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 conducive 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.