An apprenticeship is an agreement that is signed by the apprentice, the employer, and the apprenticeship authority (office) of the province/territory where the apprentice and the employer work.

When you sign your apprenticeship training agreement you will learn a trade from your employer and fulfill the training and education requirements for your trade that are established by the government apprenticeship authority (office) of the province/territory where you will work. Generally, you will alternate between periods of work “on-the-job” (up to 80% of the time) and periods of “in class” instruction (up to 20% of the time). After you have fulfilled your on-the-job and in-class requirements (anywhere from 2 to 5 years or more, depending upon the trade), you will take a provincial/territorial trade exam. When you pass the exam, you will have the legal right to work as a fully-qualified tradesperson (also known as a “journeyperson”) in your province/territory.