Are you a Waterloo Region, Waterloo Catholic, Wellington Catholic, or Upper Grand District School Board student? Discover how the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and IBEW Local 804’s electrical apprenticeship program can jumpstart your career in the electrical trades. Watch the video and read more below!
What is OYAP?
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a co-op program designed for high school students interested in pursuing a skilled trade. Students participating in OYAP have the opportunity to be signed as an apprentice while completing their co-op placement.
IBEW Local 804’s Electrical Apprenticeship Program
IBEW Local 804 offers an electrical apprenticeship program for high-school students. The program transitions into a pre-apprenticeship program during the summer and successful pre-apprentices are signed and hired as apprentices with IBEW.
To qualify for the program, students must be able to take a full-time co-op package in their second semester of their final year of high school or have already graduated and come back for a four-credit co-op.
“I know they’re going to get a lot of safety training, a lot of on-the-job training, and when they leave high school, they’ll not only leave high school having earned 440 hours towards their first level but they’ll be leaving high school with a good salary, pension, and benefits which is a great start to life.”
Pauline Gay, OYAP Coordinator
The Benefits of the Program
The IBEW Local 804 electrical apprenticeship program offers numerous benefits for students, including:
- Equal opportunity for all participants
- Transition support from high school to the workplace
- Community connections and support
- Comprehensive safety training
- On-the-job workshop training
- ~$1,000 worth of tools
- Earning hours towards their first level of apprenticeship
- An opportunity to be hired as an apprentice with IBEW Local 804 and receive a good salary, pension, and benefits.
The Training Process
Students in the program receive 10 weeks of training, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. The first three to four weeks consist of in-class safety training. Following that, students receive hands-on workshop training where they learn various skills needed for job sites.
“We’ve got a really good relationship with a lot of the unionized contractors. A lot of the companies are companies I work for myself or some of the instructors work for so they’re used to the program now they know what’s coming out…[They] want people that have been through our program.”
Peter Caesar, IBEW Local 804 Training Director
Student Experiences
Students who have participated in the program have found it to be an invaluable experience. Many praise the hands-on training, knowledgeable instructors, and the opportunity to learn new skills.
“It’s awesome coming here every day and getting to work with my hands, a lot better than sitting in the classroom…all the trainers are great here too it’s just been really good.”
Ben Bedali, OYAP Student
Interested in Learning More?
The BEW Local 804 + OYAP electrical pre-apprenticeship offers a fantastic opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in the electrical trades. With comprehensive training, hands-on experience, and support from industry professionals, students can enter the workforce confidently with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.
Are you a student who’s interested in a career in one of the electrical disciplines?
Are your children, or any young people you know aged 13-18 considering apprenticeships as a career option?
This program is available for students in the Waterloo Region, Waterloo Catholic, Wellington Catholic, and Upper Grand District School Boards.
Learn more about OYAP:
https://www.bepwr.ca/blog/oyap WRDSB: https://schools.wrdsb.ca/pathways/oya… WCDSB: https://el.wcdsb.ca/accelerated-oyap/
Learn more about IBEW Local 804: