This program is designed to cover the multi-skills required of craft workers who primarily work in the construction industry.

If a jobsite needs to be cleared, scaffold erected, asphalt leveled or concrete demolished, construction craft workers are the people who carry out these tasks. They know how to work with a great number of tools, such as pneumatic hammers (jack hammers), vibrating tampers, compressors, pumps, hoists, and cement mixers. They are truly the “jacks-of-all trades”.

A great deal needs to be done to get a job started at a building site. Construction craft workers unload machinery and building materials and build scaffolding and barricades. When a job begins, their tasks include excavating and leveling building sites, building forms for concrete, and pouring, mixing and spreading concrete. Once the job is completed, they disassemble all the equipment used and clean up the site, including removing debris. Sometimes, they also help demolish buildings which can include tearing down structures and salvaging materials to recycle.

Construction craft workers do not just work at building construction. They also work on roads, bridges, pipelines, and mining sites. Construction craft workers assist various other trades people, such as carpenters, plumbers, glaziers, roofers, and dry-wallers. They may work as flagmen/women, concrete mixers, and excavators.

Apprenticeship Duration

Approximately 1-2 yrs.

The Construction Craft Worker Apprenticeship is based on competencies through demonstrated skills rather than on a fixed number of hours on the job; however, the benchmark is 2,400 hours, which includes 480 hours of in-class training.

The apprenticeship becomes complete when the apprentice has achieved competency in all of the on-the-job performance objectives and when the two levels of in-school training have been successfully completed.

Educational Requirement

Grade 10 or higher

Note: Many employers recommend Grade 12. Prospective apprentices should have English, mathematics, and science high school courses, in addition to good mechanical reasoning.

In-school training:

Northern College offers the two levels of in-class training needed for this apprenticeship training program. Each level is approximately 240 hours in duration. Training can be conducted in block format (8 consecutive weeks) or on a part-time basis. This in-class training can also be community-based.

In-class and practical training include:

• Construction Health and Safety Practices
• Blueprint Reading, Interpretation and Specifications
• Construction Hand and Power Tools, Proper Use and Handling
• Equipment Handling Practices and Procedures
• Rigging, Hoisting and Material Handling
• Introduction to Formwork
• Introduction to Concrete
• Introduction to Scaffolding
• Earth Barriers and Controls

For program information: