FAQ

STEP 1 - COMPLETE ALL THREE ENROLLMENT FORMS

Complete the following forms and provide the following documents to get registered:

1.     Skills Development Fund Employer Online Form - Completed by Employer.

2.     Skills Development Fund Participant (Apprentice) Online Form - Completed by Apprentice OR Employer on their behalf.

 3.     EFT Enrollment Form (Please include a void cheque or a Direct Deposit form)

*CLAIM FORMS CANNOT BE PROCESSED UNLESS ALL ENROLLMENT FORMS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED*

STEP 2 - COMPLETE THE CLAIM FORMS

Complete the Claim Forms depending on which subsidies you are claiming:

A) Wage Subsidy Claim Form

Documents to Upload:

- Registered Training Agreement (RTA)

- Most recent pay stub showing the Year-to-Date Gross Income

*Note: If your apprentice doesn't have an RTA, please reach out to Angela (angela.thomas@supportontarioyouth.ca) from Support Ontario Youth (SOY) to get them registered.

*Note: Bonuses and expense reimbursements are not covered.

B) Equipment Subsidy Claim Form - For Year 2 & Year 3 Apprentices Only

Documents to Upload:

- Registered Training Agreement (RTA)

- Proof of Payment

*Note: If your apprentice doesn't have an RTA, please reach out to Angela (angela.thomas@supportontarioyouth.ca) from Support Ontario Youth (SOY) to get them registered.

*Note: GST/HST & Shipping are not covered.

C) Training Subsidy Claim Form - Either Individual Training or Group Training as long as at least one apprentice participates.

Documents to Upload:

- Proof of Payment via Receipt or Invoice

**Note: Invoice must show as PAID with no remaining balance owed.

While filling out your Claim Forms, you will notice fields asking you for your NOC and NAICS Codes.

NOC (National Occupational Classification) and NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) are two important classification systems used to categorize economic activities and occupations.

NOC Codes (National Occupational Classification) 

Common Trade Codes 

72200 Electrician/Apprentice Electrician  

72203 Powerline Technician (Lineman)/Apprentice Powerline Apprentices 

72300 Plumbers/Plumber Apprentices 

72402 Air Conditioning (Residential) Mechanic/Apprentice & Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic/Apprentices 

75110 Construction trades helpers and labourers 

72102 Sheet metal workers 

NAICS Code (North American Industry Classification System) 

Common Trade Codes 

238210 Electrical Contractor businesses  

237130 Utility Contractor businesses  

237130 Power, communication line, and related structures construction  

238220 Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors  

You can register up to two (2) apprentices for the wage subsidy. You can also apply for the equipment subsidy for up to two (2) separate apprentices, provided they are registered 2nd or 3rd year apprentices according to their Registered Training Agreements.

No, you do not have to be an OEL member. All employers, OEL members and non-members in a trade that we support, will be able to benefit from our project. This includes the following trades:

306A Plumber

308A Sheet Metal Worker

308R Residential (Low-Rise) Sheet Metal Installer

309A Electrician - Construction and Maintenance

309C Residental Electrician

313A Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic

313D Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic

434A Powerline Technician

442A Industrial Electrician

636E Elevating Devices Mechanic

Wage Subsidies: You can register a maximum of two (2) apprentices per program cycle.

Year 1 Apprentices: Up to $5,000 per Apprentice

Year 2-3 Apprentices: Up to $4,000 per Apprentice

Year 4-5 Apprentices: Up to $3,000 per Apprentice

*Apprentices who have been employed by you for a minimum of 6 weeks are eligible.

**Employer must submit their apprentices' Registered Training Agreement (RTA), which is one of the documents needed to qualify.

Equipment Subsidies

For Year 2-3 Apprentices ONLY, you can claim a maximum of $650 worth of work & safety equipment for a maximum of 2 apprentices. This can include anything from safety boots, tools, work gear, safety harnesses, and more.

