Education · 1 of 4

The path

An apprenticeship: mostly on the job, with short college blocks.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Grade 12 with math and a shop class. Some provinces let you start through a high school apprenticeship program.

2. 2

   Find a sponsor

   Weeks to months

   A masonry contractor or the union hiring hall. Starting as a labourer on a masonry crew is the usual way in.

3. 3

   Register the apprenticeship

   Days

   With Skilled Trades Ontario, Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, or your province's trades body.

4. 4

   Work and study

   3 years

   About 5,600 hours in Ontario: roughly 4,900 on site plus three in-school levels of about 8 weeks at a college.

5. 5

   Certificate of Qualification and Red Seal

   After your hours

   Pass the provincial exam. Add the Red Seal endorsement to work anywhere in Canada.