In the world of an apprentice, "being sponsored" can mean many things.
A registered apprentice is an individual approved by the Industry Training Authority (ITA) to act as an apprentice. This may be referred to as being a "sponsored apprentice" or an "indentured apprentice". See What is an apprentice for more information about registering as an apprentice.
Apprentices often have employers that are willing to pay for their technical training. Sometimes called a "sponsored apprentice", this is more correctly referred to as a "sponsored student". For information about sponsoring a student, and information for employers, please see Sponsorship.
What is Apprenticeship?
An Apprenticeship is a three-party agreement between an Apprentice, an employer who is willing to provide on-the-job training, and the Industry Training Authority. The Industry Training Authority will determine the terms of your Apprenticeship, maintain your Apprenticeship records and technical training results, and will provide your final examination and certification. Apprenticeship combines paid on-the-job training, work experience and post-secondary classroom instruction.
The majority of an Apprentice’s time (80 per cent) is spent learning skills and gaining experience on the job (under the direction of a highly skilled journeyperson) and approximately 20 per cent of an Apprentice’s time is spent learning in a classroom setting. The average Apprenticeship program takes four years to complete, depending on the trade. Upon completion, an Apprentice is required to write the Interprovincial Red Seal (IP) exam in order to receive his/her Journeyperson designation known as Red Seal.
Most apprenticeships require that you attend technical training as a requirement for completing your trade training. Each trade requires various levels of training. Normally, an apprentice will attend a block of technical training at the College for each level of apprenticeship. The technical training will provide you with additional theory and skills necessary to prepare you for your Red Seal examination.
To become a registered apprentice, you can download an Apprentice and Sponsor Registration form or contact the Industry Training Authority (ITA) at: 1-866-660-6011.