ALBERTA APPRENTICESHIP AND INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD

The Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board (the Board) was established by the Government of Alberta to work with industry to set the standards and requirements for training and certification in programs under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act (Act).

The Board consists of 13 persons who are knowledgeable about training in trades and occupations and the needs of the Alberta labour market for skilled and trained persons.  Eight of the members represent employers and employees in designated trades and four represent employers and employees in other industries.  Employers and employees are represented in equal numbers. (see Members of the Board)

Board mandate

The Board provides a leadership role in developing Alberta’s highly skilled and trained workforce.  In addition to establishing training and certification standards and requirements, the Board also fulfills additional responsibilities described in the Act.  These include:

• advising the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology regarding the needs of the Alberta labour market for skilled and trained persons, and training and certification in trades and occupations;
• making recommendations to the Minister about the designation of trades and occupations;
• establishing or recognizing trade and occupation-specific committees and appointing members;
• promoting careers in trades and occupations and the training and certification of people in trades and occupations;
• developing policies about the recognition of training;
• making orders about: standards and requirements for training and certification in designated trades and for certification in designated occupations; and the criteria or requirements for granting and recognizing certificates under the Act;
• with the approval of the Minister, making regulations about:
• the description of a designated trade or occupation;
• the standards and requirements of apprenticeship programs and the training of apprentices;
• the resolution of disagreements between employers and their employees arising out of matters under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act; and
• exceptions from, and optional undertakings in, a compulsory certification trades. 

As well, the Board is responsible for:

• developing and maintaining a Vision, Mission and Principles to guide its work;
• complying with the requirements of the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act, the Public Agencies Governance Framework, including:
• developing and affirming a Mandate and Roles Document that clearly articulates the roles and responsibilities of the Board and is confirmed annually or as otherwise required;
• developing business plans that align with the Government of Alberta and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology’s business plans, establishing clear goals and measurable results;
• submitting to the Minister annual reports summarizing the affairs of the Board;
• developing a code of conduct to demonstrate that all aspects of the Board’s work are conducted in an ethical manner, and that systems are in place to avoid or manage conflicts of interest; 
• developing a competency profile or matrix outlining the skills, experience and knowledge the Board’s members require as a collective; and
• reviewing its own performance and that of its individual members.

On an interprovincial perspective, the Board, through the Chair and the Executive Director, Apprenticeship and Industry Training, works with the Canadian-Apprenticeship Forum – Forum canadien sur l’apprentissage (CAF-FCA) to promote apprenticeship as an effective model for training and education, while contributing to the development of a skilled, productive inclusive and mobile workforce.

CAF-FCA is an organization of stakeholders working to influence pan-Canadian apprenticeship strategies through research, discussion and collaboration with the apprenticeship community across the country.