Workplace Apprenticeship

The Workplace Apprenticeship Program (PAMT) allows for an experienced worker to pass on their know-how to someone who wants to learn their trade on the job.

The PAMT is designed for two clienteles:

• Employees who have little or no experience in a trade that interests them
• Employers who want to train their less experienced employees

The PAMT allows for a less experienced worker (apprentice) to be paired with an experienced worker (journeyperson) in the same company, while receiving a salary.

This approach is called the journeyperson system. Its objective is to share know-how.

Consult the list of trades that are eligible for the PAMT to make sure the trade you are interested in is included.

Duration

The length of the apprenticeship is between 3 and 36 months depending on the trade and on the apprentice’s experience.  The tasks related to the PAMT must be accomplished over a minimum of 21 hours a week.

The PAMT offers several advantages for the apprentice, the employer and the journeyperson.

The PAMT:

• offers structured and quality practical training to learn a trade or to improve your skills.
• allows you to receive a salary during your training.
• allows you to become more versatile and promotes your chances of career advancement.
• is a great opportunity to develop your career without changing employers.
• leads to a certificate of professional qualification or attestation of competency.

The PAMT:

• represents a new professional challenge, that is, to pass on your know-how.
• values your professional expertise.
• provides proof that your know-how is recognized by your superiors and your peers.
• leads to a certificate of professional qualification or attestation of competency (if you have not yet obtained one of these documents).

The PAMT:

• makes you an employer of choice.
• improves your company’s productivity.
• increases your workforce’s versatility and qualification.
• ensures a competent succession.
• promotes employee attraction and retention.
• recognizes workers who have experience in your company by designating them as journeypersons.
• provides access to a structured training plan adapted to the reality in the field.
• offers tax credits (if you meet the requirements).

A plan and work tools have been developed for each of the trades that are eligible for the PAMT. They provide support to the apprentices and journeypersons in the process.

This plan and these tools are aligned with the realities on the ground, as they were created by a sectoral workforce committee in collaboration with employers and trade experts.

The following tools are required for training:

• The apprenticeship booklet for the apprentice
• The journeyperson’s guide

Throughout the apprenticeship process, support is provided free of charge to the employer, the apprentice and the journeyperson by a Services Québec qualification agent.

To find out if you are eligible for the PAMT, refer to the information sheet on the trade in question. You can find the trades that are eligible for the PAMT on the list of voluntary qualification-trades.

Employer

For information on the eligibility criteria for companies, the financial assistance offered and the procedure for submitting an application, see the Former des apprentis page (in French).  

Former des apprenties et apprentis

Apprentice

For information on the eligibility criteria for apprentices and the procedure to submit an application, see the Becoming an apprentice – Learning a trade while receiving a salary page.

Becoming an apprentice