Apprenticeship Program

Skilled. Respected. In Demand.

Skilled trades professionals are in demand in the New Brunswick labour force. And it is projected that over the next ten years there will be a shortage of skilled trades professionals in Canada. So now is the time to explore a career in one of the province’s designated occupations.

Apprenticeship is your opportunity to turn your talents and passion into success! 

Apprenticeship is quality, affordable, post-secondary training that leads to certification as a journeyperson in a skilled trades occupation. It is a career route where one can earn a wage while completing your post-secondary education program. There are 45 apprenticeable occupations in New Brunswick.

Most apprenticeship programs take two to four years to complete, and they combine approximately 80% paid on-the-job training with 20% technical or in-school learning.

Earn while you learn!

As an apprentice, you receive a salary from the employer who hires you. This salary normally increases as each stage of the program is successfully completed.

Lower debt

Another big benefit of apprenticeship training is that debt loads after completion of apprenticeships are much lower, since apprentices “earn while they learn”. If eligible, you may receive Employment Insurance (EI) benefits when you begin technical training and may also be eligible for financial assistance through the Training and Skills Development (TSD) program to cover costs associated with training, child care, living away from home, travel assistance, commuting allowance and disability allowance. In addition, there are a wide range of grants and incentives available to apprentices.

Gain work experience

Skilled trades professionals are in demand across the country. New Brunswick offers hands-on training in 45 occupations Apprentices receive post-secondary education through on-the-job training and in-school learning. This provides them with the skills to work almost anywhere in Canada.

Benefits from qualified mentors

As an apprentice, you will have an opportunity to learn high level skills through personal, on-the-job training from a highly qualified journeyperson.

There are different steps you can take to become certified in New Brunswick including:

• Pre-Apprenticeship 
• Apprenticeship 
• Pre-Employment 
• Trade Qualification 
• Equivalency Standards 

In New Brunswick, apprenticeship is a Post-Secondary Education program that requires the committed participation of three partners: the apprentice, the employer (including the supervising journeyperson) and the government represented by Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification.

A successful apprenticeship depends on all partners meeting their individual responsibilities. Once you have signed an apprenticeship agreement, you and your employer have roles and responsibilities to fulfill:

Apprentice

It is your responsibility to know what is involved in your occupation, to learn, to apply your skills and to serve your employer’s productivity needs to the best of your ability. You must take control of your training, ask questions and seek answers. You are tomorrow’s workforce. You are the future for your trade. 

Supervising journeyperson

Your skills were passed down to you by a journeyperson and now it is your responsibility to pass on your skills to the apprentice. You are responsible for providing appropriate supervision and honest feedback. It is up to you to break tasks down into manageable components and teach the apprentice to the best of your ability. You play a key role in maintaining the integrity of your occupation and building the workforce of tomorrow.   

Employer

It is your responsibility to provide an opportunity for the apprentice to learn his or her occupation by offering a well-rounded, practical training experience. It is your responsibility to provide a safe learning environment and to encourage training at all levels. You set the example by fostering a work ethic conductive to training, while minimizing productivity losses. You provide the fair and equitable treatment of all employees and recognize and reward excellence. You provide the foundation for the apprenticeship training and the continuum for passing skills on to the future. 

Government

It is the government’s responsibility, through the Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification branch, to administer the Act and Regulations and Board Orders as well as monitor and support apprentices and employers throughout the duration of the Apprenticeship Program.  

To learn more about becoming an apprentice or to register as an apprentice, contact a Skilled Trades NB office in your region for more information.

• 5,176 Active apprentices 
• 93.5% Male 
• 6.5% Female 
• 2% Indigenous  
• 1,563 Employers with active apprentices 
• 1,389 New apprentices (2021-2022 fiscal year) 
• 1,573 Certificates Issued 
• 572 Completed Apprentices  
• 1,001 Trade Qualifiers 
• Average time to complete Apprenticeship is 4 years 
• 1,906 attended training 
• Average Age of Active Apprentices is 30 years 

The Red Seal exams are developed in collaboration with provinces and territories across the country. However, provincial and territorial apprenticeship authorities are responsible for managing and administering the exams for Red Seal trades.

If you meet all the requirements to write the Red Seal exam for your trade, contact a apprenticeship office in your region for more information.

Get ready for your Red Seal exam (PDF)

Provides individualized supports to apprentices who may struggle with the academic portions of the apprenticeship training program. 

Learning Strategy Program (PDF)