How to Support Apprentices 

• Skilled Trades Ontario website (About Trades, trade list, curriculum, Quick Facts chart).

• Level Up Ontario

• LBS Resources and Discussion Forum (Community Literacy of Ontario/Laubach) for apprenticeship booklets and activities.

Instructor's role:

• Exploring trades, requirements, and realistic timelines; clarify employer expectations and the need for strong math, science, communication, digital, and problem‑solving skills.

• Talking about upgrading pathways: school board adult credit, college ACE, CAEC prep within LBS (Get SET).

• Partnering with employment services, college career centres, and tools like Apprentice Search.com and Job Bank to support the employer search.

• Inviting guest speakers (current apprentices, journeypersons, unions, employers) for Q&A and realistic views of benefits and challenges

• Helping learners recognize that employers (including trade unions) who hire apprentices are allowed to require more than the minimum education level. They may also require:

• 1. aptitude testing

  2. academic testing

  3. specific courses from high school, e.g. gr. 12 math

  4. additional education from a college or private trainer, etc.

Profile of Current Apprentices:

• often working full‑time

• have met minimum entry education, but may struggle with academics, test‑taking, or confidence (especially around the CFQ).​

Instructor's role:

• Focus on foundational and “learning how to learn” pieces (reading, writing, math, digital skills, study skills, time management, test‑taking strategies), not trade‑specific technical content.​

• Offer flexible, respectful, low‑barrier assessment and scheduling that fit around work.​

• Some programs support Certificate of Qualification preparation (CFQ prep), especially for learners who know their trade content but struggle with long multiple‑choice exams.​