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HOME / ACCREDITATION, CERTIFICATION AND QUALIFICATIONS / OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS / APPRENTICESHIP /

Employers

How Does Apprenticeship Work? The apprenticeship program combines on-the-job training under the supervision of a qualified journey person or trades person and classroom training at a post-secondary educational institute. On average, 80% of the apprentices 1 to 4 years are spent in the workforce and 20% is spent at, or through a post-secondary training establishment. Depending on the trade, training is usually provided through Holland College, or an off-Island technical institute.

What's in it for me? - the Employer.

By hiring apprentices, employers can train individuals to their specifications. Skilled workers trained to employer specifications, produce quality results and reduce turnover. Highly motivated and trained workers produce better results. Apprentice see the time and energy spent in the classroom as a long-term investment in their careers. Apprenticeship train workers to meet industry standards for a given occupation. It's a proven way to train people for careers that demand a wide range of skills and knowledge.

Employers train apprentices to:

• develop and maintain highly skilled workers;
• enhance the ability to become a stronger competitive position from downturns in the economy;
• increase workplace safety;
• increase product quality, reduce unit cost, and fewer warranty returns;
• the assurance of a steady supply of skilled employers in an aging workplace environment;
• increase customer satisfaction.

What's in it for us? the Government.

The apprenticeship program contributes and sustains economic growth in Prince Edward Island and to reduce the need of importing skilled trades people. For our economy to continue to grow, we need employers to hire and develop the expertise of skilled trades people. This system ensures a high skilled international competitive workforce. This is achieved through partnerships between the Prince Edward Island Government, employers, journey persons, and apprentices. A highly skilled workforce gives an increased competitive edge in the global economy. The government is responsible for:

• providing post-secondary education courses at, or through Holland College or off-Island technical institutes;
• work with training establishments to ensure the training content between employers and apprentices is consistent across Prince Edward Island;
• help employees and apprentices by providing information to make interpersonal relationships to work smoothly;
• administrate exams developed by industry;
• verify apprentice record and update books through the process of training;
• issue certification and maintain records of certified journey persons.

Employers are responsible for:

• completing the employer section of the apprenticeship agreement;
• signing a contract of apprenticeship with the apprentice and ensuring it is forwarded to Prince Edward Island's Apprenticeship Office;
• provide the apprentice with on-the-job training supervised by a certified journey person or a qualified trades person;
• allow the apprentice time away from work to complete the require in-school training;
• help update the apprentice record book;
• pay the apprentice a wage, generally starting at a certain percentage of the journey person's rate depending on the trade as well as increasing the wage as training progresses.

For more information, please feel free to contact your nearest Prince Edward Island Apprenticeship Office and ask how you can become involved to build a brighter future and a stronger economy for journey people entering designated careers in the trades industry.

The Apprenticeship section is within the Public Education branch of the Department of Education, Government of PEI, Canada.