Youth In Transition to Apprenticeship (YITTA)

YITTA (Youth in Transition to Apprenticeship) for people between 18 and 30 years of age

If you are between the ages of 18 and 30, and living in the Edmonton or Calgary regions, the Youth in Transition to Apprenticeship project can help you to:

• find employment as an apprentice in a trade of your choice;
• complete the apprenticeship registration process; and
• assist you through to the completion of your apprenticeship program.

What is an apprenticeship program?

Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training, work experience and technical training in a trade.

Apprentices spend about 80% of their time learning on-the-job from a qualified tradesperson. The remaining 20% of their time is spent at a college or technical institute learning the theory, technologies and skills behind their trade. This is called the technical training component of the program. The entire apprenticeship program lasts 1 to 4 years, depending on the trade.

From the start, apprentices earn a pay cheque for their time on the job. The amount they earn is based on the wage rate for journeypeople in the trade.

Once their apprenticeship is completed, they receive an Alberta Journeyman Certificate that proves they have met Alberta's high industry trade standards.

There are 50 designated trades in Alberta. For a list of the trades and detailed information about each one, see Trades & Occupations.

How does the Youth in Transition to Apprenticeship Project Work?

If you are interested in becoming an apprentice in the YITTA Project, you first need to contact a referral center in the Edmonton or Calgary area such as the:

• Labour Market Information Center Help Desk:
• Edmonton (780) 427-9674
• Calgary (403) 297-6344

• Career Information Hotline:
• Edmonton (780) 422-4266
• Outside Edmonton 1- 800 – 661-3753

• Youth Connections:
• Edmonton (780) 415-4968
• Calgary (403) 268-6464

The referral centre will assist you with:

• choosing a trade that you want to start a career in;
• determining if you have the  requirements to work in the trade; and
• if necessary, arranging for you to write the apprenticeship entrance examination.

If you meet the entrance requirements for the trade - and you are ready, willing and able to work - the centre will refer you to a Project Officer with the YITTA Project.  You will be scheduled to attend an orientation session which will explain how the YITTA works, your responsibilities as a participant in the Project, how apprenticeship programs work and employer expectations. The Project Officer will assist you in finding employment to become a registered apprentice.

The YITTA Project Officer will support you and your employer throughout your apprenticeship program including:

• assisting you with resolving on-the-job related problems;
• assisting you to prepare for technical training;
• assisting you while you attend technical training; and
• directing you to the appropriate organization(s) to help you with any other specific issues or concerns.

For more information call the Youth in Transition to Apprenticeship office at:

• Edmonton (780) 644-2582