Senior
Years Apprenticeship Program (SYAO) - for students in high school
Another means to earn credit towards an apprenticeship is through
the Senior Years Apprenticeship Option (SYAO).
The SYAO lets you start your apprenticeship training while you are
still in high school. It combines regular high school instruction
with paid, part-time, on-the-job training.
Benefits
of SYAO & Starting your on-the-job trade experience in high
school
What
Trades are Eligible for SYAO
Entrance
Requirements
How to Apply
Program Details, including Roles
and Responsibilities and Requirements to
Continue Apprenticeship After High School
Applications
for SYAO
Benefits
of SYAO & Starting your on-the-job trade in high school
The SYAO program provides practical, paid, work experience and
the opportunity to:
- get hands-on experience using highly specialized, technological
equipment
- earn up to 8 supplemental academic credits
for graduation based on 110 working hours per credit (*up to 6
credits for Mature Diploma
students)
- get paid a wage that's more than minimum average
- apply your on-the-job training hours to continued, full-time
apprenticeship training after graduation
- use the skills you learn for a career in management or to start
your own business
There are also many benefits to employers hiring Senior Years Option
Apprentices such as growing a skilled workforce, improving productivity,
increasing competitiveness etc. while obtaining wage
incentives offered through the MB4Youth
Division' s CareerFocus Program.
What Trades
are eligible for SYAO
SYAO is available in almost 40 trades! Take the time to explore
all your career options. Talk to your school guidance counsellor
or to people you know who work in a trade to see if a trade would
be the right fit for you. See Trade
Programs for a full listing of those trades that are eligible
for SYAO.
Entrance
Requirements
To participate in the SYAO program, the following is required:
- Minimum 16 years of age
- Taking core subjects grades 9-12,
- Completed grade 10
- Enrolled in an approved Manitoba grade 11 or 12 program
(See next section for complete details about homeschooled/non-funded
independent school students or mature
diploma student requirements.)
*Note: Students who are enrolled in modified (M) courses are eligible
for SYAO, however up-grading may be required if they continue their
apprenticeship program after high school. In order to be successful,
strong essential skills in math,science, computer and communications
are required for all trade programs.
Homeschooled
& Non-funded Independent Schooled Students
To participate in the SYAO program, the following
is required:
- Minimum 16 years of age
- Enrolled in a Manitoba Grade 11 or Grade 12 program
*Note: Homeschooled students are accepted on a
probationary basis.
SYAO students who graduate without a provincially-recognized high
school diploma, and who wish to continue on as an apprentice, may
be assessed for eligibility by the Apprenticeship Branch.
Mature
Diploma Students
To participate in the SYAO program, the following
is required:
- Completion of Manitoba grade 10 Math and English (or their equivalents)
or be assessed with current standing in Manitoba
Grade 11 or 12 Math and Grade 11 or 12 English.
Note:
• Adult learning centres are currently funded by the Adult
Learning & Literacy Branch of Manitoba Advanced Education or
registered with the Adult Learning & Literacy Branch under the
Adult Learning Centres Act.
Link to Adult
Learning Centres
How
to Apply
1. Find a qualified, insured employer who will agree to
train you as an apprentice.
A high school student may locate an employer using
typical job search strategies or a SYAO school contact or guidance
counselor may have a recommended listing of company/business contacts
already established.
- It is required that apprentices are employed under the supervision
of a certified journeyperson, however in recognition that the
Senior Years Apprenticeship Option (SYAO) requires greater flexibility
in its administration, Senior Years Apprentices can be supervised
by an uncertified tradesperson (designated trainer). All designated
trainers, must complete and submit a Designated
Trainer Application Form to the Apprenticeship Branch prior
to the submission of the Apprenticeship Application/Agreement.
2. Liaise with your school guidance counselor or contact
and the SYAO co-ordinator at the Apprenticeship Branch
to ensure you meet all of the programs academic requirements.
- Applicants in Homeschooling and Non-funded Independent
Schools
It is necessary to have a SYAO representative and confirm a contact
at either a non-funded independent school, public school or provincially-funded
independent school who will be responsible for assessing the learning
outcomes of, and granting the credits for, the on-the-job experience.
In addition, a letter from a public school or provincially-funded
independent school accepting responsibility to grant SYAO credit
or a letter from non-funded independent school accepting responsibility
to grant SYAO credit must also be submitted with the SYAO application
information.
- Mature Applicants
Mature students must also obtain a contact at either the Adult
Learning Centre or school (i.e. guidance counselor) who will be
responsible for assessing the learning outcomes of, and granting
the credits for the on-the-job experience.
