Program Partners

The SD38 Career Programs partners with several post-secondary institutions to offer a variety of dual credit* Youth Train in Trades (YTIT) programs. Students apply to participate in a YTIT program while still in high school. YTIT is a youth apprenticeship program supported by SkilledTradesBC, the governing body which oversees all trades training in BC. *Students who are accepted into a YTIT program can earn high school credit and post-secondary/industry credentialing. By the time students have completed a Youth Train in Trades Foundation/Level1 program they have a head start on their career.

Skilled Trades BC

SkilledTradesBC (formerly the ITA) leads and coordinates British Columbia’s skilled trades system, working with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards, and increase opportunities in the trades. Richmond School District #38 works directly with SkilledTradesBC to help manage Level 1 technical training credentialing (Youth TRAIN in Trades) and where applicable, register any work-based training hours (Youth WORK in Trades) for students. When taking our programs, SD38 Youth TRAIN in Trades and Youth WORK in Trades students receive a trade worker identification ID (TWID) number from SkilledTrades BC.

British Columbia Institute of Technology

Through a joint partnership between the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Richmond School District, students have the opportunity to take foundation or Level 1 programs, choosing from a variety of trades. They include:

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
Carpentry (Framing & Forming – Level 1)
Construction Electrician (in a North Delta location)
Joinery
Metal Fabrication
Sheet Metal Worker

These are typically offered in second semester and vary in length/time commitment. Students who qualify, earn both post-secondary and high school credits for the courses taken.

Vancouver Community College

Richmond School District (#38) partners with Vancouver Community College (VCC) to offer a variety of Youth TRAIN in Trades programs.

At VCC's Pender Street campus (downtown) students may take the Hairstylist Program and for Professional Cook 1 a VCC instructor teaches the college program onsite at a Richmond Secondary School.

At VCC's Broadway campus, students may take the Auto Collision Refinishing and Repair Technician program or the Heavy Duty Mechanic program.

By successfully completing these programs students earn high school credit, and industry credentialing.

Also being offered for dual credit are the Medical Lab Assistant and Health Care Assistant Programs.

UA Piping Industry College (UAPIC)

The UA Piping Industry College (UAPIC) is located on Annacis Island and has a fundamental focus on the piping trades. The Richmond School District (#38) partners with the UAPIC for the Youth TRAIN in Trades Piping program (Level 1 technical training). The program is taught by a UAPIC Red Seal instructor at Palmer Secondary school. Students in this Youth TRAIN in Trades program also attend the UAPIC for a total of 3-4 non-consecutive weeks during their 2nd semester program. At the end of the program, students choose to write either the Plumbing, Sprinklerfitting or Steamfitting exam.

Finishing Trades Institute of BC (FTI)

The Finishing Trades Institute of BC has been providing valuable, hands-on training for apprentices and journeypersons since 1992. The FTI offers training for apprentices and journeypersons several trades, including Painting and Decorating, Glazing, Drywall Finishing, and Wall and Ceiling Installer trades.

SD38 partners with FTI to offer Painting and Decorating (Commercial) Level 1 training.

They have a state-of the art industrial training facility that includes a one-of-a-kind abrasive blast tank, pleural component spray pump and a custom designed spray paint booth. Their Painting apprentices also learn how to paint using a virtual reality sprayer. This is an environmentally responsible piece of equipment that eliminates the need to use paint or solvents while allowing apprentices to practice their spray technique, all in Virtual Reality. This is the only facility in the province where Painters can achieve Red Seal status.

As a result of recent equipment purchases and major renovations, which required an additional $4.2 million investment, the FTI facility now boasts a 40,000 square-foot state-of-the art learning environment.

The FTI is dedicated to providing their apprentices and journeypersons with the highest level of practical trades training available in the province.

The FTI is located in North Surrey, near the Patullo Bridge at 12277 Industrial Rd,
Surrey, BC.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Together, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Richmond School District partner to offer students a variety of dual-credit post-secondary options, At the KPU Richmond Campus, students may apply to take an academic post-secondary course for high school and college credit. These include the Intro to Health Science (HSCI 1115) course or another KPU arts or business course through our LinK38 and STRIVE programs.

At the KPU Trades and Technology Cloverdale Campus students may apply to take a Foundation/Level 1 Youth TRAIN in Trades program in the millwright or welding trade. These are offered full-time in second semester.