The trades and training programs at Riverside College are designed to lead graduates directly into employment opportunities. We combine trades training with a high school graduation program.
For more detailed information about each program available, choose from the selection of trades programs on the left.
Apprenticeships in the Province of British Columbia
An apprenticeship is a combination of technical training and work-based training. Typically about 80-85% of an apprenticeship is the work-based training while the remaining 15-20% is referred to as the technical training that is completed in a classroom or teaching shop. The length of an apprenticeship can vary between one to five years but a majority of the trades require four years to complete. In the Province of British Columbia all trades are managed by the Industry Training Authority (ITA)
The ITA registers all journeypersons and apprentices and ensures that that the required skills and standards are adhered to.
Apprenticeable Trades & Certification
There are over 150 apprenticeable trades in the province of British Columbia. Some of these trades are unique to the province while others, the "Red Seal" trades, are standardized across Canada. Once apprentices have completed all the required technical training, the affiliated testing and the required work-based hours, they are qualified (receive their “ticket”) to be designated as a journeyman in the province of B.C. If journeymen wish to practice the trade outside of B.C. they should complete their Red Seal endorsement.
Technical Training
Many post-secondary schools offer Entry Level Trades Training (ELTT) for students who have limited knowledge of the trade they are wanting to enter. ELTT programs serve as a way of introducing many of the aspects of a trade along with the Level One technical training. Enrolling in an ELTT Program usually provides students with a much higher level of success as they are well prepared to enter a specific trade.
Each trade apprenticeship is broken down into levels. At each level the apprentice is taught a specific set of skills. These skills are referred to as “lines”. Depending upon the trade there are a varying number of line skills for each level. For example, Carpentry — Level One has 12 line skills. In order to complete the Level One Technical Training, students must maintain a 70% average on both the theory and practical assessments for each of the line skills in the level they are working on.
Work-Based Training
The number of hours of work-based training also varies from trade to trade. In many cases it works out to between 1300 and 1600 hours of employment to complete each successive level of an apprenticeship. Hiring an apprentice is a significant commitment on the part of an employer but apprentices should ensure that the employer has the expertise and facilities to support an apprentice as well as being registered with the Industry Training Authority.
What Riverside College Offers:
Students who enroll at Riverside College in an apprenticeship trades program are:
Riverside College
33919 Dewdney Trunk Road
Mission, B.C. Canada
V2V 6Y4
Tel: 604-814-0446
Fax: 604-814 0447
Riverside Office Hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm*
*After hours appointments may be available Wednesday and Thursday evenings until 6:30 pm.
New students registering for a Trade or Career Program must make an appointment with the school councellor. Please call 604-814-0446 during office hours to make an appointment.
Graduated students upgrading an academic course(s) with Continuing Education do not require an appointment to register.
Email: Riverside College
Community Cares Mental Health Response Training. FREE training online or in class. Registration Information.
Continuing Education: Pre- registration begins June 10th for Continuing Education Courses beginning in the Fall of 2013. Graduated students upgrading an academic course(s) with Continuing Education do not require an appointment to register. Non-Graduated students require an appointment with the counsellor to develop a course plan for graduation. Please call 604-814-0446 during office hours to make an appointment.
Registration now CLOSED for Continuing Education for this school year. SUMMER SCHOOL IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADULT STUDENTS.
Summer School for school age non-graduated students. Registration Information
Professional Development Day: May 17th . Classes not in session and campus closed
Victoria Day Holiday: May 20th. Classes not in session and campus closed.
Commencement Ceremony and Banquet: June 5th . Click here for details
Last day of school for Transitions Program students and last day of academic classes: June 18
Provincial Exams: June 19-24
Report Cards issued: June 28
Official Transcripts for the 2012-13 school year will be mailed out to students by the Ministry of Education the first week of August 2013. High School Diplomas will be ready for pick up in the office in September 2013.
For updates on Mission Schools Snow or Inclement Weather Information and information on any unscheduled school closures click here
Provincial exam results available online
To order official transcripts online
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