Engagement & Events
Industry Pathways
Program Development and Trade Designation
Through the Industry Pathways initiative, Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) is accepting inquiries from Alberta industries that wish to explore options to train and certify professionals under the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act (STAEA).
Pathways that may be established under STAEA are:
- Apprenticeship Education Programs (with or without trade designation)
- Industry Training Programs with less complexity or a shorter duration than full Apprenticeship Education Programs (with or without trade designation)
- Trade designation (with or without an associated education/training program under STAEA)
Various considerations will be taken into account to determine which option is suitable for industries that wish to establish new apprenticeship education programs, industry training programs, and/or designated trades. Considerations may include, but are not limited to:
- Size of the industry
- Support from the industry
- Length of program
- Need for activities to be completed by qualified individuals
- Regulation of wages and apprentice-to-mentor ratios
- Type of education delivery
- Desire for Red Seal endorsement
If you or someone in your organization represents an industry with interests in one of these Industry Pathways, inquire with industry-pathways@gov.ab.ca.
Apprenticeship and the IT Sector Request for Interest
AIT extended an invitation to Alberta’s Information Technology (IT) representatives to attend an online information session regarding a Request for Interest (RFI) that the Government of Alberta is launching.
See the presentation notes from the online information session.
Fact Sheets and Templates
- Five Pathways Fact Sheet
- Learn about how programs and designation can be combined into five pathways that industries can explore adopting to develop and/or certify professionals in their field.
- Industry Pathways Process Fact Sheet
- Learn about the process AIT can help you navigate through if you or your organization represents an Alberta industry interested in exploring options to train and/or certify professionals under STAEA.
- Sample Proposal Template
- AIT will provide you with a fillable form of this template to complete as part of the Stage One consultation process.
- Inquire with industry-pathways@gov.ab.ca to start the process.
Credentials and Certification
Adopting an Industry Pathway allows professionals in an occupation to achieve a government-issued education credential and/or journeyperson certificate.
- An education credential is awarded upon completion of:
- an apprenticeship education program, or
- an industry training program.
- A Journeyperson Certificate is awarded to individuals who meet certification requirements in a designated trade.
- Both a Journeyperson Certificate and an education credential are awarded upon completion of:
- an apprenticeship education program in a designated trade, or
- an industry training program in a designated trade.
Apprentice Education Programs
Apprenticeship Education Programs are post-secondary programs consisting of:
- paid on-the-job instruction at a worksite, supported by a sponsor and a mentor (~80%), and
- interspersed classroom instruction at a publicly funded post-secondary institution (~20%).
These programs provide graduates with:
- job-ready skills, knowledge, and competencies in the full scope of an occupation.
- a credential (e.g. a diploma) to acknowledge completion of a post-secondary program.
Programs are developed and administered by the Alberta government in consultation with industry experts.
Industry Training Programs
Industry Training Programs (ITPs):
- provide a flexible education option for occupations that are better suited to industry training rather than a full apprenticeship education program.
- have less complexity and/or a shorter duration than a full apprenticeship education program,
- establish standardized industry-provided training for workers across the province and
- are completed mainly on-the-job, but may also include industry-provided lab or classroom training or other recognized training.
ITPs provide graduates with a government-issued Certificate of Achievement to recognize completion of training.
ITPs can be developed for occupations with or without trade designation under STAEA.
Trade Designation
Designated Trades are occupations regulated under STAEA.
Trade designation allows the establishment of industry-driven requirements for journeyperson certification, which shows someone is:
- highly skilled and competent in their trade, and
- authorized to work anywhere in Alberta.
Designation creates a model for restricting activities to people who are considered qualified.
Learn more about trade designation.
Contact us with any questions