STO initiates review of 18 apprenticeship programs

ONTARIO – Following a preliminary, data-driven assessment, 18 low-activity apprenticeship programs are currently under review to determine long-term viability in Ontario’s evolving skilled trades sector.

Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) is undertaking a Program Evaluation Process (PEP) to ensure that apprenticeship programs continue to align with industry and government priorities, as well as STO’s mission to establish leading-edge standards in the skilled trades.

The two-phase Program Evaluation Process (PEP) places these trades under a review for a period of three months. During this time, the trades will remain prescribed, and the corresponding certificates will remain valid, but no new apprentice registrations will be accepted during this period.

Following this three-month evaluation, the Registrar will assign one of three pathways:

1. 1. Transform the program – this may involve combining trades, changing the scope of practice, reviewing the trade classification, developing a new trade, addressing factors affecting the program’s sustainability, etc.
   2. Designate program as ‘inactive’ – an inactive program no longer accepts apprenticeship registrations or TEA applications. The trade remains prescribed as a trade for the benefit of existing CofQ holders.
   3. Recommend de-prescription – when the final determination is that the trade and program are not ‘viable’, STO makes an official recommendation to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development that the trade should no longer be prescribed as a trade under Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, S.O. 2021, c. 28.

If a clear pathway cannot be determined during the evaluation process, the trade will remain under evaluation for a second period, defined by the Registrar, while a determination on the next steps is decided.

Below is a list of apprenticeship programs currently under review:

1. 219C – Saddlery
2. 219D – Horse Harness Maker
3. 239B – Tool and Gauge Inspector
4. 244L – Precast Concrete Finisher
5. 246W – Process Operator — Wood Products
6. 277M – Mould or Die Finisher
7. 297B – Special Events Coordinator
8. 401R – Refractory Mason
9. 600P – Blacksmith
10. 609C – Packaging Machine Mechanic
11. 614A – Draftsperson — Mechanical
12. 614B – Draftsperson — Plastic Mould Design
13. 615A – Bearings Mechanic
14. 640F – Agricultural — Fruit Grower
15. 640S – Agricultural — Swine Herdsperson
16. 670C – Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Programmer
17. 670D – Die Designer
18. 670E – Mould Designer

To verify the status of a trade, please visit the Trade Information webpage available on the Skilled Trades Ontario website.

About Skilled Trades Ontario
Skilled Trades Ontario is an agency of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development responsible for apprenticeship and skilled trades certification in Ontario. Skilled Trades Ontario is dedicated to simplifying access to services for skilled trades professionals, promoting the skilled trades as a career of choice and addressing the labour shortage in the skilled trades, in partnership with government and industry.     

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