Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is designed for students who wish to pursue a skilled trade while meeting the academic requirements to graduate secondary school. Students may enroll in OYAP in grade 11 and may continue with OYAP in grade 12. Students may be asked to already have a placement and a supervisor willing to take them on as an apprentice in trade areas that are highly regulated. There are more than 150+ skilled trades to choose from!

Benefits of OYAP

• Allows you to explore the skilled trades

• Allows you to log hours required for the trade as a registered apprentice

• Increase awareness of workplace demands

• Develops specialized and transferable skills

• Increases safety awareness

• Builds a network for future employment 

• Opens the door to entrepreneurial opportunities

• Earn credits

Accelerated OYAP

This co-op program is offered to students in their last year of secondary school who have acquired at least 26 of the 30 credits required to graduate high school. Students work in a skilled trade while obtaining their level 1 apprenticeship certification in the skilled trade at a designated college. Students who are highly focused are able to complete the secondary school co-op requirements in conjunction with the college requirements, and may benefit from these reach-ahead opportunities. Students must be in good academic standing and have excellent attendance and punctuality to be considered.