Apprenticeship programs
CORCAN provides opportunities for offenders to develop employment skills and earn certifications that prepare them for the workforce. Offenders who show interest and dedication towards learning a particular trade may focus their interest on:
- earning certified apprenticeship hours
- becoming an apprentice, and/or
- earning a specific trade certification
An apprenticeship is a pathway to a rewarding career in the trades. As an apprentice, offenders may take classes and learn a trade by earning certified hours under the direction of experienced Correctional Service Canada (CSC) staff and/or CORCAN instructors.
CSC works with the provincial governing bodies responsible for apprenticeship training, regulation and certification. This allows offenders to have the hours they work registered towards a trade. This complements CORCAN and other areas in CSC that provide offenders with on-the-job training. It also helps offenders get the skills and certifications they need to secure a job upon their release.
The opportunities offered at federal institutions and CORCAN community industries follow provincial and trade certification guidelines like the opportunities regular employers provide in the community. This includes:
- pre-apprenticeship training
- finding a sponsor, and
- dedicated hours to in-class learning and on-the-job training
To future employers, apprenticeships and trade certification promotes:
- knowledge
- skills, and
- dedication
The Red Seal Program
Apprenticeships can lead to earning a certification and becoming Red Seal certified.
The Red Seal Program is a partnership. The federal government, provinces and territories work with the industry to set common standards to assess the skills of tradespeople across Canada.
After completing the necessary hours of apprenticeship training, individuals receive their provincial or territorial certificate. This qualifies them as a journeyperson in the particular trade in the province of jurisdiction. Journeypersons may then decide to pursue a Red Seal certification.
If you possess a Red Seal endorsement, you are recognized as having an exceptional level of knowledge at a national level in your particular trade. This contributes to facilitating mobility across the country.
Offender learning carpentry skills through on-the-job learning.
Getting hours as part of an apprenticeship program
To certify hours for an apprenticeship program, offenders must contact their workplace instructor / manager. The instructor / manager may be able to certify hours to get an application for apprenticeship training.
When the application is complete, the instructor will contact the governing body for apprenticeships in their province. Apprenticeships occur in the province where the offender is either:
- incarcerated, or
- supervised in the community
Note that steps may vary across the country. The standards and regulations for apprenticeships are different in each province.
Examples of the trades where offenders are logging apprenticeship hours are:
Pacific Region (British Columbia)
CORCAN has been working with the Industry Training Authority (ITA) in British Columbia for several years. Offenders log apprenticeship hours related to trades such as:
- automotive refinishing prep technician
- automotive service technician
- cabinet maker
- carpenter
- construction craft worker
- construction electrician
- heavy duty equipment technician
- millwright
- industrial warehouse person
- painter and decorator
- professional cook
- plumber
- welder
Prairie Region (Saskatchewan and Alberta)
The Prairie Region is increasing the opportunities for offenders to earn apprenticeship hours in various trades including:
- welding
- carpentry
- plumbing
- auto technician
CORCAN continues to work with the proper provincial authorities to enable more offenders to log hours toward an apprenticeship.
Ontario and Nunavut Region (Ontario)
Offenders earn apprenticeship hours in the following trades:
- cabinet making
- welding
- automotive painting
- carpentry
- electrical
- plumbing
- retail meat cutting
- truck and coach technician
- auto body repair
- welding
The Ontario and Nunavut Region has made many advances in different institutions. For example, the CORCAN Welding and Fabrication shop at Collins Bay Institution has been a Training Delivery Agent since January 2010. It offers Level 1 of the Welding Apprenticeship program to offenders. In 2011, this shop received approval to deliver Level 2 of the Welding Apprenticeship program.
Quebec Region
In July 2018, the Quebec Region started providing opportunities for offenders to earn apprenticeship hours in trades such as plumbing and electrical qualification certificates. In addition, trades such as welding, auto body and drafting are also available through theoretical training and hours of work once the required lessons are completed.
Atlantic Region (New Brunswick)
A few offenders are now logging apprenticeship hours in New Brunswick. In addition, the Atlantic Region is working with representatives of Nova Scotia (a member of the Atlantic Apprenticeship Council) towards providing apprenticeship training in Nova Scotia.
Offenders earn apprenticeship hours in trades such as welding, carpentry and construction.
Educational requirements
Each trade has identified educational requirements. An apprentice must meet the ones for their registered trade.
Contact CORCAN
If you are an employer interested in providing offenders with the opportunity to continue earning their apprenticeships, please contact us by email at gennhqcessec@csc-scc.gc.ca.