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Apprenticeship Legislation

Apprenticeship Legislation

Apprenticeship training and trade certification are legislated in Ontario.

Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act (TQAA) is a time-based model. The construction trades only apply to the TQAA, which number about 30.

Apprenticeship and Certification Act (ACA) applies to the service, motive power and manufacturing/industrial sectors representing which are about 100 trades.

The two different legislations have resulted in two different models. The focus of ACA emphasizes the completion of skills sets as prescribed by industry representatives of particular trades. ACA is viewed as a competency-based (or performance) model while TQAA is viewed as time based.

Competency-Based Model
(ACA)

Time-Based Model
(TQAA)
  • Governed by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act (ACA) since January 2000
  • Applies to all industrial, service and motive power trades
  • Apprenticeship contract is called a Training Agreement
  • Sponsor refers to the trainer, who may or may not be the apprentice's employer
  • Completion of academic and training standards as prescribed by affiliated Industry Committees
  • An Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) at or above the general or college level, or a recognized equivalency
  • Governed by the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act (TQAA)
  • Applies to all construction trades
  • Apprenticeship contract is called Contract of Apprenticeship
  • Employer refers to the company who has entered into a contract of apprenticeship and has agreed to provide wages and training by a qualified trainer
  • Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School or recognized equivalency at or above the general level
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