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Start Your Skilled Trades Career in Less Than a Year!

Our Skilled Trades pre-apprenticeship and career exploration programs equip students for rewarding careers in skilled trades. With job readiness achieved in just over six months and an impressive placement rate of over 90%, our programs are built for success.

 

Our training programs are offered at no cost. This allows participants to gain the essential knowledge and develop the skills needed to embark on a rewarding career — tuition-free.

Pre-apprenticeship Training

Our free pre-apprenticeship programs offer training to eligible individuals, along with job search assistance after graduation. Students graduate with valuable skills and hands-on experience, fully prepared to launch a career in the industrial or construction sector.

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Skilled Trades Exploration

Our free Skilled Trades Exploration Programs help eligible individuals explore and start careers in the skilled trades by providing hands-on experience in construction, manufacturing, and electrical trades.

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Academic Upgrading Programs

Develop new skills or build on existing ones with our free academic upgrading and training programs, designed for employment, mature student testing, apprenticeship training, and other exams.

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TradesLink Ontario – Foreign Credentials Recognition Program

The program is open to newcomers with international post-secondary education, and training or experience in the trades who want to work in the skilled trades in Canada.

It provides personalized guidance and resources to help participants in navigating the credential recognition process and beginning the path toward Canadian certification.

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Building Better Futures

Client Testimonials

The Trades We Teach

We offer comprehensive instruction and training to help you launch a career in a variety of skilled trades by preparing you for your apprenticeship and/or job. Our programs include Industrial Electrical, Residential Electrical, Machining, Industrial Millwright, and Carpentry in Construction, providing you with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to have a successful start in these high-demand fields. Our programs are free to all participants. 

Careers in Skilled Trades

Skilled trades play a vital role in Canada’s economy, offering numerous compelling reasons to consider pursuing a career in this field. With a diverse range of job opportunities, skilled trades provide flexibility and variety for workers. Many trades offer the opportunity to “earn while you learn,” making them financially accessible. Additionally, strong labour market demands ensure job security, while high job satisfaction and competitive earning potential make the skilled trades a rewarding career choice.

What you’ll like about our programs

Students enjoy small class sizes and hands-on practical training, spending 70–80% of their time in the shop. No additional academic electives are required, and all instruction is provided by seasoned industry professionals.

All skilled trades training programs take place at our skilled trades workshop at 3335 North Service Road, Burlington and our head office at 3350 South Service Road, Burlington.

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Latest Job Openings

Visit the Job Board to see all available openings.

Accounts Receivable Clerk

Hamilton, ON In-person Permanent

Posted: November 18, 2025

Hours of Work/Location:  Full time 40 hours per week, Monday- Friday. 9am-5pm. Based at Hamilton Main Office: 1430 Main St. East, Hamilton, Ontario Salary:   $46,600-$57,400  Position Description: As the Accounts Receivable Clerk, being a motivated and detail oriented, you will support …

JobID: HV-Accounts Receivable Clerk

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Alarm Technician

Burlington, ON In-person Permanent

Posted: November 18, 2025

The technician team member and although the hours of work may vary to meet the objectives of the projects, our typical business hours of operation are 830am-5pm. We do require you to manage time appropriately to meet the project deadlines.  Generally, as a technician, you …

JobID: HV-Alarm Technician

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Electrical Engineering Designer

Burlington, ON In-person Permanent

Posted: November 18, 2025

Join our team as an Electrical Engineering Designer and play a key role in delivering high-quality electrical power and control systems for the refrigeration and cooling industry. In this hands-on position, you’ll contribute to the design and development of motor controls, programmable logic controllers, …

JobID: RL0001

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News & Events

Convert International Trades Experience into Canadian Certification with the help of TradesLink Ontario!

November 12, 2025

Stop waiting and start working! Are you an internationally trained and experienced tradesperson in a trade where certification/licensing is required? Are you confused or frustrated by the process? That’s where the TradesLink Ontario Program at the Centre for Skills steps…
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Newcomer to Canada? Need Job Search Support?

November 10, 2025

Are you a newcomer to Canada who is: 1. Struggling with doubts that you will ever use your professional skills again? 2. Feeling a lack of confidence in your English pronunciation and expressions? 3. Unsure about how to fit into…
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Practicing for an Interview? Refresh your STAR

November 10, 2025

The STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—has been the gold standard for answering behavioral interview questions for years. But as Ai-assisted job interviews have pushed a shift toward more authentic, human-centered conversations in hiring, it might be time to reconsider the…
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For Employers

Our pre-apprentices are skilled, trained, safety-certified, and ready to work.

Meet your recruiting needs with qualified apprentices who are prepared to contribute from day one.

Contact our Employer Services today!