What is OYAP?
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a School to Work program that opens the door for students to explore and work in apprenticeship occupations starting in Grade 11 or Grade 12 through the Cooperative Education program.
Students have an opportunity to become registered apprentices and work towards becoming certified journeypersons in a skilled trade while completing their secondary school diplomas.
Who can participate?
If you are a full-time high school student entering Grade 11 and are at least 16 years old with 16 high school credits, you can work towards a career in the skilled trades by participating in OYAP.
Who is an apprentice?
A person who:
- is studying a skilled trade
- receives on the job training with a journey person
- works towards a "license"
- encounters 90% hands-on experience
- earns money while learning
- works in the trade for 2 - 4 years
The goals of OYAP are:
- To provide students with the opportunity to start training in a skilled trade while completing the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma;
- To enable students to make the school to work transition by direct entry into apprenticeship training;
- To provide employers with the opportunity to train the skilled workers they require;
- To provide a viable solution to address the problem of skilled tradespeople shortages in general, and specifically the lack of young people joining the trades.
How can I access OYAP?
- To learn more about OYAP, contact your local high school guidance counsellor, your co-op education teacher or Michelle Ouellette, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Coordinator for Dufferin-Peel.
Register for OYAP by taking co-op today!
For more information, please check out examples of Apprenticeships in Ontario.