Education · 1 of 4

The path

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

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Math and shop classes help. Some provinces let you start through a high school apprenticeship program.

2. 2

   Find an employer to sponsor you

   Weeks to months

   Plumbing companies, mechanical contractors, or a union hiring hall. A pre-apprenticeship program makes this easier.

3. 3

   Register as an apprentice

   Days

   With your provincial trades body.

4. 4

   Work and study

   4 to 5 years

   9,000 hours in Ontario (about 8,280 on the job plus 720 in class over three blocks). Other provinces run 4 periods of roughly 1,500 to 1,800 hours each.

5. 5

   Certificate of Qualification and Red Seal

   After your hours

   Pass the exam. Red Seal lets you work in any province.