What we do
On November 21, 2018, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018, which includes changes to Ontario’s apprenticeship and skilled trades system.
Under the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018, the following changes are in effect:
- Setting the journeyperson to apprentice ratios to one-to-one,
- Establishing a moratorium on trade classification and reclassification, and,
- Initiating the orderly wind down of the Ontario College of Trades (College).
The College is working closely with the Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development (Ministry) to support an orderly transition of key functions in the coming months and providing input on the development of a replacement model for the regulation of the skilled trades and apprenticeship system in Ontario.
Working together during the transition, the Ministry and College will continue to deliver key services. The Ministry continues to register and support apprentices, assess employer eligibility and administer Certificate of Qualification exams. The College supports this work by continuing to issue skilled trades credentials (Certificates of Qualification and Statements of Membership), verify credentials at worksites across the province and support labour mobility through credential verification.
Updates on the transition and any changes that may impact you will be shared on our website.
For member /client inquiries please contact:
Telephone: (647) 847-3000
Toll-free number (within Ontario only): 1 (855) 299-0028
Fax: 647-340-4332
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm
*Call Centre hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm
The Ontario College of Trades (the College) is an industry-driven, professional regulatory body that protects the public by regulating and promoting the skilled trades.
One of the main responsibilities of the College is to ensure that individuals performing the skills of compulsory trades have the training and certification required to legally practise this trade in Ontario.
The College puts the decision-making in the hands of those that are directly impacted by those decisions.
The College is also responsible for:
- Issuing certificates of qualification and statements of membership
- Establishing apprenticeship programs and other training programs
- Maintaining a public registry of its members
- The process for determining appropriate apprentice to journeyperson ratios
- The process for trade classification reviews
- Establishing the scope of practice for trades
The Ontario College of Trades is governed by a Board of Governors that is comprised of 21 members representing both employers and employees in the sector and the general public.
To view Divisional Boards Minutes click here.
To view Trades Boards Minutes click here.
