Education · 1 of 4

The path

Hired as a helper, trained up on the press. College is optional.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Shop, math and any graphic arts or media course.

2. 2

   Get hired as a press helper

   Weeks to months

   Print shops and packaging plants hire helpers with no experience. Show you are reliable and mechanically minded.

3. 3

   Learn the press

   1 to 3 years

   Feeding, washing up, colour checks, then setting up and running jobs yourself. Each press type takes months to master.

4. 4

   Optional college

   1 to 4 years

   A graphic or print production diploma at a college, or the 4-year Graphic Communications Management degree at Toronto Metropolitan University, opens the door to supervisor and management jobs.