Contact us for further information regarding local opportunities and registration. We will direct you to the appropriate individual at your secondary school.
What is the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (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.
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.
At the end of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, students earn a high school diploma and have a great head start toward a career in a skilled trade. Students may choose to stay with the co-op company, open a business or use the experience as a jump start to further education in technology or engineering at a college or university.
Pursuing a skilled trade takes interest, specific aptitude, skills and pride in your work if you are expecting a good career with a great future.
Consider the OYAP if you are a person who:
Learns best by doing
Enjoys working with your hands
Shows a strong work ethic
Demonstrates a courteous, positive and responsible attitude
Wants to explore career options while attending high school
Students receive many benefits from enrolling in a OYAP program, such as:
• opportunities to explore tentative career choices that could lead to a meaningful career;
• increased awareness of workplace demands/needs;
• placements that allow students to acquire hours and competencies toward the total hours required for that particular apprenticeship, thus reducing post- secondary qualification time;
• opportunities to apply classroom theory to workplace experience;
• a network for future employment;
• increased safety awareness and first aid skills.
