What is Apprenticeship?

Summary

Apprenticeship offers over 70 skilled trade careers, combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. An apprentice learns directly from a certified journeyperson while earning a salary, with pay increasing as they progress. There are multiple pathways to certification, including direct entry and youth apprenticeship, allowing individuals to start earning early. Pre-apprenticeship provides foundational training at institutions like Nova Scotia Community College. Financial support, such as awards, grants, and loans, is available, making apprenticeship a great path to a rewarding career in skilled trades. For more information, visit nsapprenticeship.ca.

Takeaways

• 😀 Apprenticeship offers over 70 skilled trade career options.
• 😀 Apprenticeship is an on-the-job training system that leads to a certification in a skilled trade.
• 😀 To start an apprenticeship, you need to find an employer and register with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.
• 😀 Apprentices learn a trade from a certified professional called a journeyperson who acts as a mentor.
• 😀 About 80% of apprenticeship training is hands-on work with a journeyperson, and 20% is classroom-based technical training.
• 😀 Apprentices get paid by their employers while learning, with pay increases as they progress through their training.
• 😀 Financial supports such as awards, grants, and loans are available to apprentices during their training.
• 😀 Direct entry is a pathway to apprenticeship where you find an employer and start training immediately.
• 😀 Youth apprenticeship allows individuals aged 16-19 to work part-time while gaining experience toward certification.
• 😀 Pre-apprenticeship involves completing one level of training at an institution like Nova Scotia Community College before starting an apprenticeship.
• 😀 Pre-apprenticeship gives you the chance to explore a trade before committing to an apprenticeship, and some employers prefer pre-apprenticeship experience.

Q & A

What is apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is a system of on-the-job training that leads to a certification in a skilled trade, where an individual learns from an experienced professional known as a journeyperson.

How does one become an apprentice?

To become an apprentice, an individual must find an employer, register as an apprentice with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, and begin their apprenticeship journey.

Who is a journeyperson in an apprenticeship?

A journeyperson is a highly experienced trades professional who is already certified in the trade and serves as a mentor to the apprentice during their learning process.

What percentage of apprenticeship is spent working with a journeyperson?

About 80 percent of an apprenticeship is spent working and learning alongside a journeyperson.

What is the role of instructor-based training in apprenticeship?

Instructor-based technical training accounts for about 20 percent of an apprenticeship, complementing the on-the-job learning with structured classroom education.

Do apprentices get paid during their training?

Yes, apprentices are paid by their employer while they learn the trade, and their pay increases as they successfully complete each level of training.

What financial supports are available to apprentices?

There are various financial supports available to apprentices, including awards, grants, and loans to help with their training.

What is direct entry in apprenticeship?

Direct entry is when an individual finds an employer, registers as an apprentice, and begins their training immediately, with the advantage of earning money right away.

What is youth apprenticeship and who can participate?

Youth apprenticeship is a form of direct entry for individuals aged 16 to 19 years who are employed in a skilled trade, or high school students on a co-op placement, with no fee to register.

What is pre-apprenticeship and how does it differ from direct entry?

Pre-apprenticeship involves completing at least one level of training in a trade at an institution before becoming employed as an apprentice. Unlike direct entry, it requires tuition but offers a chance to explore the trade and gain foundational knowledge.