309A Electrician Apprenticeship in Ontario: Hours, Wages and How to Find a Sponsor

Nine thousand hours. That is the number every future licensed electrician in Ontario has to complete before writing the final exam.

It sounds like a mountain, but most of those hours are paid work on real job sites, not time in a classroom.

This guide walks you through the 309A electrician apprenticeship in Ontario step by step, with real apprentice electrician wages and the safety tickets employers ask for.

What the 309A trade covers

In Ontario, the trade code 309A stands for Electrician – Construction and Maintenance. These electricians install, maintain and repair wiring, lighting, panels, motors, controls and other electrical equipment in homes, commercial buildings, factories and infrastructure. It is a compulsory trade, which means you must be either a registered apprentice or a certified electrician to do this work legally. A separate trade, 309C, covers residential and rural electricians.

The trade is regulated by Skilled Trades Ontario, which registers apprentices, issues the Certificate of Apprenticeship and runs the certifying exam. Passing that exam gives you a Certificate of Qualification, and because construction electrician is a Red Seal trade, it can come with the national Red Seal endorsement.

How the 9,000 hours are divided

The Registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario set the training for this trade at 9,000 hours. Roughly 8,160 of them are on-the-job training with your sponsoring employer, and about 840 are in-school training. Mohawk College, for example, lists 840 hours of in-school training for the 309A program. In other words, more than 90% of your apprenticeship is spent working and earning a wage.

In-school training is usually done in blocks, often called basic, intermediate and advanced levels, a few weeks or months at a time. Colleges such as Mohawk, Cambrian and Confederation offer these programs, and offers of classroom training are issued by the provincial ministry once you are registered. In 2026, Ontario also announced changes to how 309A training is organized, so always check the latest program structure with Skilled Trades Ontario or your college.

Step by step: from zero to licensed

1. Meet the basic requirements. Colleges generally ask for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, and you must be at least 16 years old and live in Ontario.

2. Find a sponsor. This is the hardest step. A sponsor is an employer, usually an electrical contractor or a company with a maintenance department, that agrees to train you and supervise your hours. Many people start as general labourers or electrical helpers to get noticed. Completing a pre-apprenticeship program can also make you a stronger candidate.

3. Register. You and your sponsor sign a training agreement and register it through the Skilled Trades Ontario portal, including your start date and the number of hours you will work each week.

4. Work and attend school. You log your on-the-job hours and complete each level of in-school training. Your skills are recorded in a training standard that your supervisor signs as you prove each competency.

5. Write the exam. After you receive your Certificate of Apprenticeship, you write the certifying exam. It is fully multiple choice, and you have up to four hours to complete it.

A typical first year on the job

First-year apprentices rarely start by wiring a full panel. Most days begin with carrying materials, pulling wire through conduit, mounting boxes, cleaning the work area and helping the journeyperson you are assigned to. Little by little you take on more: installing devices, bending conduit, reading drawings and testing circuits under supervision. The Canadian Electrical Code becomes part of daily conversation, and learning it early pays off in school and on the exam. Keep a notebook of every new task you learn, because it helps when your supervisor signs off skills in your training record.

What apprentices and electricians earn

Apprentices are paid while they learn, and their wage grows as they move through the program. Many union agreements set apprentice pay as a percentage of the journeyperson wage. One collective agreement clause, for example, sets steps that rise from 56% to 86% of the journeyperson rate over the apprenticeship.

Some postings add benefits like dental and vision care, life insurance and RRSP matching. Specialized sectors such as industrial controls or water treatment can pay more; one Stratford posting for a licensed electrician or apprentice in wastewater treatment listed $40 to $48 per hour.

Safety tickets employers ask for

Before you step onto a construction site in Ontario, employers expect you to have basic safety training. Job postings for electrical apprentices commonly list:

• Working at Heights, from a training provider approved by the Ontario Ministry of Labour.
• Elevated Work Platform training for scissor lifts and boom lifts.
• Worker Health and Safety Awareness, a basic course about your rights and responsibilities.
• WHMIS, which covers hazardous products on the job.

Having these tickets before you look for a sponsor shows employers that you are ready to work from day one. Steel-toed boots, a hard hat and basic hand tools are also expected on most sites.

Tips to land a sponsor

Contact electrical contractors directly, not only through online ads; many small companies hire apprentices through referrals. Bring a clear resume that highlights any construction, mechanical or maintenance work, your driver’s licence if you have one, and your safety certificates. Union training centres and pre-apprenticeship programs funded by the province can also connect you with employers. Be persistent and reliable: the first year is about showing up on time, learning fast and staying safe.

This site is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Skilled Trades Ontario or any college. Program rules, hours and wages may change; confirm details with the official authority.