Herzing Skilled Trades

Updated December 2025

The rules are clear: if you want to become an electrician in Ontario, you must complete an apprenticeship.

That’s a five-year process of learning the trade, mainly through paid on-the-job training, but also through classroom study. You need to prove you have the skills and expertise to do the work safely.

But before starting any of that, most people complete an electrical pre-apprenticeship. That gives you a solid foundation of skills that employers value in new apprentices.

So what is an electrical pre-apprenticeship all about? How do you get started, what do you learn, and what career options will you have when you graduate?

Keep reading to find out.

WHY DO AN ELECTRICAL PRE-APPRENTICESHIP?

There’s no law that says you have to do any kind of pre-apprenticeship training to get started in the electrical trade. So why go this route?

The truth is that if you’re a total beginner, it can be tough to land an apprenticeship. Most employers don’t hire apprentices who have zero training or experience.

Instead, they look for candidates who already know the basics of installing wiring, following electrical codes, and staying safe.

Plus, a good trade school will actively help you find apprenticeships and connect with sponsors who commonly hire their graduates.

So pre-apprenticeship electrician training has a lot of benefits.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO ENROL?

Typically, you need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some trade schools also require an entrance test and an interview.

Math skills are important for aspiring electricians. But that doesn’t mean you had to have top marks in school.

Students in electrical pre-apprenticeship training practise basic equations to calculate voltage, resistance, current, and more. As long as you work hard, you can develop the skills you need to succeed in the trade, even if your high school math marks weren't great.

WHAT DO YOU LEARN IN ELECTRICAL PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING?

Quality pre-apprenticeship training will teach you how to:

☑️ Read and interpret blueprints

☑️ Use power and hand tools

☑️ Construct an electrical circuit

☑️ Install wiring and fixtures

☑️ Measure take-offs

☑️ Apply the Canadian Electrical Code

Herzing students develop their skills through lots of hands-on projects. For instance, they might install smoke alarms, doorbells, or washer and dryer receptacles. Instructors focus on getting students to follow procedures correctly the first time so they don't cause delays for employers.

WHERE CAN AN ELECTRICAL PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM LEAD YOU?

The whole goal of an electrical pre-apprenticeship program is to help you get hired as an apprentice so that you can eventually become a licensed electrician.

In terms of career paths, residential construction is an obvious option. But you can also pursue opportunities in:

☑️ Commercial or industrial construction or maintenance

☑️ Renovation

☑️ Electrical sales

☑️ Electrical utilities (i.e. becoming a lineworker who works with high-voltage power lines)

Herzing graduates often get hired by construction companies and high-rise maintenance firms. They typically start with tasks like running wires, drilling studs, and doing cleanup.

GET STARTED WITH ELECTRICAL PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING

Check out the 24-week Electrician Pre-apprenticeship program from Herzing College. It’s available in Ottawa, Toronto, and Cambridge.

Students get thorough training in installing electrical wiring and controls and making sure everything is up to code.

The program also includes several key safety certifications, such as WHMIS, lockout and tag safety, elevating work platforms, and working at heights.

Plus, we draw on our connections with industry partners and help graduates find and apply for available apprenticeships.

Click below to get complete details on the training and chat live with an Admissions Advisor. We’re here to help!