection
Students wishing to pursue the OYAP-FAST pathway will be directed by their Guidance Department to select the ‘OYFAST’ code during course selection in myBlueprint. Parents/guardians must approve the student’s course requests. All students who select the ‘OYFAST’ code will have a follow-up conversation with their Guidance Counsellor and will receive an OYAP-FAST consent form that requires a parent/guardian signature for students under 18 years of age.
Additional resources
Contact Information
Wade Richardson
Secondary Regional Lead OYAP
richardsonw@hdsb.ca