OYAP

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a School to Work opportunity that allows students in grades 11 and 12 to explore and work in apprentice occupations through the Cooperative Education (Co-op) program. Students have an opportunity to become registered apprentices and work towards becoming certified journeypersons in a skilled trade while completing their secondary school diplomas.

Become an Apprentice While in High School With OYAP

Information for Employers

OYAP provides students with an opportunity to start their apprenticeship while they are still in high school. For a student to be eligible for co-op, they must be participating in a cooperative education program.

OYAP provides employers with many benefits including:

Having an opportunity to trial a potential future apprentice
Having the option to continue an apprenticeship or terminate the apprenticeship throughout the co-op experience
Providing current employees with a supervisory role in order to increase leadership opportunities for staff
Having the co-op teacher support the student and the sponsor with the process of completing the registered training agreement
Being able to train the student to support skill development that is directly related to the needs of their business
The student being able to start to work towards completing competencies in their Apprenticeship Training Standard Book
The potential for students to participate in their Level 1 training during their grade 12 year if they are a registered apprentice. This can help to support the growth of a business
The co-op student being provided with various training including certifications such as Working at Heights, First Aid & Level C CPR and W.H.M.I.S.
Increased public awareness about the skilled trades and apprenticeship pathway

Skilled Trades Ontario

In January 2022, the Ontario government launched Skilled Trades Ontario, a new crown agency, to improve trades training and to simplify services. According to the government, the new agency will:

promote and market the trades
develop the latest training and curriculum standards
provide a streamlined user-friendly experience for tradespeople

Skills Ontario will be providing an online platform. OYAP apprentices will not be required to use the portal until they have graduated high school and have transitioned to a regular apprentice. This platform will allow apprentices to:

schedule classes and exams
submit forms
pay fees and more

The details of the portal will be communicated by the government in the upcoming months. Skilled Trades Ontario (skilledtradesontario.ca) is a place for apprentices to access information on the apprenticeship process including on-the-job training and the in-school training portions of the apprenticeship process. Skilled Trades Ontario will also house the Apprenticeship Training Standards and the Curriculum Training Standards documents. These standards will be updated from the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) documents that are currently available.

As of January 1st, 2022, OYAP apprentices will not have to register with the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT). OCOT has been transitioned into Skilled Trades Ontario and will assume responsibility for compliance and enforcement. OYAP students will continue to work with their sponsor and co-op teacher in order to navigate the apprenticeship process.

Student Eligibility

Nuts and Bolts of the OYAP Process

Graphic titled "The Apprenticeship Pathway." Illustration of curvy road with arrows leading into the distance. Green start flag in foreground, black and white checkered "Completion" flag at the end. Markers along the way alternate between "On the job" and "In school".

What is an apprenticeship?

Why should a student participate in OYAP as a registered apprentice?

Beginning an apprenticeship in secondary school launches the exploration of a rewarding career in the skilled trades
The student is supported by their co-op teacher to find an employer that is a good fit for both parties
Becoming an apprentice in secondary school means that one of the hardest parts of obtaining an apprenticeship is already complete - finding an employer!
Students can use the time and competencies learned while participating in OYAP to put towards their apprenticeship once they graduate from secondary school
Once the student graduates high school, they will be in line for the first level of the classroom training required by their chosen trade

Students who are enrolled in a co-op which is a trade where you can apprentice are automatically "Participants" in OYAP. For example, if a student is participating in co-op at a restaurant in the kitchen preparing food, they are enrolled as a “Cook”. For students who are “Participants” in a trade, the following must be completed:

Students and parents complete the Participant Application Form from The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), provided to them by the co-op Teacher.
Co-op teachers will provide the student with an OYAP wallet card. This card should be with the student while at co-op. In some of the Construction trades, the MLITSD visits worksites and looks for student identification in the form of the wallet card.
Teachers will enroll the student into the Employment Ontario Information System as a
Participant in co-op.

A journeyperson is an expert in their trade. Earned money while learning and completing the trade competencies. Completed 2-3 levels of classroom training. Passed the final exam and earned a provincial certification.

