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Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Preparing for Trade School

6 best practices to help you with your journey into the classroom

1. Budget. Start thinking about the costs of attending school.

a. Tuition amounts are standardized by the ministry and follow a guideline of $10 per day.

b. Additional costs like processing fees, administrative fees, and student ID increase the total amount of school fees. In some cases, it can amount to an additional $300 to $400.

c. Learn about government financial supports you can take advantage of—there’s a lot out there!

2. Track your hours. Hold onto your pay stubs, timesheets, and hours tracking so that you have supporting documents if needed.

a. The ministry does not track your hours. This is your responsibility as an apprentice.

b. In most cases, it is your responsibility to notify your employer of any wage increases. The best way to track that is by holding onto your supporting documents.

3. Complete your logbook. With the roll out of Skilled Trades Ontario (STO), completing your logbook—also known as your training standard—is more vital then ever before.

a. You are required to sign off on all skills, including for your completion package, before writing your exam.

b. Digital copies of your logbook can be found by searching your trade in Skilled Trades Ontario.

4. Review the curriculum. Each trade has its own in-class training curriculum.

a. An online version can be found by searching your trade in Skilled Trades Ontario.

b. A breakdown of course content and hours spent on types of learning can be found in the curriculum.

5. Connect with your network. Ask questions. Someone on your team has gone through what you’re going through.

a. Get advice or tips on how to study and what to expect.

b. Create connections with your TDA instructors.

c. Looking for ways to get connected with other trades people? Get in contact with the CLAC Apprentice Mentorship Team today (mentor@clac.ca)!

6. Learn more about your study habits. Knowing how you learn and asking for help will improve your chances of success.

a. Are you a visual learner? How do you absorb information? What types of study material have worked/not worked in the past? These are all questions you should be asking yourself prior to your in-class training.

b. Ask for accommodations. If you need support with your learning or exam completion, teams at each college can help you out.

i. New this year is a team at Skilled Trades Ontario created specifically to help apprentices find exam support. Contact them today by emailing esu@skilledtradesontario.ca.