The Canadian Union of Skilled Workers currently offers two apprenticeship programs: Construction & Maintenance Electrician and Powerline Technician.

A CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE ELECTRICIAN assembles, installs, repairs, connects and tests electrical fixtures, control equipment and wiring; plans installations from blueprints; installs conduit, panel boards, switchboxes and other related electrical devices; and tests electrical and electronic equipment for proper function. The apprenticeship program generally consists of five terms of 1700 hours each. Included in these terms are three periods of trade school sessions held at Community Colleges throughout the province. In order to qualify, CUSW requires each applicant to the apprenticeship program to possess a Secondary School Diploma including credits in the following subjects:

1) Grade 12 English or French
2) Grade 12 Mathematics 
3) Grade 11 Physics (or higher)
4) One of the following Senior Sciences: Grade 11 Chemistry, Grade 11 Biology or Grade 12 Electrical Shop (a.k.a. Construction Technology-Electrical/Network Cabling TCE4E)

A POWERLINE TECHNICIAN climbs, inspects, support and frames poles and towers in a live or dead line environment; installs and removes travelers and transformers; tests equipment on power lines; and various other tasks while working aloft and on the ground. The apprenticeship program is a four-year program with four levels of trade school held at a powerline technician training facility. In order to qualify, CUSW requires each applicant to the apprenticeship program to possess a Secondary School Diploma including credits in the following subjects:

1) Grade 12 English or French
2) Grade 12 Mathematics

Due to the physical nature of both of these trades, an appropriate level of physical fitness is also required.

Our Joint Apprenticeship Councils are provincial organizations that work on sites throughout the Province of Ontario. As a result, we require all applicants to be willing to travel within the Province.


APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Before applying please see our policy on the Pre-Select Process below.


THE PRE-SELECT PROCESS:

If an applicant meets the minimum requirements that are listed on the CUSW website, their information will be added to our new applicant database and will be reviewed by the CUSW/Multi-Employer Joint Apprenticeship Council (JAC). The JAC will review all the applications and make the final decisions on the selection and recruitment process.

If an applicant is selected for an interview and succeeds, they will then be added to the Pre-Select list. Please note that our associated employers will hire directly from the Pre-Select list and each applicant on the Pre-Select list has the opportunity to stay on the list for 1 year.


APPLYING:

1. If you are interested in a CUSW apprenticeship program, please download and complete an application form, and send it along with your High School transcript, Post-Secondary transcript(s) (if applicable), Academic Career Entrance (ACE) Certificate (if applicable),  current resume and cover letter.

Please note the following:

i. a GED will cover  the required Grade 12 English and Grade 12 Math only.

ii. The ACE certificate will cover the requirements for all required courses (i.e. grade 12 English, grade 12 Math, grade 11 Physics and grade 11 Chemistry/Biology).

iii. Indentured Applicants: In addition to the instructions above, please also identify your current level in your apprenticeship program and submit a copy of your original contract of apprenticeship and trade school transcripts (if applicable).

iv. If you have any questions regarding the required courses or have complete a course/certificate that may be an equivalent, please email your inquiries to apprenticeship@cusw.ca or call 1-866-907-7694.

 For further information please contact Andy Yu at (416) 240-7694 or Toll Free: 1-866-907-7694 or by emailing: apprenticeship@cusw.ca

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