Training Subsidies

Employers can receive up to $300 in training per apprentice for a maximum of 2 apprentices OR up to $1,000 for group training, provided at least one apprentice is included, and the training is fully paid and completed before submission. This training can be conducted on-site, off-site, online, or in-person.

You are able to submit claims for wages backdating to January 1, 2025. As for equipment or training, you can only submit claims backdating to March 31, 2025.

Apprentices must be working for the employer submitting the claims for a minimum of 6 weeks.

An RTA is a Registered Training Agreement that each apprentice must register for with Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) in order to be an official apprentice and collect apprenticeship hours towards their certification. We need this as proof that your apprentice is officially registered.

If you or your apprentices do not have an RTA, you can reach out to Angela at angela.thomas@supportontarioyouth.ca from our partner organization, Support Ontario Youth (SOY). They specialize in providing support services to register apprentices with STO at no charge.

You can submit as many claims as needed until you have maxed out the subsidy allowance.

It can take up to 6 weeks after a claim has been submitted. However, claims cannot be made for equipment or training unless it has been purchased and completed.

We send money based on the accounting information we’re provided via void cheque or Direct Deposit form. We have eliminated the process of issuing cheques, ensuring prompt payment as well as a more secure and convenient payment system.

No, we do not send money to apprentices. We would reimburse the employer, and they will have to reimburse the apprentice.

That depends on the funding you receive and from where. Please contact robyn.hayden@oel.org for further details.

If you are unclear about the qualifications of a submission, please contact robyn.hayden@oel.org prior to making a purchase for equipment or training.

Currently, we only provide the funding. Employers must source out their own resources. However, we are creating a resource library to further assist participating employers who are availaing the Apprentice Subsidies.

You can contact our Project Coordinator, Robyn Hayden, at robyn.hayden@oel.org or through the OEL Hotline (905) 238-1382.

For more hands-on support in real time, you can schedule a meeting with Robyn with the button below:

Members can use our online Member portal to access the Member Directory to find licensed electrical contractors near them, as well as other businesses and industry organizations that are OEL Members. OEL is unable to recommend specific electricians or other professionals.

Volunteers are the heartbeat of OEL. Members can start volunteering at the Chapter level, getting involved to help run/manage the Chapter’s meetings, events, etc. They can also join our monthly Contractor Committee or volunteer to participate in focus groups, research, or other activities that we may be conducting. There is also potential to become a member of our Board of Directors, which is made up of volunteers.

Volunteers are also needed to serve on OEL committees and industry committees, such as those with the Electrical Contractor Registration Agency (ECRA), part of the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Watch the website and Weekly Dialogue to see announcements about these opportunities.

The Contractor Committee (CC) provides relevant information to contractors and is a place for these members to voice their opinions. All OEL Member contractors are welcome to attend CC meetings, usually held on the third Friday of the month (excluding July, August and December). If a member has an issue they would like addressed at the CC, they can bring this to the attention of their Chapter representative or contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382 or league@oel.org about it.

Members can also reach out via email to ecra@oel.org for queries related to the Electrical Contractor Registration Agency (ECRA) or coac@oel.org for issues pertaining to the Contractor Advisory Council.

Young professionals are vital to OEL’s and Ontario’s future. Currently, related initiatives include presenting 3 Apprentice Days in different areas of Ontario to help apprentices build connections with their peers and obtain information about their levelled schooling, etc. to succeed. OEL also offers volunteer opportunities for young professionals from time to time. Watch the website or contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382 or email us at league@oel.org, for details.

GlueUp is our Membership Management Platform.

GlueUp is our system that hosts our Member Portal (for Members) - OEL Members can manage their Membership and access Communities, Member Benefits, and other internal resources. Members can log in through the OEL website.

GlueUp powers our Email Campaign System - All our event invitations and our Weekly Dialogue newsletter are sent through GlueUp, which uses the address no-reply@glueupmail.com.

GlueUp is our Administration System (for OEL Staff) - It is the platform for OEL Staff to manage Membership data, set up Events on our events calendar, and more.

