Practical & Applied Arts

Apprenticeship Information for High School Students Considering a Career in the Trades

Apprenticeship training is a structured system of supervised training leading to certification in one of Saskatchewan's designated trades.​

  • Apprenticeship training is based on a certain amount of on-the-job training (trade time) that is required prior to each level of technical institute training.
  • Apprentices spent approximately 85% of the time working on the job, learning the knowledge and skills associated with a trade from a certified journeyperson. The remaining time is spent in theoretical and technical in-school training, which reinforces and expands on what is learned on the job.
  • Apprentices receive a broad range of trade experience on the work site. Technical training usually takes place at an institute for a period of six to twelve weeks each year. Recent initiatives have addressed flexible, innovative and timely training options.
  • Once an employer decides to train an individual as an apprentice, a contract of apprenticeship is signed by the apprentice, the employer, and Sask. Apprenticeship. Apprenticeship training ranges from two to five years depending on the trade. Once apprentices complete the final level of training, they are eligible to write the journeyperson examination.
  • There are 49 designated trades and 20 sub-trades in Saskatchewan.

Click here to view the Sask. Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission Website​

  1. Find an employer in the trade of your choice willing to provide the necessary on-the-job training and supervision.
  2. Fill out the application form. If you have prior experience, remember to attach all supporting documents. 
    • Refer to the section below, "High School Students Can Earn Apprenticeship Trade Time While in High School."
  3. Sign an apprenticeship contract with the employer and register it with the Sask. Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission or SATCC. 
  4. High School programming in Practical and Applied Arts (PAA) can help decrease the amount of time required for apprenticeship credits.
  5. Submit your hours of work – trade time – to the SATCC every few months.
  6. When notified by the SATCC, attend technical training for the required number of weeks each year.
  7. Pass your technical training.
  8. Upon successfully completing the apprenticeship program and passing the certification exams, the apprentice receives a Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship and a Journey person Certificate of Qualification.

person welding
  1. High School Trade Courses in PAA/Arts Education.
    • Courses can be taught by journey-person teacher or non-journey-person teacher
    • For example, if a student in GSSD takes Welding 10, 20 and 30, he or she can potentially receive between 3 & 5 high school credits toward graduation (dependent on the instructional hours). If this student pursues a career in that particular field,  (ie. a career in welding), they will also receive apprenticeship credit (maximum 500 hours for Pure PAA Course).=
    • Note: a student could receive 70 hours for the 1 PAA Survey Course.
    • Required documents are a High School Transcript 
  2. Sask. Youth Apprenticeship (SYA)
    • SYA is a high school program that gives students in Grades 10-12 the opportunity to explore careers in the skilled trades through research and hands-on learning. The program provides a strong foundation for securing and succeeding in an apprenticeship post-graduation. For more information visit: Sask Youth Apprenticeship Program
    • Complete all three levels of the SK Youth Apprentice Passport, and register as an apprentice in a designated trade within five years to receive the following benefits:
      • Waiver of registration fee (currently $200)
      • No charge for Level 1 technical training tuition
      • 300 hours of trade-time credit (applied to any trade)
      • If students pursue a career in the skilled trades and enter an apprenticeship contract within 2 years of high school, they could qualify for  a $1000 SK Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) Industry Scholarship. 
  3. Ministry of Education Apprenticeship Credits​ -- Apprenticeship 20A, 20B, 30A and 30B
    • Effective September 2009, students employed under the supervision of a journeyperson in a job in which the hours worked are eligible for apprenticeship time credit through the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission may earn up to four (4) secondary level apprenticeship credits on the basis of work proposed and completed by the student. 
    • Apprenticeship A20, B20, A30, and B30 may be used to fulfill the requirements for graduation, and to meet the PAA/Arts Education credit requirements. 
    • Only students who are enrolled in a secondary school in Saskatchewan and are employed in a trade are eligible for apprenticeship credits.​ 
    • Students will be granted one credit for a minimum of 100 hours of trade experience eligible for Form 6A submission to the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission on the approval of the principal.
    • Contact your career guidance counsellor or Principal for more information. 
  4. Career Work Experience
    • Students with a high school transcript listing Career Work Experience can be credited with 70 hours of apprenticeship time.
  5. Provincial and National Skills Competitions
    • Skills Canada Provincial and National competitions provide students with an opportunity to showcase their skills in a trades based competition. Preparing for these competitions not only further develops their skill in a particular trade, but also helps in developing problem solving, time management and organizational skills. 
    • The type of trade competition chosen will determine how many students would be allowed to compete in that particular trade from each school. 
    • If there happens to be more students that want to compete in a particular trade than is allowed by skills Canada then an in-school competition could be held to determine which student or students would represent their school provincially. Once the provincial skills competitions are held the gold medalists from each trade that is allowed to compete nationally will represent the province at the national competition that could be held anywhere in Canada from coast to coast.

For more information see the Skills Canada Saskatchewan website.

The link below provides information on how many trade time hours the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission may recognize when a person indentures as an apprentice. 

Credits Towards Apprenticeship