What is the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program?
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a School to Career program designed to help students make a smooth, successful transition into or to their post secondary education apprenticeship programs.What is Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship is a form of post-secondary Education in which a person earns his / her Qualifications or Certification as a Skilled Tradesperson.Apprentices will earn while they learn
- 85% of the apprentices learning will take place on the job taught one on one by a Certified Trades person.
- The government will pay 90% of the apprentice’s tuition.
- 15% of the apprenticeship will consist of taking apprenticeship courses at a Community College.
The learning that must take place on the job is outlined in the Training Standards and the learning that must take place in the apprenticeship courses at College is outlined in the Curriculum Standards.
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities set both these standards with input from industry committees.
In many cases these are Canada wide standards. A Red Seal means the Apprenticeship Certification is recognizes across Canada.
Why Get Involved?
You can….- begin your post secondary education & training while in secondary school
- earn apprenticeship credits traditionally taught at community college while completing your secondary school diploma credits
- experience enriched technical programming
- learn apprenticeship theory
- reduce your apprenticeship qualification time
- get your foot in the door with a potential employer / trainer
- earn while you learn
- prepare for technician / technologist post secondary programs
- gain work experience and high-tech skills
- increase your academic readiness for apprenticeship and technical college programs
- increase your safety awareness
- receive W.H.I.M.I.S. training
- earn first aid and C.P.R. qualifications
- help meet the growing need for Certified Skilled Trades people in Ontario
Which Program Should I choose? OYAP and/or Concentrated OYAP?
OYAP Coop helps students prepare for apprenticeship by combining Technology courses with a Coop placement to help them gain the knowledge, skills and work experience necessary to begin an apprenticeship.Concentrated OYAP offers students the unique opportunity to earn Secondary School credits and at the same time students may earn either…
- a Pre-Apprenticeship Program Certificate or in some cases
- an Exemption Certificate for earning advanced standing in their apprenticeship by completing the first apprenticeship course while still in secondary school.
Concentrated OYAP is not available in every apprenticeship but is recommended when available because it greatly increases a student’s chances of obtaining an apprenticeship directly from Secondary School.
Similar courses offered at Community Colleges and Technological Training Institutes can cost between $ 2000 and $6000.
If a student cannot obtain their apprenticeship directly from Secondary School they can take a one-year pre-apprenticeship program at a college, a Private Technological Training Institute or they can return to a Concentrated OYAP Program.
COOP hours spent at the placement may count towards the apprenticeship thus shortening the apprenticeship after secondary school.
Students earning advanced standing will have to write an Exemption exam.
The local college may charge a fee for supervising and marking this exemption exam.