The IBEW 353 Pathway Program: graduating quality electrical pre apprentices.

THE IBEW 353 OFFERS 15 WEEKS ELECTRICAL PRE APPRENTICE TRAINING: pre screening candidates, providing comprehensive electrical theory and hands on skills training, graduating fully H&S certified trade-committed electrical pre apprentices job-ready for 10 weeks of job placement with GTECA employers.

IBEW 353 Pathway participants receive 15 weeks of comprehensive training, including over 50 half days of electrical pre apprentice shop training

Pathway Graduates are Quality Pre-Screened, Trained and Certified Pre-Apprentices: Pathway participants will be dispatched to participating employers with pre apprentice hand tools and certification in:

  • Worker Health & Safety in 4 Steps
  • WHMIS
  • Working at Heights
  • Electrical Safety
  • Lockout / Tagout
  • Confined Space
  • Power Elevated Work Platforms
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Workplace Violence Awareness
  • Hand Tools
  • First Aid
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • The Working Mind
  • Equity Diversity Decolonization Inclusion

The Pathway pre screens participants such that they will arrive on job site having demonstrated that they can perform the essential duties of a pre apprentice electrician. The Pathway staff will assess that each Pathway participant demonstrates the necessary:

  • physical capabilities,
  • attendance and punctuality record,
  • ability to communicate and follow instructions,
  • attention and adherence to all aspects of safety,
  • ability to work independently as well as part of a team,
  • and engaged willingness to continuously learn and perform assigned tasks and projects.

Pathway pre apprentices will arrive on job site with 15 weeks of experience learning trade skills and theory at an introductory level:

  • pipe bending
  • conduit installation
  • wire pulling
  • circuit building
  • device installation
  • safety toolbox talks
  • DC circuits
  • Basic electricity and magnetism
  • Ontario Electrical Code
  • Prints & Drawings
  • Fire Alarm, Communications, Instrumentation, Motor Controls

Employers interested in employing a Pathway pre apprentice should contact Cindy Krysac, IBEW 353 Pathway Project Lead, at cindyk@ibew353.org

The IBEW 353 Pathway Program is for women and anyone identifying as a woman, two spirit, nonbinary or other non-cis gendered persons with a welcoming focus on Indigenous and racialized and newcomer workers. Indigenous men who qualify for the program are being accepted for cohorts provided within Indigenous communities. Applications from men from other underrepresented groups are being placed on a waitlist for future cohorts. Now is the perfect time to join the increasing number of women thriving in the IBEW 353 electrical trade.

There have always been women who have broken through the barriers and stereotypes to thrive in the skilled trades. But now is an exciting time for more women to consider a career as a skilled trades electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 353 (IBEW 353). This is a career which can provide competitively leading wages and benefits, a supportive union community, while still having time left in the week for family and personal life. Successful participants start their career in the electrical trade as pre apprentices, registered with the Electrical Apprentice Training Alliance (EATA).

This Employment Ontario program is made possible by a Government of Ontario Skills Development Fund.

Additional funding provided by the IBEW 353 and Electricity Human Resources Canada.