Overview
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.
The
program helps to encourage students to continue to pursue academic
goals and to graduate. At the same time, 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.
A
Secondary School Apprenticeship involves part-time work within a trade
- something many secondary students are doing anyway. Once they
register as Secondary School Apprentices, such students can get
academic credit for their work towards high school graduation and work
experience credit towards completion of their apprenticeship.
Like
other apprentices, Secondary School Apprentices are responsible for
finding an employer who will hire them and commit to their training.
The key benefit of the Secondary School Apprenticeship program is the
head start - as much as two years - that it gives students towards a
trades career.
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
- successfuly completed SSA 11A, SSA 11B, SSA 12A, and SSA 12B
- 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.
To register Secondary School Apprentices, please use the ITA Youth Programs on-line registration system.
Questions regarding Secondary School Apprenticeship can be directed to
Rodger Hargreaves at the Ministry of Education at 250-387-6430 or
Rodger.Hargreaves@gov.bc.ca
School District Grants Available
The Career Education Society (CES) invites school districts to submit
applications for funding to increase the number of Secondary School
Apprentices over the next school year. Information about the project
and an application form are on the CES Website. |
