Skilled Trades Ontario Logo
Menu
Public Register
STO Portal

About us

  • Meet our leadership
  • Accountability and corporate reports
  • By-laws
  • Land acknowledgement
  • Work with us

About trades

  • Trades information
  • Work in the compulsory trades
  • Work in the non-compulsory trades

Apprenticeship

  • Start an apprenticeship
  • Current apprentices
  • Finish an apprenticeship
  • Provisional Certificate of Qualification
  • Sponsor an apprentice
  • What parents need to know

Experienced workers

  • Recognized Canadian Certificates
  • Trade Equivalency Assessment
  • Canadian Forces

Certification

  • Exam eligibility
  • Exam scheduling
  • Exam resources
  • Certificate of Qualification

Resource Hub

  • Research
  • Resources
  • Newsroom
  • Contact us
  • Français (French)
  • Skilled Trades Ontario Logo
  • Newsroom
  • Contact us
  • Français (French)
  • Public Register
  • STO Portal
  • About us
    • Meet our leadership
    • Accountability and corporate reports
    • By-laws
    • Land acknowledgement
    • Work with us
  • About trades
    • Trades information
    • Work in the compulsory trades
    • Work in the non-compulsory trades
  • Apprenticeship
    • Start an apprenticeship
    • Current apprentices
    • Finish an apprenticeship
    • Provisional Certificate of Qualification
    • Sponsor an apprentice
    • What parents need to know
  • Experienced workers
    • Trade Equivalency Assessment
    • Recognized Canadian Certificates
    • Canadian Forces
  • Certification
    • Exam eligibility
    • Exam scheduling
    • Exam resources
    • Certificate of Qualification
  • Resource Hub
    • Research
    • Resources
  • Public Register
  • STO Portal
  Trade Information

Network Cabling Specialist

A Network Cabling Specialist installs, tests, labels and maintains low voltage communication distribution systems and signal sources to the terminal or equipment at the end of distribution systems, which comprise the architecture that supports voice, video and data transmissions within industrial, commercial, institutional and office complexes. Specifically, a Network Cabling Specialist:

  • plans and prepares for installations
  • performs cable installations using hand and power tools
  • installs cable support infrastructure
  • terminates and splice inside and outside plant cables
  • performs labelling, testing and documentation of installations
  • performs networking installations
  • troubleshoots cable systems
  • develops and maintains positive client relations
Apprenticeship Resources
Apprenticeship Training Standard (PDF)
Curriculum Training Standard (PDF)- Level 1 and 2 (PDF)
Exam Counselling Sheet (PDF)

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. Generally, the time-frame to become competent in the trade of Network Cabling Specialist is 4,600 hours (approximately two and a half years) consisting of 4,000 hours of on-the-job work experience and 600 hours of in-school training. 

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING

An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s Apprenticeship Training Standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade.

As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade.

IN-SCHOOL TRAINING

A Network Cabling Specialist apprenticeship includes two levels of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:

  • safety and tools
  • codes and standards
  • planning, preparation and documentation
  • trade calculations and electronics
  • UTP/ScTP terminating and splicing
  • interpersonal skills
  • optical fibre terminating and splicing
  • oaxial cables terminations
  • customer owned outside plant
  • networking

Depending on the training delivery agency, in-school training may be available in one of the following ways:

  • block release (full-time, for a set number of weeks)
  • day release (one day per week from September to June)
  • part-time (night-school programs)
  • alternative delivery (online, correspondence, etc.)

Network Cabling Specialist is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.

This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship.

This trade has a certifying exam. When the certifying exam is passed, Skilled Trades Ontario will issue a Certificate of Qualification in this trade. Because this trade is non-compulsory, this certificate does not have to be renewed, and the information of individuals practicing this trade will not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.

About us

  • Meet our leadership
  • Accountability and corporate reports
  • By-laws
  • Land acknowledgement
  • Work with us

About trades

  • Trades information
  • Work in the compulsory trades
  • Work in the non-compulsory trades

Apprenticeship

  • Start an apprenticeship
  • Current apprentices
  • Finish an apprenticeship
  • Provisional Certificate of Qualification
  • Sponsor an apprentice
  • What parents need to know

Experienced workers

  • Recognized Canadian Certificates
  • Trade Equivalency Assessment
  • Canadian Forces

Certification

  • Exam eligibility
  • Exam scheduling
  • Exam resources
  • Certificate of Qualification

Resource Hub

  • Research
  • Resources

© 2025 Skilled Trades Ontario

  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

© 2025 Skilled Trades Ontario

Scroll Up