Apprenticeship Trade and Occupations Certification
Nunavut’s economy is growing and the demand for workers in the trades is on the rise. The Government of Nunavut wants Nunavummiut to benefit from this growth and the occupations associated with it. The best way to do this is to become a certified tradesperson.
The Department of Family Services’ Apprenticeship Unit supports skilled workers and apprentices on their way to becoming journeypersons either with or without their Interprovincial Standards Red Seal certification. The Apprenticeship Unit also certifies eligible trade occupations. The Unit is governed by the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupations Certification Act and makes decisions based upon recommendations of the Nunavut Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupations Certification Board.
If you want challenging, exciting and well-paid employment in Nunavut’s growing economy, then the skilled trades might be for you. To find out how to become a registered apprentice or receive your Nunavut trades certification, contact the Nunavut Apprenticeship Certification Unit or your regional Career Development Office.
Nunavut Apprenticeship Certification Unit:
Zsolt Munkacsy
Supervisor of Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupations Certification
867-975-5280 / @email
Angela Angrove
Certification Officer
867-975-5221 / @email
Regional Career Development offices:
Qikiqtani – 800-567-1514
North Baffin: @email
South Baffin: @email
Kivalliq – 800-953-8516
@email
Kitikmeot – 800-661-0845
@email
Quick links
Who is involved in Apprenticeship?
How can I become an Apprentice in Nunavut?
How can I receive Nunavut certification as an experienced worker?
What is Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship is a structured system of supervised training that combines on-the-job learning (under the leadership of a certified journeyperson) and incremental in-school technical instruction (anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks in duration). The completion of an apprenticeship varies from two to four years, depending on the apprentice’s experience and the training requirements of the particular trade. Apprentices earn wages while learning their trade. The apprenticeship program provides apprentices with the knowledge, skills, competencies and education of their chosen trade or occupation. When complete, the apprenticeship program leads to recognized certification.
Who is involved in Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship training involves the apprentice, the employer and the supervising journeyperson. The Nunavut Apprenticeship Unit and regional Career Development Officers assist employers and apprentices to register and maintain the cases. Each person has roles and responsibilities to fulfill (below). For more information, please also consult our Apprenticeship Frequently Asked Questions sheet.
Apprentice Requirements:
- Know what is involved in his/her trade, learn and apply skills and meet the employer’s productivity needs as much as possible.
- Take ownership of the on-the-job and technical training.
- Be ready and willing
- to learn.
- Be aware of technical training deadlines and paperwork requirements and be sure to ask questions.
Employer Requirements:
- Support and promote a safe working and learning environment.
- Ensure that a supervising journeyperson is available and willing to supervise the apprentice.
- Maintain the journeyperson to apprentice ratio requirements for the trade.
- Pay the apprentice according to Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupations Regulations.
- Allow the apprentice to participate in the required technical training and take examinations.
- Submit the apprentice's Record of Employment (ROE) to enable them to apply for EI benefits when they begin technical training. (Employers can now complete and submit the apprentice's Record of Employment online. For more details, visit Service Canada’ Record of Employment website.)
- Evaluate the performance of the apprentice with the supervising journeyperson on a regular basis.
Supervising Journeyperson requirements:
- Mentor the apprentice by promoting and encourage the highest trade standards.
- Teach the apprentice the skills of the trade to the best of your ability.
- Provide appropriate supervision and honest feedback.
How can I become an Apprentice in Nunavut?
In order to become an apprentice in Nunavut, you must register in the Nunavut Apprenticeship Program. For this to happen, you must be at least 18 years of age and you must have an employer who is willing to work with you as an apprentice (you may also speak with a Career Development Officer about matching with an employer). This employer must also have a certified journeyperson who is in trained in the applicant’s desired trade and who is at the same location where the applicant will be working. You must also write and pass a Trades Entrance Exam. Contact a Career Development Officer in your community/region to learn more about the requirements and get help with the application process.
How can I receive Nunavut certification as an experienced worker?
Tradespeople with a valid Red Seal endorsed trade certificate can work anywhere in Canada. Certified journeypersons may obtain a Red Seal on their trade certificates by completing the interprovincial (Red Seal) examination. Not everyone who wants to get a qualification goes through the apprenticeship route. If you are an experienced trade worker (i.e. you have significant experience working hands-on in your trade) and you want to be certified while you work in Nunavut, you can apply for the Trade Qualification program. Please contact your regional Career Development Officer for details.