Becoming an apprentice - Learning a trade while receiving a salary

The Workplace Apprenticeship Program (PAMT) allows you to learn a trade and to obtain a certificate of professional qualification.

You could learn this trade on the job and receive a salary during your training. An experienced employee acting as a journeyperson would pass on knowledge of the trade. This proven approach is called the journeyperson system.

If you become an apprentice, you will receive continuing support. A qualifying agent will monitor the training and will make sure that no problems occur throughout the process. They will also be available to answer your questions along the way.

To be eligible for the PAMT, you must

• be at least 16 years old
• work for a company enrolled or interested to enroll in this program

To find out if you are eligible, refer to the information sheet on the trade that interests you in the List of voluntary-qualification trades  (French only).

On-the-job training can be eligible for certain federal grants .

Find the trade for which you want training in the list of trades  (see the list under Voluntary Qualification, in French only). Refer to the information sheet on this trade (under “Publications pertinentes”) to find out if you are eligible for one of these grants.

You are a wage earner with a job

If you would like to learn one of the trades practised in the company you work for through the PAMT, contact the head of the company or the person in charge of human resources to let them know you are interested and talk about the PAMT.

You can tell them that all the important information is available on the Training Apprentices page. As required, a qualifying agent is also available to answer their questions.

You are a job seeker

If you are looking for a job and a company you are interested to work for has employees practising a trade eligible for the PAMT, contact the head of the company or the person in charge of human resources to let them know you are interested and talk about the PAMT.

You can tell them that all the important information is available on the Training Apprentices page. As required, a qualifying agent is also available to answer their questions.

Processing the application

When your employer has completed your enrollment, a qualifying agent will come to you on site to provide you with the documents required for your training, including your apprenticeship booklet, in which the skills you need to master and the detailed apprenticeship plan will be presented. In addition, the responsibilities of the parties involved throughout the journey will be explained.

After completing your training, you will receive a certificate of professional qualification issued by the Gouvernement du Québec, meaning that you have acquired all the required skills. If you have not acquired all the required skills, you will receive an attestation of competency for the skills you have acquired.

Nationally recognized certificate (Red Seal)

Your certificate of professional qualification could be recognized elsewhere in Canada with the Red Seal Program.