APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. The Registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario, under the authority of section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, has set the hours of apprenticeship training for the trade Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic at 9000 (approximately five years), which consists of 8,280 hours on the job work experience and 720 hours of in-school training. These hours are consistent with apprentice training hours previously set out in regulation under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act, R.S.O 1990.

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 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic apprenticeship includes three levels of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:

• workplace health and safety
• applied trade mathematics
• engineering drawings and documentation
• mechanical cooling cycle fundamentals, components and accessories
• electrical and electronic fundamentals
• pipe joining, welding, brazing and soldering
• installation and system start up procedures
• applied psychrometrics
• prints and heat load calculations
• air distribution systems and accessories
• electrical and electronic control systems
• pressure enthalpy and refrigerants
• cooling systems and components
• mechanical cooling cycle

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.)

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.

This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, the Ministry issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship.

This trade has a certifying exam. Upon passing the certifying exam, Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Qualification in this trade.

Because this trade is compulsory, to practice this trade legally in Ontario a person must hold a Registered Training Agreement, Provisional Certificate of Qualification or Certificate of Qualification and their information must appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. A Certificate of Qualification issued in this trade must be renewed to be valid.

In Ontario, the trade is part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program—the national standard for the trade across Canada— under the title Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic: www.red-seal.ca.