Journeyperson to Apprentice Ratios

Historically, ratios were established in certain trades in Ontario by the government to ensure the safety and quality of on-the-job training of apprentices and as a way to provide for the future skilled labour needs of industry. Journeyperson to apprentice ratios are set out in regulations and determine the number of apprentices who may be sponsored or employed in relation to the number of journeypersons employed in particular trades. Ratios vary by trade as each trade and sector has particular needs and characteristics.

Under the College, a new process for determining ratios has been established. Ratios are determined, not by the College, but by independent Review Panels that follow a criteria-based process involving industry and public consultations.

In 2013, Review Panels completed their review of all 33 trades subject to ratios. On April 14, 2014, a new regulation (O.Reg.104/14) came into effect that implemented the Review Panel decisions to change the ratios for some trades and also standardize the way ratios are expressed in regulation. The ratio review process is initiated every four years, and will begin again in 2018.

For more information on this new regulation or the ratio review process, visit the Ratio Review Process section.

• Who Counts Toward Ratios

  	Compulsory trades	Voluntary trades
  Journeyperson Note: Employers who are journeypersons count toward the ratio as journeypersons	Someone who holds a valid Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) in the trade and who is a member in good standing of the College’s Journeypersons Class for the same trade; or Someone who holds a Provisional C of Q in the trade and who is a member in good standing of the College’s Journeypersons Class for the same trade.	Someone who holds a valid C of Q in the trade and who is a member in good standing of the College’s Journeypersons Class for the same trade; or Someone who holds a C of Q in the trade that was issued by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) prior to April 8, 2013 (membership in the College is not required in this scenario); or Someone who practices as a journeyperson in the trade but who does not hold a C of Q in that trade. This can include members of the College’s Journeyperson Candidates Class for the trade.
  Apprentice	Someone who is registered in a training agreement with MAESD in the trade and who is a member in good standing of the College’s Apprentices Class for the same trade; or Someone who is a member in good standing of the College’s Journeyperson Candidates Class for the trade.	Someone who is registered in a training agreement with MAESD in the trade and who is a member in good standing of the College’s Apprentices Class for the same trade.

• Trades Subject to Ratios

  The 33 trades below are subject to journeyperson to apprentice ratios in Ontario. For help interpreting the following ratios, see How to Interpret Journeyperson to Apprentice Ratios section.

  To view ratios, click here (pdf).

• How to Interpret Journeyperson to Apprentice Ratios

  Ratios are expressed in words in regulation; however, to make it easier to talk about and describe them, they are often referred to by a number-based short form such as 1:1 or 2:1, etc

  Expressed numerically, the first number in the ratio indicates the number of journeypersons, and the second number indicates the number of apprentices that can be sponsored or employed.

  Ratios vary by trade as each trade and sector has particular needs and characteristics. Some trades have a single ratio, while others have changing ratios that change depending on the number of journeypersons employed.

  Single Ratios

  Trades with only one ratio are straightforward to interpret as the ratio stays the same as more journeypersons are employed.

  Example: Ratio for Powerline Technician

  Ratio in words:

  The number of apprentices who may be sponsored or employed by a person in the trade of powerline technician in relation to the number of journeypersons employed by the person in the trade shall not exceed,

  (a) for the first journeyperson, one apprentice; and
  (b) for every additional journeyperson thereafter, an additional apprentice.

  Ratio in numerical form:

  1:1

  Ratio in visual form:

  

  

  Changing Ratios

  For some trades, the ratio changes as the number of journeypersons employed increases. The number-based form for the ratios of these trades is more like a formula, and can therefore be more difficult to interpret.

  Ratio formulas describe the intervals at which an apprentice can be added in relation to an increase in the number of journeyperson employed. Note that the last ratio in a given formula continues indefinitely but all of the other ratios in that formula have to be met first, in the sequence prescribed, before this happens.

  Example: Ratio for Cement (Concrete) Finisher

  Ratio in words:

  The number of apprentices who may be sponsored or employed by a person in the trade of cement (concrete) finisher in relation to the number of journeypersons employed by the person in the trade shall not exceed,

  (a) for the first journeyperson, one apprentice;
  (b) for the second journeyperson, an additional apprentice; and
  (c) for every three additional journeypersons thereafter, an additional apprentice.

  Ratio in numerical form:

  1:1, 1:1, 3:1

  

• Ratio Calculator

  Enter a value for the number of Journeypersons and click calculate to display to the number of Apprentices.

  Choose a trade

  Architectural Glass and Metal Technician Brick and Stone Mason Cement (Concrete) Finisher Construction Boilermaker Construction Millwright Drywall Finisher and Plasterer Drywall, Acoustic and Lathing Applicator Electrician – Construction and Maintenance Electrician – Domestic and Rural (non-residential sectors) Electrician – Domestic and Rural (residential sector) Floor Covering Installer General Carpenter Heat and Frost Insulator Hoisting Engineer - Mobile Crane Operator 1 Hoisting Engineer - Mobile Crane Operator 2 Hoisting Engineer - Tower Crane Operator Ironworker – Generalist Ironworker – Structural and Ornamental Painter and Decorator – Commercial and Residential Painter and Decorator – Industrial Plumber Powerline Technician Precast Concrete Erector Precast Concrete Finisher Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic Reinforcing Rodworker Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic Restoration Mason Roofer Sheet Metal Worker Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer Steamfitter Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Setter

  # of Journeypersons :

  Calculate

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  Apprentices

  
  
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• FAQs

  • To learn more about ratios, click here.
  • To learn more about the Ratio Review process and the new regulation, click here.

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