About OYAP

Apprenticeship and Certification Act

Education:     

Completion of grade twelve is the minimum requirement for entry into an apprenticeship program.  OYAP students are exempt from this requirement if they are working toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
                 

Wages:    

Wages are not monitored under ACA.   ACA focuses on training and not on employment conditions.  The payment of wages is covered under the Employment Standards Act.  Under ACA employers are not required to pay OYAP apprentices.  An exception for remuneration applies to the hairstylist trade. 

Ratio:   

Industry committees set benchmark ratios of qualified trainers to the number of apprentices.  The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) uses benchmarks as set out by the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act (TQAA).

Time Requirements:    

ACA focuses on competencies rather than hours.  Sponsors are expected to ensure apprentices can perform all aspects of their trade.  Reference to time may be used as a benchmark.

Training Agreements:   

An apprentice can have more than one training agreement either in the same program or in a different program. For example, a hairstylist apprentice working in two different shops or an apprentice working in the same shop in two different trades (auto service technician and truck and coach technician) is acceptable under ACA guidelines.