Toronto, ON — Changes are coming to the way Ontario runs its apprenticeship program. As of April 2, Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) will be the primary contact for registering apprenticeship training agreements and authorizing sponsors, administering certifying exams through Prometric Canada Testing Services, a third-party exam provider, and issuing certificates of apprenticeship.
Through this new process, the STO portal will continue to be the primary platform for apprentices and sponsors to register and manage their apprenticeship information.
STO is taking over the responsibility of this process from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Previously, in Ontario, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skilled Development was responsible for the operation of the skilled trades, but in 2021, after the Ford government was voted into power, the provincial government shifted powers away from the old College of Trades system to the new Skilled Trades Ontario.
The ministry will still be handling the following responsibilities: the administration of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, the administration of in-school training and funding for training delivery partners, and financial administration for apprenticeship-related grants and support programs.