Apprenticeship
Entrance and Application Full Technical Training Attendance Policies Refund Policy
Program dates Minimum Passing Requirements - Technical Training Certification Transfer
How to become a Registered Apprentice?
Entrance Requirements
Currently, to enter an apprenticeship you must have the educational qualifications required for the trade to which you apply. It is to your advantage to obtain as much education as possible. The further you go in school the better your chances will be to get an apprenticeship and succeed in your training. In trades where a minimum level of education is required, you must present a transcript of your school marks when you apply for apprenticeship. If you cannot obtain a school transcript, you will be required to write an approved entrance exam. In certain trades, all applicant must write an entrance exam.
Perhaps the most difficult entrance requirement to meet is finding suitable employment with an employer who is a Journeyperson or employs a Journeyperson in the trade of your choice. To apply for an apprentice position, you should go in person to firms that work in the trade you have selected. You may have to apply to several firms before you find an employer who has a position for an apprentice.
You can register as an apprentice and attend 1st period classroom instruction without having a sponsor or employer. However, to earn on-the-job hours toward your apprenticeship, you must have a sponsor and an employer (which may be the same company). You are encouraged to find a sponsor as soon as possible so you can learn from a qualified mentor and practice your skills. Most apprentices come to classroom instruction with on-the-job experience, so without this, you may find the classes challenging.
Application Procedures
Once you’re employed, apprenticeship forms must be signed by both you and your employer. Application forms are available online. If you think you have related work experience and/or training that could be credited toward your apprenticeship, discuss it with your employer and request credit on the application form. Once your application for apprenticeship is approved and your school transcripts or entrance exam marks are recorded, final approval is given and contracts are drawn up.
Contracts
A contract is signed by the apprentice and the employer. Before signing the contract, you should read it carefully to know your ligations and responsibilities and those of your employer. Once signed, the contract is registered with the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Division. An identification card, course outline booklet and an apprentice record book are issued to you. At this point your apprenticeship training begins.
How to register for technical training?
Full tuition and fees are due and payable upon registering for technical training at the Keyano College Office of the Registrar.
Training
When the formal apprenticeship is arranged, the training program becomes available. Experience is gained and trades skills developed in various phases of the trade under the guidance of qualified journeypersons.
Apprentices under contract are required and privileged to attend technical training programs designed for their particular trade. These are short programs of four to twelve weeks in each year of apprenticeship. Training is also intended to instill respect for the trade by emphasizing quality of workmanship.
| Trades | Length (Years/Period) | Training (Weeks/Period) | Compulsory or Optional Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | 4 | 8-8-8-12 | C |
| Heavy Equipment Technician | 4 | 8-8-8-8 | C |
| Millwright (Industrial Mechanic) | 4 | 8-8-8-8 | O |
| Steamfitter/Pipefitter | 4 | 8-8-8-8 | C |
|
Welder |
3 | 8-8-8 | C |
*For minimum education refer to Apprenticeship and Industry Training's (AIT) website for each specific trade's requirement.
Attendance and Punctuality
Technical apprenticeship training is considered an extension of the workplace in terms of attendance and punctuality. It is expected that students will manage their time in accordance with the published program schedule and will attend all classes every day.
Policy
- Instructors will inform the class on intake day of the program schedule and the expectations regarding attendance and punctuality. Instructors must maintain accurate daily attendance records.
- Instructors will submit weekly attendance sheets to the School of Trades & Heavy Industrial office each Friday.
Procedure
Students not in the classroom when class commences will be required to obtain a late slip from an Administrative Assistant in the main office of their campus. The late slip must be presented to the Instructor to gain admittance to the class.
- Students must report unavoidable absences from class to their instructor at the earliest opportunity. It is expected that personal appointments will be made after scheduled class hours.
- If a student is absent for any amount of time, the Instructor will complete a "special report" identifying the concern. This report will be submitted to the Program Chair and the Apprenticeship & Industry Training office.
- Following three days’ absence or four lates, the student will be considered terminated from the program. Re-admittance to class will only be permitted upon receipt of written recommendation from the Trade Qualification Inspector, Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Refund Policy
The $250 admission deposit are non‑refundable and non-transferable.
- If an Apprentice withdraws up to10 business days prior to the first day of class, a 50% (minus the $250 deposit) refund of tuition will be granted.
- After 10 business days prior to the first day of classes, there will be no refund of tuition or associated fees.
- If the college cancels a program, a full refund will be granted.
Program Dates
Please contact the School of Trades & Technology at 780-791-4881 or the Office of the Registrar at 780-791-4801 or see AIT's website for the Apprenticeship training schedule.
Minimum Requirements to Pass Technical Training
To be endorsed by the Executive Director as having successfully completed a period of technical training in an apprenticeship program, an apprentice must receive from a training provider a cumulative weighted average mark of 65% or higher in the theory component and each practical component.
- The apprentice’s mark for the theory component is calculated by applying the weighting identified in the trade’s course outline to the mark reported for each section of the course and adding the results together to determine the cumulative weighted average.
- The apprentice’s mark for each practical component is calculated by applying the Board-approved weighting to the mark reported for each section and adding the results together to determine the cumulative weighted average.
In addition to achieving a cumulative average mark of 65% or higher on the theory component and on each practical component, an apprentice must also score 50% or higher on every section of the theory and practical components for that period of technical training.
Review
Training providers are responsible for all marks reported to the Government of Alberta. The Executive Director will not adjust marks if the apprentice has not received the minimum pass mark from the training provider.
Passing Marks
This policy requires the apprentice to achieve a cumulative weighted average mark of at least 65% in the theory component and a cumulative weighted average mark of at least 65% in each practical component for that period of technical training in order to be deemed successful by the Executive Director.
There is also an additional requirement that the apprentice achieve at least 50% in every section of both the theory and practical components of technical training. This is intended to ensure apprentices who progress have at least the minimum acceptable level of understanding across all competencies covered in the training.
Review
Training providers and their instructors are in the best position to assess the knowledge and skills of their students. Any request for a review of an apprentice’s marks must be submitted to the training provider by the apprentice. The training provider has the authority to determine how it will approach requests for review.
The Executive Director can accept new marks reported by the training provider. The Executive Director cannot overrule the training provider’s decision regarding a requested review.
Credits
In the past, Apprenticeship and Industry Training had the option to assign an apprentice a credit (i.e., permission to progress to the next period of technical training) without meeting the minimum standard of achievement. This policy eliminates the practice of awarding credit. In order to progress, an apprentice must meet the minimum requirement to pass technical training described in this policy, as reported by the training provider.
Certification
A journeyperson certificate is issued to an apprentice who:
- Has completed the term of apprenticeship (four years
- in most trades).
- Receives a satisfactory report from his/her employer.
- Receives a satisfactory report from the school at which the apprentice attended the technical training.
- Successfully completes the test and examinations prescribed by Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education.
Transfer
Where the terms of the contract of apprenticeship cannot be fulfilled, the Director or his/her designate may, if circumstances warrant, arrange for an apprentice to be transferred to another employer.