Part of the Pathways initiatives, the
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) provides practical learning and hands-on training in more than 150 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 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…
The goals of OYAP are:
- 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.
Additional resources
Contact Information
Wade Richardson
Secondary Regional Lead OYAP
richardsonw@hdsb.ca