HVAC apprenticeship in Ontario: how the 313A path actually works

Introduction

HVAC is one of the few skilled trades in Ontario where the fastest legal path to working is also the path that pays you the whole way through. The apprenticeship for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic (trade code 313A) runs around 9,000 hours over three to five years, structured under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 (BOSTA), which took effect January 1, 2022 [1]. Most of those hours are on the clock with an employer who picks up the wages.

Here is how the path actually works in practice: sponsorship, ratios, the three in-school levels, and what apprentices typically earn at each stage.

Pick the right trade code first

Skilled Trades Ontario regulates two HVAC mechanic trades, and you sign up for one of them at registration, not later [2][3]:

• 313A, Refrigeration and AC Systems Mechanic. Red Seal. Covers commercial, industrial, and residential systems. Most career techs do this one [2].
• 313D, Residential AC Systems Mechanic. Shorter apprenticeship, residential AC only [3].

The 313A is the default if you are not sure. It keeps commercial and refrigeration work in scope, and it is the one most employers prefer when hiring journeypeople.

You need a sponsor before you can register

An apprenticeship in Ontario is a contract between three parties: you, your employer (the “sponsor”), and Skilled Trades Ontario. You cannot register as an apprentice without a sponsor willing to supervise your hours [4]. This is the part most aspiring techs underestimate. Finding a sponsor is harder than passing any exam in the program.

Two common ways to find a sponsor:

• Cold-apply directly to contractors. Most mid-sized HVAC shops hire one or two apprentices a year. A clean resume, a driver’s license, and a willingness to start as a helper for the first three to six months will get you in most places.
• Do a 1-year college certificate first. Mohawk, Centennial, Conestoga, Algonquin, and Fanshawe all run pre-apprenticeship HVAC programs that double as employer-recruiting pipelines [5][6]. Many graduates have a sponsor lined up before convocation.

The 1:1 ratio: what BOSTA changed

Under O. Reg. 877/21 (the General regulation under BOSTA), the apprentice-to- journeyperson ratio for 313A is capped at 1:1. One journeyperson can sponsor one apprentice at a time. Five certified journeypeople, five apprentices. That is the ceiling [1][7].

The practical consequence: a small shop with one or two journeypeople cannot take on three apprentices at once. Larger shops with deeper journeyperson rosters are easier to break into. If a contractor tells you they will “sponsor you off the books,” walk. Your hours will not count toward your Certificate of Qualification.

The three in-school levels

Of the ~9,000 total hours, about 720 are in-school and the remaining 8,280 are on-the-job [8]. The in-school portion is delivered as three blocks at a community college, each typically 8 weeks long:

1. Level 1, Basic. Trade math, safety, refrigerant handling fundamentals, hand tools, blueprint reading, basic electrical. Bridges what a helper picks up on-site into formal theory.
2. Level 2, Intermediate. Refrigeration cycle theory, controls, troubleshooting, hydronics fundamentals, gas appliances. Usually scheduled around 4,000 to 5,000 OJT hours banked.
3. Level 3, Advanced. System design, commercial and industrial refrigeration, advanced controls, energy efficiency, code compliance. Final preparation for the Certificate of Qualification.

During each in-school block, you are paid through Employment Insurance (EI) apprentice benefits rather than your employer’s payroll. Some collective agreements top up EI to a percentage of your regular wage. Most private shops do not. Plan your finances around an 8-week pay cut three times across the program.

What apprentices actually earn

Apprentice wages in Ontario are negotiated, not set by Skilled Trades Ontario. The convention across the trade is a step-up by level. Working from Job Bank’s NOC 7516 Ontario wage report [9] and posted apprentice rates, typical bands are:

• Pre-apprentice / helper: $17 to $22 per hour. Often paid before you have formally registered, while you wait for your sponsor to file paperwork.
• Level 1 apprentice: $20 to $26 per hour. Usually keyed to 55 to 65% of the shop’s journeyperson wage.
• Level 2 apprentice: $24 to $32 per hour. 70 to 80% of journeyperson.
• Level 3 apprentice / pre-C of Q: $28 to $38 per hour. 85 to 95% of journeyperson.
• Newly licensed 313A journeyperson: $32 to $45 per hour, with the Job Bank median sitting in the $30.94 to $40.28 band for the broader HVAC mechanic occupation [9].

