Skilled Trades Blog

For high school students, school is officially out for summer; and for those already in the workforce, days are longer, the weather is better and maybe there are some dreams of upcoming vacations.

Summer isn't often the time that people think about taking classes, but summer courses have been becoming increasingly popular for those who are looking to upgrade their qualifications, start a new career in the skilled trades or even begin their post-secondary education.

It may only be February yet, but we're already looking forward to spring. And it's not just because that means warm weather is coming (after all, this winter hasn't been too bad), but because our next full-time class is just around the corner.

Spring is a great time to register for skilled trades training in Ontario, especially Gas Technician certification in Niagara. Because you are fully licensed in just 17 weeks, you're looking at jumping into the industry just as business is picking up for gas BBQ installations, pool heater installation and home renovations involving gas lines!

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If you are considering a skilled trades career in Ontario, you want to be confident that you'll succeed in the skilled trades after you complete your training. We understand that you investing time and money to become a fully-licensed gas technician, so we compiled some tips to help you navigate how to ensure success in the Ontario skilled trades industry.

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As students graduate and prepare to enter the workforce, many new graduates find themselves in the situation that the career they were interested in at the beginning of their education doesn't align with where their interest lie now. Or, in other cases, they may find that the degree or diploma that they completed isn't enough to get them an ideal career.

With the increased trades shortage in Canada, it isn't surprising that when faced with these challenges, graduates' interests are shifting toward the skilled trades, a specialized industry that holds the promise of a rewarding career upon the completion of necessary training and certification.

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When you are in a hurry to get certified and start your gas technician career as quickly as possible, it might be tempting to rush through the Gas Technician 3 certification and enter the workforce with just that license. But why stop there when you can better your career with a just a few extra weeks of training and complete your Gas Technician 2 training as well?

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Last week, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA) published a new report exploring the benefits of a career in the skilled trades. The report shows that although many parents and youth have stated that they believe that skilled trades job opportunities in Canada are limited, the opposite is true: career opportunities in the trades are progressing.

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We are well into fall here in Ontario, and with the end of the summer comes the end of swimming pool season. And while for many, that simply means finding new ways to spend your time (no more floating on hot summer days!), for others it means work grinds to a halt. We're talking about those who spend the spring and summer months working in the swimming pool industry, opening, maintaining, repairing and closing pools.

While this is a very enjoyable career, once the cold weather hits, your options are to find temporary employment, work very limited hours or 6 months of unemployment. What better way to spend those 6 months than getting trained for a new career in the skilled trades?

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The oil and gas industry employs around 500,000 Canadians, and that number is predicted to increase over the next five to ten years as energy demands increase and baby boomers retire. With Canada having the second largest oil reserve in the world after Saudi Arabia, our country is expected to play an important role to meet the global demands for energy, with demand expected to rise by 50% between now and 2030. And a bigger demand means more oil and gas jobs.

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Ontario post-secondary institutions are seeing a number students drop out before achieving their degree or diploma. While it is true that a number of jobs require some form of higher education, that doesn't always mean a two to four year diploma or degree. There are many rewarding and good-paying jobs that require other forms of certification or training — many of those careers are in the skilled trades.

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Once you successfully complete your gas technician training and certification, your career  options are practically limitless. Your Gas Technician license opens doors to skilled trades career  opportunities that you may not have even considered before. In our Career Close-Up series, we'll  explore the industry jobs you can choose from to help you prepare for the career you want!

Air Conditioning Repair Tech

Once you have you gas technician license, it is natural to move into the HVAC industry, which means learning the ropes as an air conditioning repair technician. Sometimes called HVACR techs, they are responsibile for installing, maintaining and repairing ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. These people work in industrial, residential and commercial spaces.