About Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is your ticket to a challenging and rewarding
career in the skilled trades!
Apprenticeship is quality, low-cost, post-secondary training that
leads to certification as a journeyperson in a skilled trade. However,
unlike university or college, where YOU PAY for your entire education,
as an apprentice YOU GET PAID to learn. Most trade programs take
approximately 2-4 years to complete and they combine approximately
80% paid-on-the job training with 20% technical/in-school learning.
Manitoba's skilled, certified tradespeople play an important role
in our society. In the next decade, many of them will be nearing
retirement, leaving Manitoba with shortages in the skilled trades.
Manitoba has more than 50 skilled trades available for you to start
your apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship can lead you to a well-paid, skilled employment.
Through a combination of hands-on training and in-school learning,
you can earn a certificate of qualification in a trade. This means
your expertise and industry-proven skills are formally and financially
recognized. With most trades available for Interprovincial Red Seal
certification, your credentials are recognized across Canada
Who Administers the Apprenticeship
Program?
Apprenticeship programs are generally administered by provincial
and territorial departments responsible for education, labour and
training (under the direction of the provincial or territorial Director
of Apprenticeship) with authority delegated from the legislation
in each province and territory. In Manitoba, the Apprenticeship
Branch operates under the department of Manitoba Advanced Education
& Training.
The program is supported by a network of advisory
committees, such the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualification
Board, and the Provincial Trade Advisory Committees(PTACs).
The industry-driven Apprenticeship Training & Qualification
Board is the major policy-making and governing bodies for apprenticeship
training relating to recommendations of trade designation, curriculum
requirements and regulatory aspects of trades and occupations.
What is a Designated Trade?
Each province and territory has the responsibilities for education
and training which includes apprenticeship. This legislation permits
each jurisdiction to designate occupations for apprenticeship.
Designated trades in Manitoba are governed by regulations under
the Provincial
Apprenticeship Trades Qualification Act. These regulations outline
the standards and conditions of training for specific trades (e.g.
methods of registering apprentices, curriculum, accreditation, certification).
The designation of a new trade can originate outside the provincial
and territorial apprenticeship authorities. Employers, employer
associations or unions can petition to have an occupation designated
by contacting the Apprenticeship
Branch Office in Winnipeg
Is Certification Compulsory
or Voluntary?
Occupations are classified as either compulsory or voluntary.
Generally, compulsory occupations require workers to be certified
or registered as apprentice in order for them to practice in the
occupation.
In Manitoba, "certified journeyperson" means a person
who holds a Certificate of Qualification issued by the Manitoba Apprenticeship
Branch. "Registered apprentice" means a person who has signed
a formal apprenticeship training agreement with his or her employer,
and had that apprenticeship agreement registered with the Manitoba
Apprenticeship Branch.
Voluntary occupations often will also have certification and apprenticeship
to indicate the level of competency of the holder. Although workers
are not required to be registered or certified in order to practice
in the voluntary occupations, in order to be an apprentice and work
in the in these trades, apprentices must be employed with a certified
journey person.
Note: Even though many occupations deemed compulsory in some
of the jurisdictions are also "Red Seal" trades, the Red
Seal itself is not mandatory except where indicated as such by jurisdictions
in specific legislation.
Who Determines
if a Trade is Compulsory?
The requirement of compulsory certification in a trade is based
on a request from industry. Criteria for compulsory certification
in any trade must include proven enhancement of:
- public and worker safety
- consumer and environmental protection
- value added to the quality of work being offered to the public
through uniform training and professional standards
List of Compulsory
Trades in Manitoba
There are over 50 designated trades in Manitoba in which you can
take apprenticeship training. Nine of these trades require compulsory
apprenticeship training, meaning that to legally work in Manitoba,
you must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson.
- Construction Electrician*
- Industrial Electrician
- Crane & Hoisting Equipment Operator (includes Mobile, Boom
Truck and Tower Crane Operators)
- Electrologist*
- Esthetician (includes Skin Care Technician and Nail Technician)*
- Hairstylist*
- Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic
- Sprinkler System Installer
- Steamfitter - Pipefitter
*You can also work in the Hairstylist or Electrologist trades if
you hold a limited Practice Permit
* You can also work in the Esthetician trade, if you hold a Student
or Limited Practice Permit
The above permits are issued by the Apprenticeship Branch and
are renewable every two years.
*To work in these trades, you must also hold a Journeyperson
Electrician Licence issued by the Mechanical and Engineering
Branch of Manitoba Labor and Immigration.
This license must be renewed very four years.
If you work in any of these trades and are unsure of your status,
contact the Apprenticeship
Branch Office in Winnipeg.
For more information about these compulsory, please view
the trade
program section of this website.
Why should I get the “Red
Seal”- Interprovincial Certification?
The Red Seal Program was established to provide greater mobility
across Canada for skilled workers. Through the program, apprentices
who have completed their training and certified journeypersons,
are able to obtain a "Red Seal" endorsement on their Certificates
of Qualification and Apprenticeship by successfully completing an
Interprovincial Standards Examination. Currently the “Red
Seal” endorsement is available in almost 50 trades!
For a listing, link to section on Trade
Programs.
The Red Seal program encourages standardization of provincial
and territorial apprenticeship training and certification programs.
The "Red Seal" allows qualified tradespersons to practice
the trade in any province or territory in Canada where the trade
is designated without having to write further examinations.
With this endorsement, you can also build respect in your community
for your designation and knowledge and as a qualified and certified
journeyperson, you can expect to increase your average annual income.
Red
Seal official website
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