Union shops tend to anchor near the top of each band. Small residential shops sit at the bottom. We cover the full salary picture in our companion piece on what HVAC technicians actually earn in Ontario.

The other tickets you stack along the way

The 313A apprenticeship alone does not make you employable. You also need:

• ODP card. Required to handle refrigerants in Ontario under Ontario Regulation 238/01. One-day course, 75% pass, valid five years [10].
• TSSA G3, then G2. Almost every working HVAC tech holds a G2 gas technician license. Required to work independently on natural gas / propane equipment up to 400,000 BTU/h [11]. Note: as of January 1, 2026, G3 challenge-cert holders need 450 documented hours of G3 work experience before they can enroll in G2 [12].

Many college pre-apprenticeship programs bundle the G3, ODP, and some of the Level 1 313A material into one curriculum, which shortens the post-graduation runway considerably [5][6].

Three common pitfalls

1. “Off-the-books” hours. Hours worked for an employer who is not your registered sponsor do not count. Pay attention when switching shops mid-apprenticeship. Your new employer must be filed as a sponsor change with Skilled Trades Ontario, or your clock stops.
2. Missing your Level 2/3 timing. Some shops do not love losing an apprentice for 8 weeks of in-school. Push for your level scheduling once you have banked the OJT hours. Delaying it costs you future earnings, not them.
3. Skipping the G2. A 313A without a G2 limits you to refrigeration-only work in most shops. Bank the G2 early, ideally before Level 3.

For contractors hiring apprentices

A junior tech in their first 12 months drives most of your per-job time-on-site cost. Structured checklists turn that time into training instead of dead weight. The apprentice captures the intake (nameplate, panel, indoor/outdoor placement), the senior reviews it, and the auto-generated load calc and rebate flags become the teaching artifact. Retrofit.ai is built for exactly that workflow. See our piece on the photo-first HVAC quote workflow for how it slots in.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start a 313A apprenticeship without a college diploma?

Yes. Direct apprenticeship is one of three legitimate paths in Ontario. You need an employer willing to sponsor you, and Grade 12 or equivalent. Many techs start as helpers and register as apprentices once their sponsor files the paperwork with Skilled Trades Ontario.

How do I find a sponsor for an HVAC apprenticeship in Ontario?

Two reliable paths: cold-apply directly to contractors as a helper, or do a 1-year college pre-apprenticeship at Mohawk, Conestoga, Centennial, Algonquin, or Fanshawe. College graduates often have a sponsor lined up before convocation. A driver's license and a clean resume go a long way.

What is the apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio for 313A in Ontario?

Under Ontario Regulation 877/21 (the General regulation under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021), the 313A ratio is capped at 1:1. One journeyperson can sponsor one apprentice at a time. Five certified journeypeople, five apprentices.

How much do HVAC apprentices in Ontario earn at each level?

Apprentice wages are negotiated, not set by Skilled Trades Ontario, but the convention is a percentage of the shop's journeyperson rate. Level 1 typically runs $20 to $26 per hour (55 to 65% of journeyperson). Level 2 runs $24 to $32 per hour (70 to 80%). Level 3 runs $28 to $38 per hour (85 to 95%). Union shops sit at the top of each band.

Are apprentices paid through Employment Insurance during in-school training?

Yes. During each 8-week in-school block, apprentices are paid through Employment Insurance (EI) apprentice benefits, not their employer's payroll. Some collective agreements top up EI to a percentage of regular wage. Most private shops do not.

Can I switch sponsors mid-apprenticeship in Ontario?

Yes, but your new employer must be filed as a sponsor change with Skilled Trades Ontario before you start logging hours with them. Hours worked for an employer who is not your registered sponsor do not count toward your Certificate of Qualification.