What to expect when you take the first step towards an apprenticeship

Employers and students who agree to take the first step towards an apprenticeship - here’s what you can expect:

The co-op Teacher will consult with the employer and the student and parent to initiate the process.
The second part of the form will be completed by both the student, parent and employer.
The MLITSD training consultant for AMDSB will send the employer the required paperwork to complete.
The employer will return the paperwork to the training consultant once completed so that the student can be entered into APPR-EOIS.

Apprenticeship in Ontario Poster

Compulsory Trades vs. Non-Compulsory Trades

Start your Level 1 Apprenticeship Training at AMDSB

What is Accelerated OYAP?

Accelerated OYAP is an extension of OYAP that allows AMDSB students in grade 12 an opportunity to apply for a level 1 training program through a training delivery agent. Our training delivery agents in AMDSB include:

The Technical Training Group
Conestoga College
Fanshawe College
Lambton College

This program is funded through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development as well as the School College Work Initiative. Limited spots are available and students must plan ahead in order to apply to this program. Applications are due in Grade 11 and acceptance into the program is not guaranteed and does not happen until right before the training starts.

Plan Ahead

For success in Level 1 apprenticeship in-school programs, the student should:

have a strong interest in a specific trade;
have related work or volunteer experience in the specific trade;
be successfully participating in the cooperative education program and be enrolled in OYAP.

Level 1 Opportunities

Acceptance into the Level 1 training is based on student readiness and program availability. Many of the level 1 opportunities are the same from year to year. Due to instructor availability, some of the programs may change. Programs that have been common in the past few years include:

Automotive Service Technician
Brick and Stone Mason
General Machinist
General Carpenter
Electrician - Construction and Maintenance
Plumber
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic
Truck and Coach Technician
Welder
Metal Fabricator

Level 1 training programs will be updated as information becomes available from our participating training delivery agents.

Process

Timeline	Step
Grade 11	Complete at least a 2 CR co-op in the interested trade
February (Grade 12) Course Selection	Choose a 4 CR co-op for your grade 12 year
May of Grade 11	Complete the Accelerated OYAP Application Form
Grade 12 Semester One	Interview for a seat in the Level 1 training program
Grade 12 Semester Two	Participate in a 4 CR co-op as well as 6-8 weeks of the Level 1 training. Co-op employer must be aware that students will be participating full time in the level 1 training for the duration of the program (6-8 weeks depending on the trade).

Two delivery models for Level 1 training

Level 1 training at a training delivery agent (TDA) site
1. Student requires a registered training agreement (RTA)
2. Taught by certified instructors through the TDA
3. Location and timing is determined by TDA
4. Training may be integrated with regular apprentices or a class of OYAP students
Level 1 training at a secondary school through a TDA
1. Student does not require a registered training agreement
2. Taught by certified instructors through the TDA
3. Location is determined by the school board and requires approval from the TDA to ensure the facility can support the program
4. Training is comprised of a class of OYAP students

Benefits of Accelerated OYAP

Fast track through the apprenticeship program by starting year one of an apprenticeship in secondary school. Student will complete apprenticeship hours and work towards completing competencies during co-op and will complete the level 1 training while in Grade 12
Learn important health and safety practices in the trade
Acquire technical training in a dedicated classroom
Increase confidence in the trade by gaining skills and learning theory
Experience a smooth transition after graduation from the support of the training delivery agent
Become a more valuable apprentice with gained skills and knowledge learned at the level 1 training

Virtual Workplace Experience Videos by Edge Factor

Avon Maitland DSB partnered with Edge Factor in 2020 to provide local video content for our students in grades 9 through 12. These four videos showcase the skills, knowledge and technology required to be successful in each industry. Additional resources to support pathways planning can be found on the Edge Factor platform.

Some of these engaging resources include topics such as STEAM, financial literacy, careers of the future and soft skills. Check out edgefactor.com for more information or request access through your Student Services department.

Become an Apprentice While in High School With OYAP

Nuts and Bolts of the OYAP Process

Start your Level 1 Apprenticeship Training at AMDSB

What is Accelerated OYAP?

Plan Ahead

Level 1 Opportunities

Process

Two delivery models for Level 1 training

Benefits of Accelerated OYAP

Bruce Power Nuclear Energy

Ice Sculpting at Ice Culture

Mechanical Engineering at Nuhn Industries

Construction Masonry at Saugeen Amphitheatre