Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Important Updates to Electrical Trade Curriculum

Skilled Trades Ontario released its updated Electrician (309A, 442A, 309C) curriculum that now aligns with the Red Seal and the rest of Canada. You might be asking yourself, what does that mean for apprentices in Ontario? How does this impact the current apprenticeship pathway?

By Colin deRaaf, CLAC Training Ontario Director

As a part of the updated curriculum, electrical apprentices will be going to trade school for four terms (up from three), with a net increase of seven weeks of total trade school. New in-class hours per level are as follows:

• Level 1 – 270 Hours (9 weeks)

• Level 2 – 270 Hours (9 weeks)

• Level 3 – 270 Hours (9 weeks)

• Level 4 – 240 Hours (8 weeks)

That means as of September 1, 2024, the transition plan will apply to two scenarios:

Current apprentices registered before September 1, 2024, will complete their existing curriculum levels under the 2003 program, subject to some limitations and based on phased-in implementation dates and availability of in-class offers.
New apprentices, either newly registered after September 1, 2024, or current apprentices yet to take Level 1, will follow the new curriculum, completing Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 as applicable.

As of September 1, any new or existing apprentice who has not yet completed Level 1 trade school by September 1, 2024 (and Level 2 by September 1, 2025, Level 3 by September 1, 2026), will be on the new curriculum track.

Existing apprentices who have already attended trade school will maintain their existing three-term pathway until they phase out (as long as they continue on with annual attendance). There are key dates that effect an apprentice’s progression with in-class training:

• In-class Level 1 starting after September 1, 2024

• In-class Level 2 starting after September 1, 2025

• In-class Level 3 starting after September 1, 2026

• In-class Level 4 starting after September 1, 2026

So, unless an apprentice wants to spend an extra seven weeks in trade school, they should be motivated to not defer any trade school seat offers. There are a few more rounds of intake between now and September for most trade school colleges.

CLAC is here to help you throughout your apprenticeship, including guiding you through best practices as you prepare for in-class training or writing your exam.

Reach out to your Ontario Apprenticeship Team today! You can email us at onapprenticeship@clac.ca or call 519-653-3002 x 5580.

Important Updates to Electrical Trade Curriculum

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