FAQs - Employers
1. Can anyone hire an apprentice?
2. I have someone I want to apprentice. How do I get started?
3. What are my obligations to an apprentice?
4. Can I receive money to subsidize an apprentice’s salary?
5. How much do I have to pay an apprentice?
6. How much does it cost to join the apprenticeship program?
7. How much additional paperwork is needed when hiring an apprentice?
8. How does my company benefit from the apprenticeship program?
10. I don’t have any certified journeypersons on staff. Is it possible for me to hire an apprentice?
1. Can anyone hire an apprentice?
No. You must either employ a journeyperson in an NWT registered trade or be a journeyperson yourself to hire an apprentice.
2. I have someone I want to apprentice. How do I get started?
Make sure your potential apprentice is willing to sign an apprenticeship contract. Then get in touch with one of the ECE Service Centres listed on this document.
3. What are my obligations to an apprentice?
- Sign a contract of apprenticeship to employ the apprentice.
- Keep the apprentice employed for the length of the apprentice contract as long as there is enough work to justify the employment.
- Adequately train and evaluate the apprentice to the widest possible scope of the trade your business can offer.
- Make sure the apprentice is adequately and safely supervised by a tradesperson certified in the same trade.
- Allow the apprentice to attend the unpaid yearly in-school technical training sessions required by their program.
- Keep your apprentice’s log book up-to-date.
4. Can I receive money to subsidize an apprentice’s salary?
Yes, if you have been in business for at least six months.
It’s called Apprentice On-the-Job Funding. But not every employer qualifies for this subsidy. You have to apply for it. You can ask a Career Development Officer about how to access the program.
5. How much do I have to pay an apprentice?
The rate of apprentice pay is set by territorial legislation.
A level one or first-year apprentice usually earns 50 per cent of a journeyperson’s wage. This percentage increases to 80 per cent by the final level of the program. But these percentages are minimums. You can agree to pay an apprentice more based on performance. For specific information on pay percentages, you can review the NWT’s Apprenticeship Trades and Occupational Certification Act.
6. How much does it cost to join the apprenticeship program?
There is no fee to register an apprentice.
7. How much additional paperwork is needed when hiring an apprentice?
While there is definitely paperwork involved with hiring and maintaining records for an apprentice, it really shouldn’t take up too much time. Initially, there are forms to fill out.
Evaluations and log books need to be filled out twice a year.
8. How does my company benefit from the apprenticeship program?
A Canadian Apprenticeship Forum found the total-dollar benefit increases in each year of the apprenticeship and analysis over a four-year period shows a net benefit ranging from $39,524 (cook) to $245,264 (heavy equipment mechanic). Journeypersons were also found to benefit from having an apprentice, while employers estimated “homegrown” journeypersons were 29 per cent more productive.
9. I’m a small contractor with only one certified journeyperson on staff. How many apprentices can I have on site?
The optimal number is one apprentice per journeyperson, but you can have as many as two.
10. I don’t have any certified journeypersons on staff. Is it possible for me to hire an apprentice?
No.
11. The schedule for technical training sessions comes during my firm’s busiest time of year. Can we move the technical training dates?
Possibly. It depends on the trade and the number of apprentices. Other dates may not be available. Contact a regional Career Development Officer for more information.
12. Is the training offered at the Thebacha Campus of Aurora College equal to courses offered down south?
Absolutely. The Thebacha Campus regularly has to pass a rigorous accreditation review done by industry professionals.
Also, the campus’ tools and equipment are state of-the-art, as they must comply with industry standards and practice.