Education · 1 of 4
The path
Two routes: a college program that gets you running machines fast, or a full machinist apprenticeship that ends in a Red Seal.
- 1
High school diploma
Grade 12
Math, physics and any manufacturing or shop class. Blueprint reading starts here.
- 2
College program (fast route)
1 to 2 years
A one-year CNC (computer numerical control) certificate or two-year precision machining diploma. You leave able to set up and run machines.
- 3
Or apprentice as a machinist
About 4 years
Ontario's General Machinist trade is 8,000 hours: 7,280 on the job and 720 in school over three levels. College time can count toward it.
- 4
Certificate of Qualification and Red Seal
After your hours
Pass the provincial machinist exam and add the Red Seal endorsement, recognized across Canada.
- 5
Programmer
1 to 3 years on the job
Learn CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) software to write the programs instead of just running them. This is where pay jumps.