Yes, you are welcome to attend your two-chapter meeting as a non-member. There is a non-member rate attendance fee for some Chapters. We also encourage you to consider joining OEL to enjoy the many benefits of membership. A variety of membership packages are available to meet your needs.

Check out our Events calendar for details about the meetings and contact people at your local Chapter. You can also reach out to your Chapter President, or the OEL Member Services Representatives listed on OEL Chapters.

Learn from industry experts, expand your skills and grow your network at OEL events like local Chapter meetings, Roadshows and training sessions. If you’re a contractor, our events, such as Chapter meetings, are excellent places to meet your counterparts and compare notes about what’s working and how you can solve common problems. To stay abreast of all OEL happenings, visit our Events Calendar. Members can also watch for details in our Weekly Dialogue e-newsletter.

To register online for an OEL Chapter meeting, training (i.e., fire alarm technician) or another event, visit our Events Calendar. You will be prompted to log in with the email and password for your OEL account. If you need assistance with registering, please contact the OEL Hotline at (905) 238-1382 or email us at league@oel.org.

OEL can often help you or direct you to resources for legal advice, human resources/labour issues and government funding and supports. If you are an OEL Member, some of your Membership benefits are designed to assist you in these areas. For more information, please contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382, email us at league@oel.org, or reach out to one of our Member Services Representatives from the Contact Us page.

The OEL Job Board is one resource that employers can use to recruit apprentices. Contractors turn to a variety of measures, including co-op education programs at their local secondary schools, to find young people who are interested in working in the skilled trades. IMPORTANT: When hiring, remember the provincial ratio rules for your trade. For example, there is a 1:1 ratio in the electrical trade, so contractors must employ 1 licensed electrician.

There are two options for registering or “signing up” an apprentice so he/she gets a Registered Training Agreement (RTA) and is officially recognized as an apprentice by the Province of Ontario. NOTE: Apprentices must be registered before they can carry out work in an apprentice’s scope of practice for work.

Employer Registration: As an employer, you and your apprentice can work directly with Skilled Trades Ontario to have the apprentice registered. To get started, visit the STO website. You will need a Sponsor ID Number to start the process online. STO can advise you on how to obtain this number if you don’t already have one from registering apprentices previously. You may also want to reach out to your local Employment Ontario Apprenticeship Office for assistance.

Group Sponsor Registration: You can also use a group apprentice sponsor, such as Support Ontario Youth (SOY), an OEL partner, will take care of the required paperwork and steer the application process for you. There is no charge for this service, and it can save you a lot of time. SOY appears as the apprentice’s sponsor on the completed Training Agreement. For more information, contact SOY at phone (647) 693-8939, info@supportontarioyouth.ca.

OEL’s 2024-25 EEP: Employer Support for Apprentice Success Project (link to PDF or EEP page on site) provides contractors with subsidies for apprentice wages, work equipment and training. Other benefits include convenient online business training to lay the groundwork for successful operations that support apprentice success, mental health supports and apprentice networking and education events. To learn more, contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382 or league@oel.org, or reach out to one of your local Member Services Representatives.

Learn from industry experts, expand your skills and grow your network at OEL events like local Chapter meetings, Roadshows and training sessions. If you’re a contractor, our events, such as Chapter meetings, are excellent places to meet your counterparts and compare notes about what’s working and how you can solve common problems. To stay abreast of all OEL happenings, visit our Events Calendar. Members can also watch for details in our Weekly Dialogue e-newsletter.

To register online for an OEL Chapter meeting, training (i.e., fire alarm technician) or another event, visit our Events Calendar. You will be prompted to log in with the email and password for your OEL account. If you need assistance with registering, please contact the OEL Hotline at (905) 238-1382 or email us at league@oel.org.

OEL can often help you or direct you to resources for legal advice, human resources/labour issues and government funding and supports. If you are an OEL Member, some of your Membership benefits are designed to assist you in these areas. For more information, please contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382, email us at league@oel.org, or reach out to one of our Member Services Representatives from the Contact Us page.