The findings from this joint CECA-IBEW Labour Market Study are as relevant today as they were in 1997.  It concluded that technological change was having a significant impact on the electrical trades.  It called for an enhanced focus on skill development through apprenticeship and ongoing journeyperson skills training to build and maintain a skilled workforce and to capture new and emerging markets.

The study recommended establishing a national, joint Labour-Management vehicle dedicated to strategic human resource planning.  This triggered the creation of NETCO.

Bilingual hard copy available at a price of $20 plus GST (incl. shipping).

This report identifies barriers to skills development and lifelong learning related to nine Essential Skills (e.g., Reading Text, Numeracy, Problem Solving) needed to learn and work in the electrical construction and utility industries.  There is a particular focus on identifying and addressing barriers to success in electrical apprenticeship.

The recommendations are the blueprint for NETCO’s ongoing Essential Skills Initiative.  This framework drives the development of NETCO’s HR Tools & Products related to Partnerships, Awareness, Assessment and Upgrading.

NETCO vigorously promotes National Occupational Standards and The Red Seal Program.  NETCO also recognizes that strong Essential Skills promote success in apprenticeship and ongoing journeyperson skills training.  The 24” x 36” laminated posters promote awareness of their importance.

Each poster graphically summarizes the National Occupational Analysis for one of the three Red Seal electrical trades and reinforces that nine Essential Skills (e.g., Reading Text, Numeracy, Oral Communication) enable the performance of specific tasks.

The laminated posters are suitable for display anywhere that delivers or advocates electrical skills training (e.g., JAC training centres, Local Union Offices, Electrical Contractor Offices, Apprenticeship Offices, community colleges).  Apprentices may use the paper version (available as a free download) to self-assess proficiency in the various tasks outlined in the National Occupational Analysis.

This Guide is intended as a continuous improvement tool for Joint Apprenticeship Committees (JACs)—the Labour-Management partners directly involved in apprenticeship administration.  It offers 67 best practices related to six areas:  JAC Governance & Management; Apprenticeship Administration & Training; Protocols for Selecting Apprentices; Journeyperson Skills Training; Mentoring; and Essential Skills.

This tool encourages JACs to conduct a self-directed Best Practices Audit for the purpose of building on strengths and targeting potential areas for continuous improvement.  It may be used to stimulate a private, internal review of how your current practices correlate to the best practices endorsed by NETCO.

Test-Taking Strategies for Interprovincial Red Seal Electrical Exams, 2007 (Electrical Version)
$0.00 CDN

Test-Taking Strategies for Interprovincial Red Seal Exams, 2007 (Generic Version)
$155.00 CDN

NETCO’s research shows that rusty Reading Text skills are a barrier to success on Red Seal exams being written by apprentices and journeypersons with a provincial Certificate of Qualification.  Trades Instructors may assist by building the specific Reading Text skills needed to perform well on multiple-choice questions used in Red Seal exams while conducting technical skills training. 

This Learning Package consists of a CD containing an Instructor’s Guide, organized into five modules, and 40 corresponding PowerPoint slides. The curriculum takes 1 ½ hours (90 minutes) to deliver.  The modular structure allows for flexibility in using all five modules in a single training session or in selecting specific modules for delivery.  This enables it to be seamlessly integrated into the technical training already being provided to apprentices and journeypersons.

The first 40 minutes (Modules 1-4) provide a theoretical framework; the last 50 minutes (Module 5) provide an opportunity for practice.  The practice session is based on trade-specific multiple-choice questions.  Instructors need to source questions in advance.  For practice questions related to the Construction Electrician Red Seal Exam, this curriculum recommends the use of the Electrician’s Self-Assessment Tool (ESAT).  ESAT is endorsed by NETCO, and available for purchase from the Canadian Standards Association (www.csa.ca).  Module 5 provides more details.  For questions related to the Red Seal Exams for Industrial Electrician and Powerline Technician, NETCO recommends that Instructors source appropriate questions from technical training materials.  These are typically easy to access.

While NETCO designed this Learning Package for use with apprentices and journeypersons in the three Red Seal electrical trades, most of the content is applicable to any Red Seal trade.  NETCO makes it available for purchase to other trades as a public service.