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.

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.

Why Apply?

• Applying for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program could be the first step in beginning a rewarding career in the skilled trades.
• OYAP is both a demanding and smart choice if you wish to jump-start your career. Jobs in the skilled trades pay well and challenge your intellect and creativity.
• Apprenticeships are often the first step in a career path that can lead to supervisory, administrative or management positions, or to a self-employed business career.
• Students who participate in OYAP will be trained in a specific set of skills leading to a registered apprenticeship program and will be able to obtain apprenticeship hours and high school credits at the same time.