• Building the life you want starts with acquiring skills that are in demand.
• As a certified tradesperson, career potential is unlimited. 
• It all starts with apprenticeship; a unique opportunity to earn and learn while building your career.

British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) Apprenticeship Services is launching a major industry-wide drive supporting small and medium construction employers to hire and register first-year apprentices.

This province-wide recruitment drive is administered by BCCA as part of the BCCA Apprentices Services campaign. BCCA is launching a 22-month campaign funded by the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service to enable small and medium-sized employers in BC’s construction industry to hire and register first-year apprentices. As part of the service to employers, BCCA will build a pool of qualified jobseekers, provide culture training via its Builders Code program, and mentorship support through its new Building Builders initiative. Additional apprenticeship supports, advice, and resources will also be made available to successful job applicants.

To learn more about BCCA Apprenticeship Services, click here.

About the Opportunity

British Columbia has an increasing demand for skilled tradespeople, resulting in rewarding employment opportunities. As a first-year apprentice, you will be starting a career path towards obtaining your SkilledTradesBC trade certification. This is a great opportunity to get hands-on training while receiving a competitive wage for your work!

A typical day as a heavy equipment operator involves operating various large construction equipment. In BC, heavy equipment operators can obtain a Certificate of Qualification from SkilledTradesBC as a heavy equipment operator with an endorsement for specific equipment. The endorsement is issued based on hours completed working in the machine as an apprentice.

A heavy equipment operator (backhoe/loader/articulated haul truck) operates various large construction equipment. Heavy equipment operators could work on commercial or residential new construction or renovation projects, or civil infrastructure projects. Loaders, backhoes and articulated haul trucks move and load earth, rock, gravel or other materials during construction and related activities, including clean-up operations. They also maintain winter roads and move, load and unload cargo.

Day-to-day as an apprentice you could be:

• Operating heavy equipment such as backhoes, loaders or articulated haul trucks to excavate, move, load and grade earth, rock, gravel, or other materials 
• Doing pre-operational checks, daily maintenance and troubleshooting on equipment including cleaning, lubricating and refilling fluids
• Digging, loading, hauling, and stockpiling materials
• Excavating trenches and ditches
• Working according to Worksafe BC Standards, applying Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, and donning Personal Protective Equipment

About You

BCCA Apprenticeship Services is looking for applicants interested in pursuing a career in construction as a first-year apprentice heavy equipment operator (backhoe/loader/articulated haul truck). The ideal candidate should have at least 1 year of related experience and be interested in starting a career path towards certification as a heavy equipment operator (backhoe/loader/articulated haul truck) and should be motivated to learn, reliable, and hardworking.

To succeed as a first-year apprentice heavy equipment operator, you: 

• Must have a valid BC driver’s license 
• Communicate, work well with others, and follow directions well 
• Have good dexterity and like to work with your hands
• Enjoy working indoors or outdoors in all seasons 
• Like to solve problems and build solutions
• Are physically fit with stamina for manual labour
• Have experience using hand and power tools
• Are willing to follow safety guidelines at all times
• Understand basic math
• Have strong attention to detail
• Are in good physical condition with good endurance,
• Are able to lift up to 50 lbs
• Have good tolerance for dust, heat, and working alone in the machine cab

Other qualifications can include (but are not required):

• Hands-on experience working with machines, vehicles, or large equipment, and/or building construction
• Occupational First Aid training, SiteReadyBC certification, or Transportation of Dangerous Goods certification
• High school diploma and/or completion of the Road Builder and Heavy Construction Foundation Training or Level 1 Heavy Equipment Operator training from a SkilledTradesBC recognized post-secondary institution
• Prior experience in construction (hobbies, summer jobs, or volunteer activities), agriculture or forestry, manufacturing, marine services or fisheries, municipal work, or other non-construction trades are a bonus

The Benefits of Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship offers a pathway to a successful career in construction. You will earn an income while gaining work-based training hours, education, and certification. Apprentices are eligible for government grants, tax credits, and employment insurance while attending training. This can help you offset the cost of training and certification and allow you to complete your apprenticeship and minimize student debt.

For more information on the benefits of apprenticeship, see SkilledTradesBC’s Apprentice Guidebook.

The starting hourly rate for first-year apprentices is usually between $17-$22/hour. It is determined by each employer and can vary depending on skills, location, and your experience. As a first-year apprentice new to a trade it is customary to begin at the bottom of the pay range but as you ‘earn and learn’ on the job, your pay will increase as you progress in your apprenticeship.

If this sounds like you, and you want to start your career in construction, we encourage you to apply today!

Note: Before applying, we recommend preparing a one-to-two-page skills-focused resume, including technical skills, education, and certifications you have. We also recommend including a cover letter focused on your story and prior experience to help employers understand why you’re a fit for the role and their company. Why not consider registering for a short/online construction-related course and listing it on your resume to help you stand out from other candidates?

What to Expect After You Apply

• BCCA will match your skills, experience, and abilities to job openings with construction employers across BC, and your application will be featured in a pool of qualified candidates. 
• BCCA Apprenticeship Services team will also provide you with resources to help you succeed in finding an employer sponsor. We will notify you when and if we find a match with an employer’s hiring requirements in your location, and we will forward your application directly to the employer on your behalf. It will be the employer’s decision to contact you for an interview. 
• Your single application will generate multiple opportunities for you to be shortlisted and presented to different employers. Due to the high volume of applications, we will only contact shortlisted candidates.

Get Ready!

Here are some great resources you can use now to build your knowledge and experience in the trades:

• Apprenticeship in BC (courtesy of SkilledTradesBC)
• Heavy Equipment Operator (Loader, Backhoe, Articulated Haul Truck Endorsements) Trade Requirements and Pathway to Certification in BC (courtesy of SkilledTradesBC) 
• Self Assessment for Trades Skills (courtesy of Employment and Social Development Canada)
• Test Your Essential Skills tool - see how you’d do in your first two years of trades technical training (courtesy of SkilledTradesBC) 
• SiteReady BC online construction safety orientation (courtesy of BC Construction Safety Alliance)

BCCA is committed to promoting an inclusive worksite culture. We encourage all to apply, including but not limited to, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, newcomers to Canada, and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community. We work with employers through our Builders Code initiative to set a standard code of conduct for workers on construction sites in BC. It defines an “Acceptable Worksite” as the starting point for reducing risk and ensuring a safe and productive environment for all workers.

It is mandatory for BCCA Apprenticeship Services as a funded intermediary acting on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada to provide information that has been collected from jobseekers. This includes any information related to jobseekers and apprentices hired from equity-deserving groups. Please refer to BCCA’s Collection, Use, and Disclosure of Personal Information Notice, which applies to your answers to Question 6.

Are you a construction employer?

If you are a BC-based small to medium-sized construction employer (<500 employees) looking to hire first-year apprentices, and receive thousands of dollars in financial incentives to assist you in doing so, apply now with BCCA Apprenticeship Services.