Overview

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship (OYAP) participants, including OYAP apprentices (i.e., participants with registered training agreements), are exempt from the following requirements (Ontario Regulation 877/21):

Minimum age
Practice of compulsory trade
Ratios
Appearing on the Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) public register

These exemptions end when the student is no longer in OYAP (i.e., has withdrawn from or completed OYAP) and continues to have a registered training agreement.

Please refer to the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 and regulations at e-Laws.

Exemptions under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 (BOSTA)

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Sometimes the employer/sponsor is unaware of the exemption for the practise of compulsory trades. How can I make the employer/sponsor aware?

Do the exemptions apply when the student is working at the placement outside of the specified co-op days or hours (e.g. after school, weekends) but still during the specified co-op period?

Last updated January 22, 2024

It depends on whether the student has a registered training agreement (RTA) or not:

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) participants (i.e., they do not have an RTA): the exemptions only apply while they are working at the specified placement site for the dates and hours indicated on the Work Education Agreement (WEA). This means they cannot perform compulsory aspects of the trade outside of those dates/hours or with an employer other than the one indicated on the WEA form. This requirement is indicated on the OYAP Placement Card.
OYAP apprentices (i.e. they have an RTA): the exemptions apply at any time they are working with the sponsor specified on the RTA during the specified co-op period.

Overview

Exemptions under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 (BOSTA)

Sometimes the employer/sponsor is unaware of the exemption for the practise of compulsory trades. How can I make the employer/sponsor aware?

Do the exemptions apply when the student is working at the placement outside of the specified co-op days or hours (e.g. after school, weekends) but still during the specified co-op period?

Are Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) participants exempt from minimum working age regulations?