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To be employed in a designated trade in Alberta, a person must:
OR in some trades:
If a person is employed in any designated trade in Alberta but needs to learn the trade, that person must be a registered apprentice.
An employer must not employ a person to work in a designated trade if the employer knows, or would reasonably be expected to know, that the person is not permitted to do that work under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act.
What is a registered apprentice?
A registered apprentice is a person who is learning the skills of their trade and is registered with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in an Apprenticeship Program. Upon successful completion of the program, the person is awarded the Alberta Journeyman Certificate.
What is a certified journeyman?
To be considered a certified journeyman in Alberta, a person may be the holder of an:
For more information, contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
Verifying apprenticeship registration or certification of employees
Employers must be sure that their employees who work in designated trades have the required qualifications.
To verify if a person is a registered apprentice or a certified journeyman, an employer may contact any Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
A designated trade:
The legislation provides for apprenticeship programs and certification of tradespeople as evidence that their qualifications meet the industry-established standards for the trade.
There are 50 designated trades in Alberta. For a list of the trades and detailed information about each one, see Trades & Occupations.
As an employer, why should I support apprenticeship?
When you support apprenticeship, you are supporting your own future supply of skilled workers, for your company as well as for your industry as a whole. This is particularly important in today's aging workforce environment. The majority of employers say that training skilled workers is a long-term investment in the future prosperity of their business.
What's in it for me, as a company?
You have invested good money in your hard assets. A skilled workforce is even more important to your company. By training apprentices, you can ensure their practical skills are superior.
Why hire journeymen?
Journeymen are highly trained and certified in their trade. With that level of skill at your disposal, you are assured of increased product quality, enhanced customer satisfaction, and a competitive edge on companies with less-skilled workers.
What is a journeyman's wage?
A journeyman's salary is set by each employer or is identified in a binding agreement.
Does hiring apprentices and journeymen require an affiliation with employer/employee associations?
The apprenticeship program is not affiliated with any employer or employee association, and is open to everyone.
Is there financial assistance for someone to attend apprenticeship training?
Yes, most apprentices qualify for Employment Insurance while taking their technical training. They also can apply for grants and scholarships. For more information, see Financial Assistance and Scholarship and Awards.
Why should I put my people through apprenticeship if they can start their own company after they become certified?
Certified journeymen are highly skilled employees, and skilled employees are good for business. There is always a chance that they may move on and start their own companies. The same holds true for any employee – certified or not.
What am I, as an employer responsible for?
Once the apprentice is registered, you are responsible for:
- providing the apprentice with on-the-job training and work experience, supervised by a certified journeyman or a qualified tradesperson (please see the Changes to Ratio Calculations information sheets)
- paying the apprentice's wages. This usually starts at a certain percentage of the journeyman rate, depending on the trade, and increases as the training progresses.
- allowing the apprentice time away from work to complete the required technical training
- updating the apprentice's Record Book
What is the apprentice responsible for?
Once the apprentice is registered, she or he is responsible for:
- actively participating in, and completing the required on-the-job training and work experience
- attending and successfully completing the required technical training
- passing all required examinations
- carrying, and producing on request, an apprentice ID card
- ensuring that her or his Record Book is completed
What is RAP?
The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) allows high school students to become apprentices and earn hours toward an apprenticeship program and credits toward a high school diploma. RAP is an agreement among the employer, the apprentice and the school. Hours of work are flexible and depend upon the particular agreement. For more information, see RAP (Registered Apprenticeship Program) for high school students.
