Cooperative Education

 The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)/Co-Op

OYAP enables students to meet diploma requirements in an out of school setting where a certifi ed journey person supervises their on-the-job training according to the regulations of a skilled trade. Funding for this program is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU). There were more than 1,300 Ottawa-Carleton District School Board students enrolled in OYAP in 2008–2009. An increased enrolment is expected for 2009–2010.

Jump Start a Career through OYAP

An OYAP student is a student who is earning Cooperative Education credits for work experience in a skilled-trade area. A skilled trade is any occupation that requires apprenticeship training and certifi cation. Apprentices are normally paid although employers are not required by law to pay OYAP students.

Get Hands-on Work Experience

While students who are younger than 16 years of age and have fewer than 16 credits can participate in Co-op, students are only deemed OYAP students when they are at least 16 years old and have completed 16 credits. All OYAP students must be enrolled full time and must complete all compulsory credits required for the OSSD. The approved apprenticeship training standards of MTCU serve as a basis for a student’s personalized placement learning plan. There are three different tiers of OYAP participation depending on student interest in and commitment to trades education.

Tier 1: The student is interested in career exploration in a skilledtrades area and takes a half-day co-op placement for one semester.

Tier 2: The student is willing to make a commitment to a skilledtrades career path and requests formal registration as an apprentice with MTCU. Usually this takes place in a student’s second half-day or full-day co-op placement in the same trade.

Tier 3: The student wishes to take the First Level of apprenticeship training at the college or training centre concurrent with a co-op placement. This program is for students who have all their compulsory credits and are in their fi nal school semester before graduation.

Students are in their co-op placements full time, usually two or three days a week, and are enrolled in the Level 1 Course at Algonquin College the other days. The student is still on the roll at their high school although they only attend high school for co-op pre-placement and integration sessions. The Automotive Service Technician course has been a very popular Tier 3 training program. In addition to the Automotive Service Technician Level 1, we will also offer a Level 1 program in Auto Body and Hairstyling through Algonquin College. MTCU covers the registration costs for OYAP students in the Level 1 programs and textbooks are purchased through the OYAP program.

Students are responsible for their own transportation. Apprenticeship is a post-secondary study option that can meet the personal learning needs of a wide variety of students. It is an excellent mode of skill development for students who like hands-on activities and learn best by doing. Post-secondary apprenticeship training usually lasts from three to four years, depending on the trade.

Approximately 90 per cent of apprenticeship training is on-the-job, while 10 per cent takes place in a community college classroom setting.Post-secondary apprentices are paid while they learn and are eligible for employment insurance benefi ts while taking related community college course work (OYAP students excepted).

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