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Alberta’s apprenticeship and industry training system is an “industry-driven” system that ensures a highly skilled, internationally competitive trained workforce in Alberta’s 58 designated trades and occupations. This workforce supports the economic progress of Alberta and its competitive role in the global market.
Industry (employers and employees) sets training and certification standards and provides direction to the system through an industry committee network and the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board (the Board). The Government of Alberta provides the legislative framework and administrative support for the system. Technical institutes and colleges provide technical training for apprentices.
Following are the Principles that guide the system:
The foundation of the apprenticeship and industry training system is a network of Industry Committees – Local Apprenticeship Committees (LACs) and Provincial Apprenticeship Committees (PACs) in the designated trades, and Occupational Committees in the designated occupations. A Provisional Committee may be established before the designation of a new trade or occupation comes into effect. Each of these committees is comprised of an equal number of employers and employees.
The Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board oversees the system. Together with the industry committees, the Board sets Alberta’s training and certification standards. The Board is comprised of an equal number of employers and employees who work together on behalf of the designated trades and occupations.
The Apprenticeship and Industry Training Sector of Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education supports the industry-driven system. The Division acts as the registrar, advisor and monitor for apprenticeship and industry training activity. They support the Board and industry committees to develop training and certification standards, and make arrangements with the Apprenticeship Technical Training Providers (technical institutes and colleges) for apprentices’ technical training.
The employer – apprentice partnership is the most visible part of the system. The Employer, through a journeyman, provides the majority of the training as the Apprentice learns the skills of the trade on the job.
Board
The primary responsibility of the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board is to establish the standards and requirements for training and certification in programs under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act. The Board also makes recommendations to the Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education regarding the needs of the Alberta’s labour market for skilled and trained workers, and the designation of trades and occupations.
Industry Committee Network
The apprenticeship and industry training system relies on the Board and a network of industry committees. These include local and provincial apprenticeship committees in the designated trades, occupational committees in the designated occupations, and provisional committees and ad hoc committees established by the Board, as needed. All trade committees are composed of equal numbers of employer and employee representatives. The role of these committees includes:
Individual Employers
Individual employers also support the apprenticeship and industry training system by employing and training apprentices, providing them with an opportunity to develop their skills on the job. They also support the system by contributing equipment and other resources for technical training.
Government
Enterprise and Advanced Education, Apprenticeship and Industry Training staff work with industry, employer and employee organizations and apprenticeship technical training providers to:
Post-Secondary Institutions
Technical institutes and colleges are key participants in Alberta’s apprenticeship and industry training system. They work with Enterprise and Advanced Education, the Board, and industry committees to enhance access and responsiveness to industry needs through the delivery of the technical training component of apprenticeship programs. They develop lesson plans from the course outlines established by industry and provide technical training to apprentices.
A designated trade is an occupation that is designated under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Alberta Cabinet and the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta) on the recommendation of industry, the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board (the Board) and the Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education.
The primary focus of designated trades is the acquisition of skills and competencies through an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship begins with finding an employer willing to hire, pay and train an apprentice. An apprenticeship program is a combination of documented on-the-job training and work experience (80%) under the guidance of a journeyperson and formal technical training (20%) provided at or through a post-secondary institution – usually a college or technical institute. Both are required to complete an apprenticeship program. Apprentices and their employers sign a contract of apprenticeship that is registered with Enterprise and Advanced Education.
A trade may be designated as either a compulsory certification trade or an optional certification trade. To work in a compulsory certification trade in Alberta, a person must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson. In optional certification trades, a person can work for an employer who is satisfied that the worker has the skills and knowledge expected of a certified journeyperson, or be self-employed. A person who is working in and learning the trade in Alberta must be a registered apprentice.
Tradespeople who have skills and experience in a designated trade – but no recognized certification in that trade – may, by demonstrating industry-established competencies, prove they met the standards and requirements set for journeyperson certification in Alberta.
A certified tradesperson has the exclusive right to use the word ‘certified’ in combination with the name of his/her trade (for example, ‘certified agriculture equipment technician’ or ‘certified welder’).
In Alberta, there are 49 designated trades (see Trades & Occupations).
A designated occupation is an occupation that is designated under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act by the Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education on the recommendation of industry and the Board.
The primary focus of designated occupations is the recognition of acquired skills and competencies. Some designated occupations have formal training provided by industry. Two designated occupations have training programs prescribed by the Board.
Participation in a designated occupation in Alberta is voluntary. To work in the occupation, there is no requirement to be certified or a registered trainee. A person who is working in and learning the occupation does not need to take prescribed training.
There is no exclusive right to use the word “certified” in combination with the name of the occupation.
There are 9 designated occupations in Alberta (see Trades & Occupations).
The process to designate a trade or occupation starts when industry submits an application to the Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education.
The Board may establish and appoint industry representatives to a provisional committee. The provisional committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding the standards for training and certification for the proposed designated trade or occupation. The Board makes a recommendation to the Minister.
Based on the Board’s recommendation, the Minister and Cabinet consider whether or not to designate the trade or occupation.
Cabinet, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor, designates a trade. The Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education designates an occupation.
For more information on the designation process, see the Designation of Trades and Occupations – Information Package.
