Apprenticeship
Technician Training: A Student Perspective
Technician Training: An Employer Perspective
Canada Apprenticeship
The following information is meant to help you research the path to becoming an apprentice in our industry. If you have any questions, please contact your Association office at 800-661-2452 and we will help you the best we can!
Apprenticeship Web Sites:
Federal Government Apprenticeship Grants
On July 2nd 2009, the federal government announced a new “Apprenticeship Completion Grant” that supports the “Apprenticeship Incentive Grant” that was already available. This is excellent news for you aspiring apprentices as with these two grants combined, if you complete your training and become a certified journey person in the Agricultural Equipment Technician Trade or Parts Person Trade, you could be eligible to receive a total of $4,000!
To download the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant application form, click here.
To download the Apprenticeship Completion Grant application form, click here.
For additional information regarding these Apprenticeship Grants, visit the Service Canada web site located here.
Agricultural Equipment Technician
An Ag Technician is certified to service, repair, assemble and maintain any agricultural equipment and attachments used for farming operations. This includes equipment for harvesting, material handling and processing, spraying and irrigation, seeding, tillage and hay and forage.
What skills/abilities are required?
- Good physical condition & agility
- Understanding of computerized machinery/mechanical systems
- Strong communication skills
- Analytical skills
How long is the apprenticeship program?
- Four years consisting of four levels.
- Practical and technical training: minimum of 1800 hours per level.
What are the entrance requirements?
- High School Apprenticeship Option – begin your apprenticeship training in high school. (See High School Apprenticeship Program below.)
- General Admission – grade 12 or equivalent high school.
- Trades Qualification – if you are experienced in the trade but do not hold a Certificate of Qualification, you may become a certified journey person based on years of proven industry experience and successful completion of the Red Seal Examination. Contact your regional apprenticeship office for more information.
Parts Person
In a farm equipment dealership, a Parts person manages & sells an inventory of parts for farm equipment. Aftermarket sales is an important aspect of a dealership’s income. A Parts person orders parts, tracks inventory, receives orders, organizes parts storage, prices parts and provides customer service.
What skills/abilities are required?
- Interpersonal skills
- Interest in machinery repair
- Organizational skills
- Computer skills
How long is the apprenticeship program?
- Three years consisting of three levels.
- Practical and technical training: minimum of 1800 hours per level.
What are the entrance requirements?
- High School Apprenticeship Option – begin your apprenticeship training in high school. (See High School Apprenticeship Program below.)
- General Admission – grade 12 or equivalent high school.
- Trades Qualification – if you are experienced in the trade but do not hold a Certificate of Qualification, you may become a certified journey person based on years of proven industry experience and successful completion of the Red Seal Examination. Contact your regional apprenticeship office for more information.
Red Seal Trades
Both the Agricultural Equipment Technician and Parts person trades are part of the Red Seal Program. As part of this program, apprentices who have completed their training and become certified journey persons, are able to obtain a “Red Seal” endorsement on their Certificates of Qualification and Apprenticeship by successfully completing an Interprovincial Standards Exam. Upon receiving the “Red Seal” Endorsement, journey persons can work across Canada. For more information, visit www.red-seal.ca.
High School Apprenticeship Programs
These programs allow high school students to get a head start on their career. Students can earn high school credits, gain apprenticeship hours in their trade plus get paid for hours worked. By the time they graduate from high school, a student can be completed their first year hours towards becoming a journey person!
Alberta – Registered Apprenticeship Program
British Columbia – Secondary School Apprenticeship
Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship
Manitoba – Senior Years Apprenticeship Option
To qualify for high school apprenticeship programs you must:
- be a high school student in Grade 10, 11 or 12
- be on track to graduate
- have a 90% or better attendance record
- submit two teacher recommendations
- submit one recommendation from a community member
- research the trade of interest
Please contact the Canadian Office if you have questions
Are You A Fit For Ag?
Equipment Dealerships have grown with the changes in modern agriculture. There is a demand for a new generation of employees who are willing to learn, grow and develop with the company. Modern dealership employees must be computer literate, educated and able to take charge of a situation. The size of dealerships is growing and a typical dealership provides entry level positions with promotional opportunities into management.
Are you a fit? We hope so! Check out these videos and program information:
- Looking for a career as an ag equipment technician?
- There’s always something to work on, and its never the same thing – Dustin’s story
- Come explore your passion as an ag equipment technician
- Think about a career in ag
- Ag pride and innovation
High School/Secondary School Programs
Are you interested in exploring a career at a farm equipment dealership as a farm equipment technician? There are programs available where you can earn a high school credit and gain valuable work experience at a dealership. Learn More
There are also opportunities to earn both a high school and college credit by enrolling in a dual-credit program at Olds College in Alberta. Learn More
Or at Fanshawe College in Ontario. Learn More
Post-Secondary Schools and Programs
Post-secondary educational institutions across Canada have designed programs and courses that prepare you for the exciting challenges in an equipment dealership. Scroll down to learn more about these programs!
Agricultural Equipment Technician – 4 year apprenticeship trade Agricultural Equipment Technicians are in high demand in Farm Equipment Dealerships across Canada. This stable, exciting career offers great pay and benefits. Read about this trade on the apprenticeship page.
There are schools in Canada which offer the Agricultural Technician Apprenticeship program:
- Olds College (Olds, AB)
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic (Saskatoon, SK)
- Assiniboine Community College (Brandon, MB)
- Fanshawe College (London, ON)
Many schools offer a one year Agricultural Technician Certificate program. These programs are designed to give students the basic skills and knowledge necessary to enter the agricultural machinery technician trade. Students can receive up to 2 years credit towards their Apprenticeship for completing these programs. When registering in a certificate program, the student should contact their provincial apprenticeship branch for information on transferring credits, registering as an apprentice and the required hours of on-the-job training.
Parts person – 3 year apprenticeship trade A Parts person manages and dispenses parts inventories. They may be responsible for stock handling, warehousing, identifying and cataloging parts and assemblies as well as ordering, receiving, inspecting, sorting, pricing and selling. Parts technicians must be knowledgeable in the use of all in-house equipment, including computers and materials handling equipment. They should enjoy variety and working directly with customers. Many technical schools including Red Deer College, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Fanshawe College offer this program. Visit our apprenticeship page to learn about this great career.
Learn more about Agriculture Technology and Precision Agriculture with the NEW Olds College Precision Agriculture – Techgronomy Diploma. Graduates from the Diploma in Precision Agriculture – Techgronomy will be prepared for careers that require a deep understanding of the connectedness between agronomy, agriculture machinery/purpose built network management, and data sciences.