Skilled Trades Blog

What's the Difference? Skilled Trades Certificate vs. Diploma

Posted by Brad Dixon

When you are deciding the best course of action to pursue an education in the skilled trades in Ontario, there are a few options available. Ultimately, you need to attend some version of post-secondary schooling to qualify for a jobs in the skilled trades, but which is more appropriate: traditional college courses or a private career college?

If you attend a traditional Ontario college program for a skilled trade, you will be working toward a diploma and take a minimum of 2 years of study. Alternatively, a private career college awards a certificate and/or license upon completion, with programs that tend to be shorter and more intensive, with smaller class sizes and hands-on learning experience.

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Topics: Course Length and Time, Trade School, Ontario College of Trades, Ontario Gas Technician Training

Do I Really Need a License to be a Gas Fitter?

Posted by Brad Dixon

ESTIMATED READING TIME: 3 MINUTES

If you are thinking of pursuing skilled trades jobs in Ontario, it's important you understand everything that is required to become licensed in that particular trade. Each province in Canada has its own licensing requirements for specific skilled trades and its own governing authorities that oversee and enforce these requirements. In Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority is governing body when it comes to skilled trades licensing.

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Topics: Gas Technician Careers, Gas Technician, Ontario College of Trades, TSSA

Breaking down Barriers to Skilled Trades

Posted by Brad Dixon

ESTIMATED READING TIME: 3 MINUTES

 

When the media covers the Skilled Trades, we get excited to share it with you. Recently, Sun Media released their Guide to Higher Education, featuring the article Breaking Down Barriers to Skilled Trades. And, although it focuses largely on apprenticeship opportunities, the importance of the message remains: "Helping under-represented groups pursue the skilled trades is a priority for the Ontario College of Trades."

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Topics: Trade School, Ontario College of Trades, Skilled Trades

Upgrade Your Education!

Posted by Brad Dixon

 

Niagara & Halton Skilled Trades Academies not only provides training to those wishing to break into the gas technician field in Ontario, but also to those who are currently working in the trades and would like to upgrade their current license.

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Topics: Gas Technician Careers, Trade School, Ontario Gas Technician, Gas Technician, HVAC Careers, Hands On Learning, Ontario College of Trades, Ontario Gas Technician Training

Women in the Trades: Gas Technician Training

Posted by Brad Dixon
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Topics: Ontario HVAC Training, Gas Technician Careers, Ontario Gas Technician, Women in the trades, Gas Technician, Hands On Learning, Ontario College of Trades, Ontario Gas Technician Training

Meet Your Instructor: John Spridzans

Posted by Brad Dixon
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Topics: Ontario HVAC Training, Ontario Gas Technician, Gas Technician, Onto, Ontario College of Trades, Ontario Gas Technician Training

It Is Never Too Late to Get a Trade

Posted by Brad Dixon
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Topics: Course Length and Time, Trade School, Ontario Gas Technician, Gas Technician, Ontario College of Trades

Ontario College of Trades undermines federal government’s funding of skilled trades, Stop the Trades Tax lobby group says

Posted by Brad Dixon
The Stop The Trades Tax Campaign warns Ontario’s new trades tax will undermine new federal budget initiatives to support and promote skilled trades. These budget 2013 initiatives, including the Canada Job Grant program, are aimed at easing the growing shortage of skilled labour in Canada.
Under the Canada Job Grant program announced in last week’s budget, employers can get $5,000 in federal funding, which must be matched by $5,000 in provincial funding, to match their own $5,000 commitment to train an unemployed or underemployed worker to do a skilled trades job.  Quebec has, in recent days, announced it will refuse to participate.

In Ontario, the federal government initiatives will be undermined by the mandatory fees being levied on skilled trades by the Ontario College of Trades, says Sean Reid, chair of the Stop the Trades Tax campaign.

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Topics: Gas Technician, Ontario College of Trades