The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a program for students that opens the door to work in apprenticeship occupations through the co-operative education program. Students have an opportunity to become registered apprentices and work towards becoming certified journeypersons in a skilled trade while completing their secondary school diplomas.
There are several different options within OYAP for TDSB students.
Specialized OYAP
The Specialized OYAP at Central Technical School provides students with the opportunity to develop deep career-related skills. The one year program combines multiple technological education credits in a specific trade with a co-operative education experience. Students learn from OCT teachers that are also journeypersons that hold a Certificate of Qualification in their trade.
Accelerated OYAP
Accelerated OYAP is an intensive one-semester program that combines a co-op placement with an 8-week block of Level 1 training at a College or Union training centre. An Accelerated OYAP student becomes a Registered Apprentice with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD).
STEP to Construction
STEP to Construction lets Grade 11/12 students spend a semester on a job site sampling several skilled trades – from electrical to carpentry, drywall to sheet metal work, plumbing, tile-setting, bricklaying, cement finishing and general labour and construction craft work – to see if one sparks their interest. STEP stands for Specialized Trades Exploration Program, because it lets students explore from three to seven of these trades over a semester, rather than just one. It also sends them to George Brown College once a week for a dual credit (college credit + high school credit) in Construction Health and Safety, where they also earn numerous safety certificates to strengthen their resumes, free of charge. STEP grads end up with five high school credits and a college credit.
STEP to Transportation
STEP to Transportation lets Grade 11/12 students spend a semester on a job site sampling several skilled trades – from truck and coach technician to auto body collision repair, electronics to millwright, metal fabrication, welding, and more – to see if one sparks their interest. STEP stands for Specialized Trades Exploration Program, because it lets students explore from three to seven of these trades over a semester, rather than just one. It also sends them to George Brown College once a week for a dual credit (college credit + high school credit) in Construction Health and Safety, where they also earn numerous safety certificates to strengthen their resumes, free of charge. STEP grads end up with five high school credits and a college credit.
PACE
Pre-Apprenticeship Co-operative Education (PACE) is a program where participating students have an opportunity to explore a skilled trade within the construction sector, through a co-op experience alongside TDSB tradesperson employees. It is offered in collaboration with the TDSB Design, Construction, Maintenance department and its trades union, the Maintenance and Construction Skilled Trades Council (MCSTC). PACE students earn 4 credits in cooperative education while developing skills related to construction and acquire certifications recognised by industry, including Working at Heights and Emergency First Aid.
For further information contact your guidance counsellor or find out more here:
https://oyaptdsb.com/programs