A career in the skilled trades

Ontario schools have programs that help students explore  in-demand careers in the skilled trades.

With specialty training, hands-on work experience and the ability to earn while you learn, skilled trades programs give students exposure to a wide range of secure, high-paying and satisfying careers.

There are more than 140 skilled trades in Ontario that provide a wide range of career opportunities, such as:

  • automotive service technician
  • carpenter
  • crane operator
  • welder
  • hairstylist
  • developmental services worker

Learn how you can get a head start in high school.

Get a head start in high school

Students can get an early start and strong foundational skills in the skilled trades through different programs in high school:

A young culinary student in chef whites plating a dish.

Become a youth apprentice

A young student wearing protective eye wear and operating a drill press.

Complete a Specialist High Skills Major

A young student wearing protective equipment in a construction site.

Do a co-op education course

Students viewing a computer screen.

Take a dual credits course

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

A young culinary student in chef whites plating a dish.

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a school-to-work program. It lets students explore and work in apprenticeships starting in the summer before Grade 11 through cooperative education.

Students can become registered apprentices and work towards becoming certified in a skilled trade, while completing their secondary school diploma.

Contact the OYAP coordinator at your school board or the cooperative education or guidance department at your local high school to find out more.

Specialist High Skills Majors

A young student wearing protective eye wear and operating a drill press.

The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is an innovative program that lets high school students in Grades 11 and 12 focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests while earning their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Students can:

  • concentrate their learning around a particular sector
  • gain important skills on the job with actual employers, at skills training centres and at school
  • earn industry certifications

Specialist High Skills Major programs are available in 19 sectors including:

Browse the SHSM programs available at your local high school and school board and talk to your school’s guidance or cooperative education department or the SHSM coordinator at your school board.

Co-operative education (Co-op)

A young student wearing protective equipment in a construction site.

Co-operative education allows high school students to earn credits while completing a work placement in the community along with classroom learning or online learning activities. Co-op work placements are arranged for students by their high school and must follow Ministry of Education policy and guidelines.

Students participating in Co-op are assigned to a cooperative education teacher.

The Co-op teacher ensures that students:

  • learn in safe, culturally responsive environments in the community
  • are actively involved in determining all aspects of their own learning
  • help decide how they demonstrate their learning

Benefits of co-op education

Students can apply two co-op credits towards their compulsory high school graduation requirements, with no limit on earning optional co-op credits.

Co-op allow students to:

  • experience hands-on learning
  • test-drive career options
  • see the relevance of their classroom learning
  • earn credits through workplace experience
  • develop skills and habits required in the workplace
  • build a resumé for their postsecondary plans and future employment

All Ontario school boards with high schools offer co-op. Contact your school’s cooperative education teacher or guidance department or your school’s principal for more information.

Dual credit programs

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Dual credit programs allow students in high school to take college courses or apprenticeship training that count towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and a postsecondary certificate, diploma, degree or a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Dual credit programs are targeted at students facing challenges in achievement to help them graduate from high school and move on to college and apprenticeship programs.

Students can:

  • earn high school credits while studying at a publicly funded college or taking apprenticeship training
  • gain experience to transition to postsecondary education, including apprenticeship
  • get a head start on learning and training for their future careers

Talk to your high school’s guidance counsellor to see if dual credit programs are offered at your school.

Search for dual credit programs at your local publicly funded college.

How we’re increasing awareness

We are increasing skilled trades awareness and exposure in schools so it gives younger students more opportunities to develop interests and skills that can lead to careers in the skilled trades.

In the classroom

Students learn about skilled trades in the classroom and develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices for their education, career and life outside school through:

  • a new required Technological Education credit that students will take in Grade 9 or Grade 10 for early learning about a broad range of sectors, such as construction and hospitality
  • the updated Grade 10 career studies course, with an enhanced focus on education planning and career pathways that lead to the skilled trades and a deeper look at careers in high-growth industries such as STEM disciplines
  • education and career/life planning, with support from their teachers, guidance counsellors and parents to plan for next steps after high school

Learning opportunities

Students across all grades can learn beyond the classroom and explore different career options, while building their skills to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, through other learning opportunities, such as:

  • career fairs
  • classroom visits/career talks from skilled tradespeople
  • job shadowing
  • one on one career mentorship
  • project-based learning
  • workplace tours

Working with partners

Ontario works with school boards and their partners to deliver science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and skilled trades experiential learning opportunities in elementary and high schools.

FIRST Robotics Canada

FIRST Robotics Canada is a registered charity with a mission to inspire students to pursue further studies and careers in science, technology and engineering.

Students can build robots and take part in tournaments with competitions, judged awards and other forms of recognition, potentially including university and college scholarships.

Competitions start as early as elementary school and continue through high school. Learn more about the competitions.

FIRST Robotics also works to support integrating more girls and young women into STEM courses and careers.

Skills Ontario

Skills Ontario provides a broad range of programming and skills competitions designed to encourage students to explore, consider and prepare for careers in the skilled trades and technologies, and connect students with employers from skilled trades industries.

Programming options include:

  • career awareness workshops
  • Far North trades and tech days
  • in-school presentations
  • summer camp

Skills Ontario also has events and programs for:

  • young women in Grades 7 to 12 to develop skills and find a mentor, for example career exploration events and a young women’s conference
  • First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth to get information and resources about skilled trades and technology, develop skills and find a mentor, for example workshops, mentoring events, Trades and Technology Days, summer camps and a conference for Indigenous youth