Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA) is a career program that provides students with the opportunity to begin an apprenticeship while still in high school, and to earn high school credits for doing so.
It provides a smoother transition from school to work, and a quicker route to certification in a trade - and to the earning power that goes with it. SSA students complete up to 480 hours of work experience that counts towards their apprenticeship and course credits. SSA youth apprentices must be 19 and under and complete their SSA work based training by 3 months past graduation.
Like other apprentices, Secondary School Apprentices are responsible for finding an employer who will hire them and commit to their training as a sponsor.
Note that it is possible for students to take part in both the Secondary School Apprenticeship and ACE IT program.
As an added bonus, secondary school apprentices can qualify for a $1,000 scholarship if they:
Been registered in a school district Secondary School Apprenticeship Program prior to graduation
Graduated with a Grade 12 Dogwood Diploma or Adult Dogwood
Maintained a C+ average or better on Grade 12 numbered courses
Continued working or training full-time in the trade 5 months after secondary school graduation or have 1100 hrs reported to ITA.
Employers and high school students can become involved by contacting the high school career programs department.
Questions regarding Secondary School Apprenticeship can be directed to Glenn Rowan at the Ministry of Education at 250 387-6315 or glenn.rowan@gov.bc.ca
