More Training, Support for Skilled Trades Professionals in Nova Scotia
February 15, 2024
Nova Scotia is making it easier for people to become certified in the skilled trades sector with two new initiatives as part of the plan to grow Nova Scotia’s skilled trades workforce.
Funding more training seats in high-demand trades has resulted in almost 200 apprentices being moved off wait lists and into technical training to continue their journey to certification. This is the first step in eliminating wait lists in high-demand programs.
The other initiative is waiving certification exam fees for trades professionals who are experienced but are not registered apprentices. This puts about $740 back in the pockets of those looking to become a certified trades professional through the trade qualifier route.
“There are tremendous opportunities in the skilled trades right now, and we want to remove barriers and make it easier for apprentices to get certified in their trade faster,” said Jill Balser, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “We’re pleased to work with our partners to help more Nova Scotians achieve their goal of becoming certified in the skilled trades and address our labour needs, one solution at a time.”
Nova Scotia Community College is providing the additional training in the following high-demand trades:
- plumber
- carpenter
- powerline technician
- industrial mechanic
- welder
- metal fabricator
- automotive service technician.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 625 is providing the training for the electrician trade.
The added training and waiving exam fees are part of the $100-million plan announced in October to recruit, retain and train more people in the skilled trades. The government is accelerating growth in the skilled trades and modernizing the apprenticeship and trades qualification system to meet the needs of a growing province. The goal is to add up to 5,000 more apprentices to the system over the next three years, increase the number of journeypersons and trade qualifiers taking on apprentices by 1,000 a year, and increase the retention rate of apprentices to 60 per cent (from 43 per cent) within the next five years.
