LEARNING A TRADE

RAP (Registered Apprenticeship Program) for high school students

RAP: It's like having it all!

The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a way for registered high school students to become apprentices, and earn credits toward an apprenticeship program and a high school diploma at the same time.

What's an apprentice?

An apprentice is someone learning a trade while he or she is employed in that trade.

Usually apprenticeship is post-secondary training. But the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a special program that allows students to get started on an apprenticeship during high school.

What's apprenticeship?

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 paycheque for their time on the job. As a RAP apprentice you would earn at least minimum wage. Usually the pay increases as the training progresses.

Once your apprenticeship is complete, you will receive an 'Alberta Journeyman Certificate' that proves you meet Alberta's high industry standards.

There are 50 apprenticeable trades in Alberta (see Trades & Occupations).

How can I do work and school at the same time?

RAP is an agreement among you, your employer, and your school. The whole idea is for all parties to be flexible.

Your hours of work depend on the agreement, but they could involve:

working as a RAP apprentice for one semester, and going to school the next
working half a day, and going to school the other half
working during the summer, on holidays and weekends, and attending school during the regular term
working one or two days a week, going to school the other days

RAP: Six steps to a great career!

Here's how you sign up for RAP:

Choose a trade

Explore your skills, talents and abilities to find out the right trade for you. Check out Trades & Occupations or call the nearest Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
Find an employer

A journeyman or an employer who employs journeymen can hire you as a RAP apprentice.

For help finding an employer, talk to your school's RAP Coordinator, Work Experience Coordinator or Off-campus Coordinator, or call an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
Contact the RAP coordinator at your high school. This person could be your counsellor or principal. He or she will help you throughout your high school apprenticeship.

The RAP coordinator may provide you with an application/contract, or you may download and print an Apprenticeship Application and Contract, or contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.

Download and print a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) Verification Form. This form must be completed by your school and sent to the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.

Note to RAP coordinators and teachers: For more information about RAP, see Alberta Advanced Education and Technology's Registered Apprenticeship Program Information Manual.
Complete the application/contract with your employer

You must complete and sign the application/contract with your employer.

When the application is complete, send it to the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office for registration.
Start getting paid!

Following a discussion among you, your employer and your school, an agreement is in place, you are a registered apprentice, and the training – and the pay cheques – begin!
Enroll in RAP Courses.

Ask your RAP Coordinator to enroll you in one or more RAP courses. For each one you complete, you will earn 5 credits!

Everyone has responsibilities

RAP is a 'real-world' program. You become a regular employee and will be expected to attend work on time, and complete your work safely and efficiently. You'll be expected to focus on learning the required skills from your journeyman supervisor.

In return, your employer will pay you as a RAP apprentice, give you the agreed flexibility in work hours, provide you with the training you require, update your apprenticeship record book, and stay in touch with your school.

Wage Rate

RAP apprentices are full-time high school students. As full-time students, they are not subject to the salary percentages prescribed in the trade regulation which governs their apprenticeship program. Instead, they are subject to the provincial minimum wage rate until such time as they finish high school and become full-time registered apprentices.

RAP Scholarships

There are 50 annual awards of $1000 each for high school students to continue their apprenticeship technical training programs. See Scholarships and Awards.