Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sign up an apprentice?

• You and your potential apprentice complete the Apprentice and Sponsor Registration form and mail it and any relevant documents to the Industry Training Authority (ITA) Customer Service office. 
  
• If your registration is accepted you will then assume the ‘sponsor’ role in the Apprenticeship process.

Can anyone be a sponsor?

• A sponsor must be a certified tradesperson or equivalent, or a legal entity (e.g. a company or organization), and be registered (or become registered) with the ITA.
• You will need to have a qualified tradesperson supervise or sign off on your apprentice’s hours. If you do not have a trade certification in the applicable trade, you might be eligible to register as having equivalent qualifications, which would allow you to sign off on hours.
  

How do I register as having equivalent qualifications?

Complete the occupation specific Application For Equivalent Status.

• Cook (Professional Cook 3)
• Baker
• Meatcutter
  

What are my responsibilities as a sponsor?

• Ensure your apprentice receives training and practical experience covering the scope of his/her industry training program under the supervision of a certified tradesperson or equivalent.
• Enable your apprentice to attend required technical training.
• Submit forms and documents requested by the ITA to verify completion of training.
• Recommend certification of your apprentice provided he/she has met the standards of the industry training program.
• More information is available in Sponsor Requirements.
  

How do I report my apprentice’s hours? 

• You may report work based training hours as frequently as you like by completing the Work-Based Training Report and faxing it back to ITA.
• The ITA will send you a request to report work based training hours if you have not done so, usually when they send you a school report, or once per year.
  

My apprentice has prior experience in the trade. Can I give him/her credit for those hours?

A sponsor can report and sign off on hours worked prior to the start of an apprenticeship, whether as a current employee or with a previous employer other than the sponsor. To do so, you must complete the Prior Work-Based Training Report for:

• Cook
• Baker
• Meatcutter
  

A similar credit is available if the apprentice has taken a training program other than one designated by the ITA. Please complete the Credit for Prior Technical Training form.

My apprentice has left and I haven’t signed off on the hours they worked for me, do I need to?

To order to give your past apprentice the proper credit for the hours they worked it’s best to complete the Work-Based Training Report at the same time you prepare their record of employment documents. If you are on a system of reporting all work-based training hours every three to four months this will help cut down on the time required if someone leaves unexpectedly.

How do I find out about available tax credits?

The following article will provide you with information on tax credits available to employers: Apprenticeship Tax Credits: Employer Incentives.

I’m an owner/manager now; is there any way that I can become certified and get credit for hours previously worked as a tradesperson?  

You have a number of options:

• Challenge the program:
  • Complete an Application to Challenge Interprovincial Examination
  • Complete Work Experience Information
  • Complete Employer or Statutory Declaration
  • Complete Document Checklist
    • Cook
    • Baker
    • Meatcutter
      

• Register in the program:
  • Complete Apprentice and Sponsor Registration
    

Additional Note: If you have a certified tradesperson working in your establishment he/she can sign off on your hours and for prior work experience either a qualified current or previous employee or employer can sign off on your hours

How were you established?

• Established by the BC tourism industry in April 2003, go2’s mission is to assist the tourism industry by addressing challenges in attracting employees and retaining its workforce in order to support industry growth.
• In 2007, go2 was sanctioned by the ITA to be the Industry Training Organization for British Columbia’s tourism sector.

What can go2 do for me?

• go2 is the Industry Training Organization (ITO) for BC’s tourism, hospitality and foodservices sector. Currently go2 is responsible for the management of three designated trades:
  • Cook
  • Baker
  • Meatcutter
    

• go2 has completed the modification of the Cook trades training program and is conducting reviews of the other two trades to ensure that they meet the industry’s needs for trained staff. A needs assessment is also being conducted to see if there are other credentialed trades required.
• go2 is focused on ensuring industry input is received into existing and new programs through stakeholder surveys, forums, task groups, and other consultations.
  

What is the Industry Training Authority (ITA)?

• The Industry Training Authority (ITA) is a Crown Agency established in 2004 by the Industry Training Authority Act. Its mandate is to:
• Set standards for industry training programs and qualifications; 
• Provide coordination among industries, learners, and training providers:
• Fund industry training; and  
• Promote industry/trades careers. 
• The mission of the ITA from its inception has been to establish a new industry-led training model for BC.
  

What are Industry Training Organizations (ITOs)?

• In order for the ITA to accomplish their goals, they created Industry Training Organizations (ITOs).
• ITOs are the mechanism by which the ITA is giving industry the lead responsibility for improving training within their unique sectors. 
• go2, is sanctioned by the ITA as the ITO for the tourism, hospitality and foodservices sector in British Columbia. Currently, go2 is responsible for the management of three designated trades:
  
  • Cook
  • Baker
  • Meatcutter
    

ITOs are responsible for:

• Maintaining currency and standards for assigned programs;
• Defining demand for training programs; 
• Recommending and negotiating annual training investment and training plans; 
• Proposing new programs; 
• Supporting trainees and employers; and 
• Promoting industry-training programs.
  

There are seven ITOs in BC, each responsible for a different sector of the economy:

• Automotive (ATSO)
• Horticulture (HortEd BC)
• ICI Construction (CITO)
• Residential Construction (RCITO)
• Resource Industries (RTO)
• Tourism, Hospitality and Foodservices (go2)
• Transportation (TCDA)
  

The goals for ITOs in all sectors are:

• Improving completion rates;
• Improving utilization rates;
• Updating and reviewing program standards;
• Expanding accessibility and flexibility; 
• Integrating immigrants into trades occupations;
• Expanding training investments by government and employers;
• Improving the relationship with the training systems.
  

Where do I get more information?

ITA
http://www.itabc.ca/

Debbie Yule
Vice President, Industry Training
604-633-9787 ext 228  
dyule@go2hr.ca

Dennis Green
Senior Program Manager, Industry Training
604-633-9787 ext 235
dgreen@go2hr.ca

Linda Halingten
Customer Service Manager, Industry Training
604-633-9787 ext 223
lhalingten@go2hr.ca