The Student Journey
Your Meeting
your terms
Need more info? Looking to register? Want to find out about financing or start dates? Book a call, meeting, or text chat with Carrie our Student Success Manager.
The Trade Smart Difference
Trade Smart College offers a program that will prepare you to go into one of five different trades: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, HVAC or auto-mechanic. Upon graduation, you will receive a full pre-apprenticeship college diploma, not a certificate. Ours is the only 8-month program that exceeds the requirements for a diploma under the Ontario Qualifications Framework.
We believe it is our responsibility to find a job opportunity for every student before we admit them. It is then the student’s responsibility to earn that position. We do not guarantee a position within the trades, but you will receive an exclusive opportunity to earn one.
In The Trades With
The Student Employment Path
The STudent Employment Path (STEP) at Trade Smart College is our unique curriculum, built to help great people get started in the trades. In this Diploma program, students spend two months in class, followed by six months on an internship with one of our Trade Smart Certified companies. All of our companies insist that students learn a core set of professional skills before they teach them the technical skills on the job.
Spend two months in class learning the professional skills required to be a great trades employee.
Use those skills to earn a 6-month paid internship to complete your diploma.
Build the technical skills of your chosen trade in the real world, not in a lab, from fully qualified technicians.
Whether you’re a prospective student, a parent or a company, we want to hear from you and put you in touch with one of our team members as soon as possible. We feel it is important to answer your questions one-on-one, so you can make informed decisions about joining us on our mission to connect students and companies. Please fill out the form, and we will get back to you very soon.
Length of Program, Cost & Admission Requirements
Our diploma program is eight months in length. Students spend two months in class, full time, followed by six months on a full time, technical internship with a Trade Smart Certified Company.
We are interested in considering students who desire to make a positive change, who are looking for a better career path, and who are willing to put in the hard work required for success. These characteristics will be assessed through your application package and our admissions interview.
The minimum requirements for admission to Trade Smart College are as follows:
- Be at least 18 years old
- have received your high school diploma (OSSD or equivalent)
- hold a valid Driver’s License
- pass an admissions interview
A Day at the College is Like a Day in the Trades
In many pre-apprenticeship programs, students take a selection of courses at various times throughout the day that add up to about 20 hours per week in class. They become accustomed to this schedule for 8 months, and then if they are lucky enough to secure a job, they’re expected to work 40-45 hours a week, starting at 7AM every day. This can be a difficult transition for many, and is a big reason why people drop out of the trades.
At Trade Smart College, punctuality is essential, classes start at 7:15AM and end at 4:05PM every day. Trades work starts early, and shifts are usually 8-9 hours long, so it is critical that students get accustomed to this before they turn up on a jobsite. We will show you how to handle this schedule with ease, so your transition to trades work will be a breeze.
Why are we telling you now about how early our classes start? Shouldn’t we be trying to recruit you, not scare you away? The fact is, our class schedule is a filter. We only take about 125 students each year, and we want those students to be as prepared as possible to succeed in the trades. So if you feel that you can commit to the regular rhythm of work in the trades, contact us to learn more, we would love to hear from you!
Contact the Team
Campus Hours
- Mon- Fri: 7am- 5pm
- Open House - See Schedule