The Roles of System Partners

• Accountable for outcomes of Alberta’s post-secondary education system, including apprenticeship.
• Provide funding to public post-secondary institutions that deliver apprenticeship classroom education.
• Establish apprenticeship education programs and industry training programs, and their education credentials.
• Delegate department staff to serve as Registrar and Administrator.
• Appoint members to the Alberta Board of Skilled Trades.
• With input from the board and industry partners:
  • Designate trades and their trade certificates.
  • Prescribe which activities are restricted in a designated trade.

AE Administration includes all Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) staff as well as other AE staff involved in financial, communications, and IT matters. 

• Engage with apprenticeship system partners and stakeholders.
• Provide secretariat support to the Alberta Board of Skilled Trades.
• Oversee the funding for classroom instruction at public post-secondary institutions.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators.
• Work with other jurisdictions to administer the Red Seal program.
• Collect and analyze data about the apprenticeship system.
• Develop and administer IT programs and services to support apprentices and employers.
• Promote apprenticeship education programs.
• Conduct compliance and enforcement activities.
• Serve as Registrar and Administrator.
  • As the Registrar, AE registers apprentices, supports and tracks apprentice progression, monitors compliance, and issues education credentials.
  • As the Administrator, AE evaluates credentials, certifications, assessments and work experience; monitors compliance; facilitates access to Red Seal testing and endorsements; and issues trade certificates.

Sponsors may include employers, consortia of employers, labour organizations, non-profit organizations and more.

Sponsor responsibilities include:

• Sign Apprenticeship Education Agreements with apprentices.
• Employ or find employment for apprentices.
• Provide or ensure high-quality paid on-the-job instruction through mentorship.
• Work with other sponsors, as needed, to provide apprentices with experience in the full scope of the profession.
• Support apprentice progression and completion.
• Ensure mentor responsibilities are met, including mentor to apprentice ratios.
• Encourage and enable progression and completion of an apprenticeship program.
• Maintain employment records for apprentices.
• Ensure forms, documents, and records of period completion are submitted

Mentors are supervising journeypersons or individuals that hold a recognized trade certificate that support apprentices with on-the-job education through effective communication and guidance.

Mentor responsibilities include:

• Providing opportunities for apprentices to develop knowledge and skills
• Assessing apprentice competence and providing feedback
• Providing a supportive learning environment that fosters continuous development
• Incorporating knowledge and skills learned at school with on-the-job education

Industry partners are defined as entities that are provincial in scope and provide labour market intelligence and advocacy.

• Provide advice on the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to successfully work in a field to inform education and trade certification standards.
• Provide advice to the Alberta Board of Skilled Trades about trends and issues impacting industries and designated trades in Alberta.
• Identify talent development needs to support success and growth of businesses and occupations in Alberta.
• Promote careers in the skilled trades.
• Maintain relationships with post-secondary institutions.

• Develop and implement a strategy for industry involvement.
• Define the scope of profession for a designated trade.
• Advise the Minister on designation of trades, restricted activities, and who may perform them.
• Establish standards/requirements for trade certification.
• Provide advice on skills, knowledge, and competencies that should be included in apprenticeship programs related to skilled trades.
• Recognize trade certificates from other jurisdictions.
• Provide strategic and policy advice to the Minister and department regarding the continued evolution of skilled trades in Alberta.

• Develop curriculum for classroom instruction (theory/labs/shop).
• Deliver classroom instruction to apprentices.
• Participate in development of, and conduct apprentice assessments related to, classroom instruction.
• Develop and deliver learning supports for apprentices.
• Provide input to Advanced Education, the Alberta Board of Skilled Trades, and industry stakeholders regarding apprenticeship education in Alberta.
• Maintain relationships with industry stakeholders.

 Community Agencies are non-profit organizations that promote the skilled trades and may deliver preparatory programming.

• Help prepare Albertans for apprenticeship education and working in the skilled trades.
• Build awareness of professions and careers.
• Connect Albertans to employers.
• Support participation of underrepresented groups and Albertans with barriers to employment

• Participate in their apprenticeship education program.
• Demonstrate competency in on-the-job learning.
• Attend classroom instruction as required to progress in the program.
• Keep records up-to-date.
• Submit any forms or documents required.