There are two ways for you to become a Journeyperson in the Province of Saskatchewan.

• Apprenticeship route – You must find employment in the trade and have your employer register you with the SATCC office as an apprentice. You must complete all levels of training while working under contract with your employer. Once completed all levels, you will write the certification examination at the end of training.

NOTE: Construction Electrician, Plumber, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Sheet Metal Worker and Sprinkler Fitter trades must take the apprenticeship route to obtain their Journeyperson certification.

• Tradesperson route – Those that have been working in their trade for many years and do not want to go the apprenticeship route may challenge the certification examination without attending training. Refer to the designated trades on this website for the required hours for each trade.

• You earn a wage while you learn the trade.
• You will learn from a skilled journeyperson.
• You will attend short periods of technical training to reinforce what you have learned on the job.
• Some employers only hire individuals who have completed an apprenticeship.
• You can earn your credential without incurring a large debt.

1. Find an employer willing to provide the necessary on-the-job training and supervision.
2. Submit an apprenticeship application with the employer through MyATC.
3. Work and learn on the job, and attend and successfully complete your technical training.
4. Write your journeyperson examination and pass with a minimum of 70%.

No, unfortunately, we do not keep lists of employers looking to hire apprentices. It is up to the individual to obtain employment in their chosen field. Employment services are provided by organizations such as the Canada-Saskatchewan Career and Employment Centres located in all major centres in the province. In addition, there are several job sites:

• https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/moving-to-saskatchewan/immigrating-to-saskatchewan/working-in-saskatchewan/finding-work
• https://www.saskjobs.ca/
• https://sk-employer.jobbank.gc.ca/employer/
• http://careers.gov.sk.ca/

Journeyperson certification shows that you have met the standard set by industry for your trade. This means you have the required broad experience in the workplace and have successfully passed the certification examination.

• Journeyperson certification is recognized by employers across Canada.
• There may be a wage incentive to be a certified journeyperson in your trade.
• Journeyperson certification will provide other career opportunities in the trade or in related trades.
• Some employers only hire individuals who have met an industry standard through training and certification.

A compulsory trade is a trade where you must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson. The compulsory apprenticeship trades are Construction Electrician, Plumber, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Sheet Metal Worker and Sprinkler Fitter. You can work up to, and including, 900 hours (six months) in the trade prior to becoming a registered apprentice.

If you hold an expired or expiring Learner’s Certificate and you do not have your full trade time hours, submit a generic inquiry/request on MyATC and select “Request extension”. With the request, attach your Form 6A – Verification of Trade Experience (located on the Applications and Forms page for your designated trade). The Training and Assessment Consultant will pro-rate the trade time established with the full time requirements to establish an extended date of expiry. There is no fee required.

Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission administers the examination for the gasfitter license in the province. However, gasfitter licenses are issued through the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK). The Gas and Electrical Licensing office is located:

• 2202 2nd Avenue  in Regina, Sask., S4R 1K3
• 2213 11^th St West in Saskatoon, Sask., S7M 1J4.

Call 1.866.530.8599  or email [email protected].

The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission grants credit for prior learning and work experience where possible. When you apply for apprenticeship, your documents will be assessed to determine if any credit can be granted.

Apprentices:

Most apprentices write for their journeyperson certification at the end of their final level of technical training. No application or fee is required.

Apprentices in the Hairstylist, Esthetician trades and other trades that completed pre-employment equivalent to all levels of apprenticeship training are eligible to write when they have the minimum required hours. No fee for their first attempt (written and practical if required). Register for an Exam through MyATC and refer to our written examination schedule for a list of dates and locations.

Apprentices taking a written or practical examination for a second or subsequent attempt in the same trade must register for an exam through MyATC and submit the required fee.

Examination study information is located in the Designated Trades on this website.

Tradespersons:

First time applicants must submit a Trade Qualifier Application and fee through MyATC. The application must be accompanied by Verification of Trade Experience – (Form 6A) form confirming their work experience in the trade. Trade specific Form 6A can be found in the Applications and Forms page on this website. Tradespersons must have “full time” in their trade in order to qualify for the examination. Once you have been deemed “full time” in the trade, you will be notified that you may now apply for examination or upgrading through MyATC and submit the required fee.

Tradespersons taking a written or practical examination for a first or subsequent attempt in the same trade must register for an exam through MyATC and submit the required fee.

Candidates applying for examination in the Insulator (Heat & Frost) or Powerline Technician trades must complete prescribed upgrading first.

Examination study information is located in the Designated Trades on this website.

Please refer to the Examination Schedule for locations and dates.

All work experience in the trade is assessed when you register as an apprentice or tradesperson. Apprentices are normally required to work a minimum of half the term of apprenticeship under a contract, except for compulsory trades. Construction Electricians, Plumbers, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics, Sheet Metal Workers and Sprinkler Fitter trades must register within six months (900 hours) of starting work in the trade.

See tuition fees for the cost of apprenticeship technical training for all apprenticeship trades.

Apprentices in the construction electrician trade will pay an additional surcharge of $12.00 per week to recover the costs for an increase in the length of technical training.

Refer to the following table:
Wage Table

See Financial Supports.

See Learning Support.

When apprentices are involuntary terminated or laid off from employment, they should contact the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) to provide this information and to submit any outstanding accumulated trade time.

If apprentices have accumulated enough hours of trade time to attend the next level of technical training, they may do so without being attached to an employer.

To continue to progress in the trade, apprentices must find another employer. Once apprentices are hired, they they submit an apprenticeship application with the employer through MyATC.

Apprentices whose contracts of apprenticeship have been cancelled may be re-instated in the same trade as the previous contract without registration fees provided they apply within one year of the date of cancellation. Beyond one year from the date of cancellation, the employer registration fee must be submitted in full and the apprentice will be re-indentured with a new indenture date in the same trade.

It depends on the amount of time that has passed since their contract was cancelled and the trade they want to register in.

Apprentices whose contracts of apprenticeship have been cancelled may be re-instated in the same trade as the previous contract without additional employer registration fees provided they apply within one year of the date of cancellation. The indenture (registration) date will remain the same. Beyond one year from the date of cancellation, the employer registration fee must be submitted in full and the apprentice will be re-indentured with a new re-indenture (registration) date in the same trade as the previous contract.

EXAMPLES:

1. Apprentice A’s apprenticeship contract was cancelled on March 5, 2017 and requests reinstatement in the same trade on March 2, 2018. Apprentice “A” does not have to pay the registration fee and the indenture date remains the same as when the original contract of apprenticeship was registered.
2. Apprentice B’s apprenticeship contract was cancelled on March 5, 2017 and requests reinstatement in the same trade on March 10, 2018. Apprentice “B” MUST submit the $200 registration fee along with the contract and the new indenture (registration) date becomes March 10, 2018.

If an apprentice registers in a different trade from the one in which they were cancelled, whether before or after one year of cancellation, this policy does not apply. A new trade requires a new contract along with the full registration fee.