What are the main advantages of participating in the OYAP option?
OYAP students have a definite advantage. Students are provided with enriched work experience placements and resources that can help them begin a career in the skilled trades as an apprentice. Many students secure part time jobs after school hours, during the weekends or during the summer months. While working they continue to develop skills and accumulate hours toward a skilled trade. Specifically, the OYAP option allows students to officially register as apprentices while they are in high school, resulting in a considerable acceleration toward journey person status at a young age. For example, students who are signed on as apprentices while in high school, assuming they continue their apprenticeship after high school graduation, become qualified journey persons eight to ten years ahead of their peers. Many coop students in the OYAP option become qualified journey persons by age 23. This is significant given that the average age of an apprentice in Ontario is between 26 – 28 years whil
