Education · 1 of 5

The path

Two ways in. Both end with the same tickets.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Grade 12 with math and shop. Many high schools teach welding, and OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) lets Ontario students start apprentice hours in Grade 11 or 12.

2. 2

   Pick a route

   Months

   Route A: a 1-year college welding certificate, mostly shop time. Route B: find an employer and register a 3-year apprenticeship with your provincial trades authority.

3. 3

   Get your first CWB (Canadian Welding Bureau) tickets

   Weeks

   Practical tests in each position (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead) and each process. Employers check these, not your diploma.

4. 4

   Work and study

   1 to 3 years

   In Ontario the apprenticeship is 6,000 hours: 5,280 on the job plus 720 in school, taken as three college blocks of about 8 weeks. Alberta runs a 3-year, 3-period program. College graduates go straight to work and build hours.

5. 5

   Certificate of Qualification and Red Seal

   After your hours

   Optional in Ontario but worth it. The Red Seal endorsement lets you work in any province.