3. Complete and submit the following;
Link
to SYAO application forms
- Apprenticeship Application/Agreement and $50.00 application
fee
- SYAO Registration Form
- High School Transcript
- Applicants in Homeschooling
and Non-funded Independent Schools must submit a
student mark transcript or independent academic assessment,
administered by public school or provincially-funded independent
school, showing an equivalent of Grade 11 or 12 status
- Mature Student Applicants must submit
a student mark transcript of grade 10 Math (or equivalent) and
grade 10 English (or equivalent) or confirmation of enrollment
in grade 11 or 12 Math and Grade 11 or 12 English or Independent
academic assessment administered by an Adult Learning Centre or
school confirming current standing in grade 11 or 12 Math and
Grade 11 or 12 English level
- If applicable,
- CareerFocus Application which provides employers
hiring SYAO students with wage incentives from theCareerFocus
Program offered through MB4Youth Division.
• Insurance Coverage Form- The employer
is responsible for providing SYAO students with insurance coverage
either through Workers Compensation or through a private insurance
plan equivalent to Workers Compensation. Exemption from this requirement
is available for Hutterian employers employing SYAO students within
an Hutterian community or employers who are also a parent/guardian
of the SYAO student. All employers who qualify under this exemption
must complete and submit an SYAO Insurance Coverage form.
4. Set-up a suitable on-the-job/academic timetable with your employer
that allows you to attend all of your required high school classes.
SYAO Program
Details
The SYAO program provides an opportunity for students to explore
trades in relevant settings while completing their high school education.
How it works
Students can earn up to 8 supplemental academic credits (up to
6 credits for Mature Diploma students) based on 110 working hours
per credit. Hours can be accumulated during the week, in the evenings,
on weekends and/or during holidays. The practical hours obtained
in SYAO can be used towards the completion of practical on-job hours
required for apprenticeship training in a trade, however technical-in-school
courses in the trade will be completed in the apprenticeship training.
For more information about school credits, contact the Technology
Education Consultant, School Programs Division, Manitoba Education
and Youth, at 204-945-7947.
*All SYAO students are required to attend academic studies
and failure to do so will result in cancellation of the Apprenticeship
Agreement.
Tracking Hours
It is optional for schools to encourage their SYAO students
to complete the Practical
Assessment Form and the Report
of Hours. These forms developed by the Apprenticeship Branch
will assist the school with tracking necessary hours for high school
credit.
Process: The SYAO student takes the Practical
Assessment Form to their employer to track on-the-job hours. Once
each 110hours is complete, the SYAO student/employer returns this
form to the school contact.
Upon completion of each 110hours, the school contact sends the employer
a Report of Hours Form. The employers assesses the SYAO
students' performance and skills and returns this information to
the school contact in order to assist the school in granting high
school credit.
Apprenticeship Record Book/Blue Book: Each
SYAO student will receive an Apprenticeship Record Book which enables
them to log hours of on-the-job training and receive Apprenticeship
credit for hours worked. The Apprenticeship Record Book must also
be submitted to the Apprenticeship Branch, if the SYAO student would
like to continue with their apprenticeship program after high school.
Wages
The employer is responsible for paying a student enrolled
in the SYAO program the regulated wage of a level one apprentice.
This consists of minimum wage plus a percentage which varies based
on the chosen trade.
See Apprenticeship
Training Wages for more information.
Note: SYAO students who have the opportunity
to enroll in accredited
high school trades courses may also apply their technical/in-school
training for credit towards the completion of their apprenticeship
technical-in-school training after graduation.
Roles &
Responsibilities
In the SYAO program, it’s a student’s responsibility
to:
- Maintain all academic studies outlined by the school
- Inform employer of any absences (i.e. illness)
- Arrange travel to and from work
- Report all hours worked to the school contact
The employer, high school contact (i.e. guidance counselor), Apprenticeship
Training Coordinator (ATC) and parent/guardian, play an important
role in the success of the SYAO program and the apprentice. Progress,
attendance and work experience are monitored, evaluated and credited
accordingly.
*Note: The SYAO program does not replace academic high school courses
and although students can include up to 8 credits toward requirements
for graduation, they are still required to complete the necessary
high school credentials for graduation.
For more information, see Roles
& Responsibilities section.
Requirements to Continue Apprenticeship Training After High School
Many trades are technology based and require strong essential
skills in math, science and computers. Good reading, writing and
communication skills are also very important. While mechanical and
hands-on skills are still core requirements to enter a trade, gr.
12 completion or equivalent academic standing is required for most
trades.
In order to confirm standing within
the general apprenticeship stream after high school graduation,
the prospective apprentice must submit to the SYAO coordinator;
- an original copy of their high school transcript, and
- Apprenticeship Record Book
*Important
- If the prospective apprentice has changed employers after high
school graduation, a new Apprenticeship Application/Agreement must
also be submitted.
-Designated trainer provisions are limited in the general apprenticeship
stream. If the prospective apprentice would like to continue working
with a designated trainer after high school completion, the designated
trainer must complete a new Designated Trainer Application and receive
approval from the Apprenticeship Branch.
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