# Trades at NLC

Ask a question. Get a real reply.

Tell us where you're at. An advisor follows up, points you to the right path, and answers whatever's on your mind. No pressure, and no need to have it all figured out.

Why a trade? 

The work is here

Skilled trades are one of the few careers where you train fast, get paid to learn, and finish with a credential that travels. In the North, the demand is right outside the door.

How it works

From no experience to a ticket 

Trades training is a sequence, and it's simpler than it looks from the outside. Here's the whole path.

Our Programs

Your Campus 

Dawson Creek 

Fort St. John 

Why train here 

Small shops. Real hours. Northern wages.

Before you ask 

Do I need an employer before I start?+

Not for the foundation programs. AST Foundation and , Piping Trades Foundation. All take you with no employer and no experience. You only need a sponsor for apprenticeship technical training, which comes later. If you don't have one yet, start with a foundation program.

Can I get a student loan?+

It depends on the program. All three foundation programs are eligible for Canada Student Loans through StudentAid BC. Apprenticeship technical training and Professional Cook 2 are not loan-eligible. For those, ask us about SkilledTradesBC grants and EI support during training. Tell us your situation and we'll go through it with you.

Is there anything extra I need before day one?+

Yes, and it varies. Cook programs need FoodSafe Level 1. Piping Trades needs Intermediate First Aid, H2S Alive, and Common Safety Orientation. AST Foundation requires a criminal record check because the campus is shared with a high school. We'll tell you exactly what's needed and when.

What if I'm not sure which trade fits?+

That's a good reason to talk to us rather than guess. Tell us what you like doing, what you're good with, and what your life looks like right now. An advisor will point you honestly, including telling you if a program isn't the right fit.

“Trades training at NLC joins together industry subject matter experts, state-of-the-art facilities and a passion for growing the profession as much as the hands-on skill set of each student we train.”

– Rodney Cork, Associate Dean, Trades and Apprenticeships

Ask a question. Get a real reply.

Tell us where you're at. An advisor follows up, points you to the right path, and answers whatever's on your mind. No pressure, and no need to have it all figured out.