Monday, March 2, 2026 Journey to Becoming a Journeyperson To kick off Women in Construction Week, we are featuring our very own CLAC Supporting Women In Construction (SWIC) mentor, Desirary Foster-Kemps, as she provides insight and advice on her journey as an apprentice. Blogs Newsletters National By Desiray Foster-Kemps, Local 63 Whether you’re beginning your journey or advancing your skills, apprenticeship is a valuable path. If you’re in Alberta, start by creating an account on MyTradesecrets, where you’ll register as an apprentice and receive your personal bluebook. This book records your progress, with entries from your employer and approvals from Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT), so keep it safe. Once registered and working, remember that technical training is a required part of the process. Registration typically opens once a year, from late May to early June, and spots fill quickly—mark the dates so you don’t miss out. While waiting for your training period, continue building your on‑the‑job hours, which are logged in your bluebook. Each trade has specific requirements. For example, carpentry requires 1,560 on‑the‑job hours and 240 hours of classroom learning per period, for four periods total. When your technical training begins, the weeks can go by quickly. Apply for EI in advance, as you likely won’t be working during this time. The coursework can be demanding, so attend all classes and stay organized. You’ll complete both hands‑on and theory-based learning, along with exams at the end of each period—including a provincial exam. If you don’t pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam without repeating the entire course. In your final period, you’ll also have the chance to challenge the Red Seal exam, a nationally recognized certification that can improve job mobility and earning potential. Earning your journeyperson ticket is a major milestone, but learning doesn’t end there. With time and experience, you may even find yourself mentoring new apprentices—offering the kind of guidance that helped shape your own journey. Supporting Women in Construction Through this initiative, CLAC supports women’s journeys in the skilled trades—whether you’re already working in the industry or are interested in a new career. Learn more at clac.ca/SWIC. You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026