APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training.
The Registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario, under the authority of section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, has set the hours of apprenticeship training for the trade General Carpenter at 7,200 (approximately four years), which consists of 6,480 hours on the job work experience and 720 hours of in-school training. These hours are consistent with apprentice training hours previously set out in regulation under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act, R.S.O 1990.

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING

An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s Apprenticeship Training Standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade.

As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade.

IN-SCHOOL TRAINING

A General Carpenter apprenticeship includes three levels of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:

• safety, materials and tools
• plans, specifications and building codes
• estimating, calculations and layout
• metal cutting and welding
• residential, institutional, commercial and industrial construction
• excavation, shoring and re-shoring
• footings, foundations and drainage systems
• formwork and concrete structures
• wall and ceiling framing and floor systems
• roofs and trusses
• exterior and interior finishing

Depending on the training delivery agency, in-school training may be available in one of the following ways:

• block release (full-time, for a set number of weeks)
• day release (one day per week from September to June)
• part-time (night-school programs)
• alternative delivery (online, correspondence, etc.)

General Carpenter is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.

This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, the Ministry issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship.

This trade has a certifying exam. When the certifying exam is passed, Skilled Trades Ontario will issue a Certificate of Qualification in this trade. Because this trade is non-compulsory, this certificate does not have to be renewed, and the information of individuals practicing this trade will not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.

In Ontario, the trade is part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program—the national standard for the trade across Canada— under the title Carpenter: www.red-seal.ca.