An apprentice has an apprenticeship contract with an employer that is registered with the Alberta government. An apprentice attends formal instruction. There are about 25,000 registered apprentices in Alberta at any one time. Each year, Alberta registers about 6,000 new apprentices. A journeyman has learned the skills of the trade.
Most journeymen hold a certificate in their trade.
The Alberta Journeyman Certificate indicates that the holder has met certain standards and learned the skills of the trade. Apprenticeship training programs vary with the trade. The amount of formal instruction ranges from three to 12 weeks per period. Apprentices earn a percentage of the journeyman wage in their trade at the company in which they are employed. The apprentice's wage increases as the apprentice progresses from one level of training to the next.