Youth Apprenticeship

With apprenticeship training, the apprentice is paid by their employer while they are being trained. While most of the training and learning takes place on the job (80%), there is a classroom component (20%) where students complete their technical training.

Technical training is generally instructor-led and takes place in the classroom or online. Apprentices are not typically paid by their employer during their technical training. Some of the benefits of apprenticeship training are:

• Apprentices get paid by their employer while they learn a skilled trade.
• Apprentices learn alongside highly trained, experienced trade professionals who are already certified. 
• Apprentices often finish their training with little to no student debt.
• Apprenticeship certification is recognized across Canada.

The business agreeing to sign an apprenticeship agreement MUST have one or more certified journeypersons on staff in the skilled trade for which the employer is registering the apprentice

When an apprentice completes all levels of training, the required number of hours for the trade, and successfully passes the certification exam, they become a certified journeyperson. A certified journeyperson can provide training and mentorship to an apprentice.

An Industry Training Consultant is a staff of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. When an apprenticeship agreement is signed, an Industry Training Consultant (ITC) is assigned to the employer and apprentice to support them throughout the apprentices learning journey. An apprentice will be assigned to an ITC based on their region of employment and trade.

An apprenticeship agreement is a written or electronic agreement involving the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, the apprentice (student) and the employer. The apprenticeship agreement confirms that the employer will employ the apprentice and provide them with practical (on-the-job) experience and the opportunity to attend technical training. The apprentice agrees to learn the work of the trade from the employer and attend technical training. To become a registered (youth) apprentice, the student must sign an apprenticeship agreement with their employer.

Next, the student will need to register their apprenticeship agreement. This is done through the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. The form is found on the website here.

Any supporting documentation, such as proof of training and previous work experience, can be mailed, dropped off, or scanned and emailed to your assigned Industry Training Consultant.

To access the registration form, select:

• Apprenticeship Registration Forms (Option 1)
• Apprenticeship Registration Form and Process to Work in Nova Scotia (Option 1)
• Select ‘Submit Online’
• Submit the completed form online.

Next Steps: Once the completed apprenticeship agreement form has been submitted to the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, the student will receive an email confirming receipt of their application. The agreement will be assigned to an Industry Training Consultant (ITC). The ITC will connect with the student/employer once their agreement has been received.

• Time frame: It may take up to 2 to 4 weeks after submitting an agreement application before the ITC connects with the student/employer.

Once the ITC has connected with the student/employer, the agreement will be registered. The apprentice will be mailed their logbook and an identification card.

• Time frame: It will take 2 to 4 weeks to receive the logbook and 4 to 6 weeks to receive the ID card. If it has been longer than 6 weeks, please inform your ITC.

For support navigating youth apprenticeship, contact the Manager, Youth and Equity Programs at Labour Skills and Immigration.

• youthapprenticeship@novascotia.ca

Youth employed with a skilled trade employer

A student seeking an apprenticeship will need to confirm with their employer that the business is willing to register the student as an apprentice by signing and fulfilling the terms of an apprenticeship agreement.

Here is the registration form.

Youth employed not yet employed with a skilled trade employer

A student must be employed with a skilled trades business before they can register as an apprentice. It is the responsibility of the student to work with potential employers to find the right employment opportunity.

If a student is not already connected to a skilled trades business through family, friends, neighbours, cooperative education experiences, etc. it is suggested that the student connect with their local Nova Scotia Works office. The following job sites can also be monitored for skilled trades related employment:

• Career Beacon
• Government of Nova Scotia
• Government of Canada

Once employment has been confirmed, and the employer agrees to enter into an apprenticeship agreement with the student, that agreement can be registered with the Apprenticeship Agency.

Pre-Apprenticeship refers to opportunities for high school students to engage in skilled trades employment exploration without the commitment of signing an apprenticeship agreement. Under certain circumstances, participation in pre-apprenticeship opportunities will earn hours that can be credited to a future apprenticeship agreement.

Please note: Only students who register their apprenticeship agreement with an employer through the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency are considered (youth) apprentices. Participation in pre-apprenticeship opportunities does not result in automatic registration as an apprentice. Alternatively, students do not need to participate in a pre-apprenticeship opportunity to register as a (youth) apprentice.

Pre-Apprenticeship in High School

The following high school courses provide pre-apprenticeship engagement opportunities, and can earn students credit hours towards an apprenticeship agreement:

• Skilled Trades – 110 Credit Hours
• Co-op – 100 Credit Hours *For placements with a skilled trades business
• O2 – 100 Credit Hours

The class instructor and Co-op placement mentor MUST be a certified journeyperson for the credit hours to be applicable.

Pre-Apprenticeship Summer Employment

Three pre-apprenticeship summer employment opportunities exist for grades 10 and 11 students in Co-op and O2 programs:

• Building Futures for Youth
• Serve it Up!
• TestDrive

Successful completion of the 200-hour work placement with their assigned skilled trades business will earn students 300 credit hours.

Please Note: The above listed high school courses and summer employment opportunities can be combined to earn students a MAXIMUM of 500 credit hours towards a future apprenticeship agreement.

Claiming Credit Hours:

Students MUST be able to prove that they have completed course and program requirements before credit hours can be claimed.

For high school courses, completed placements logs and logbooks that contain the supervising journeypersons name and Certificate of Qualification number is sufficient to claim earned credit hours.

For the summer employment opportunities, the certificate of participation, issued by the program for which the student participated in, will be required.

To claim credit hours, digital copies of certificates of completion, relevant training and participation certificates, along with placement logs and course logbooks can be submitted online with the application to register as a (youth) apprentice. Physical copies can be shown to the assigned Industry Training Consultant. The Industry Training Consultant will award earned credit hours as part of the registration process for the apprenticeship application.