Fast facts
| Trade code | 620A |
|---|---|
| Sector | Service |
| Classification | Voluntary trade |
| Certifying exam | Not prescribed under O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3 |
| Apprentice to journeyperson ratio | Not subject to a ratio |
| Red Seal trade | No |
| Active apprentices in Ontario | 1,110 (reported in Ontario's apprenticeship dataset) |
| Approved sponsors | 479 |
| Certifying body | Skilled Trades Ontario |
Last verified August 20, 2026 against the sources listed below.
What does a child and youth worker do?
A Child and Youth Worker works to improve the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of vulnerable children, youth and families.
Skilled Trades Ontario describes the work of this trade as follows:
- maintains safe environments
- promotes health and well-being
- builds relationships
- plans programs
- applies intervention strategies
- provides counselling and supports
- works in an interdisciplinary team environment and communicates with other professionals
- supports the needs of children, adolescents and their families
How long is the child and youth worker apprenticeship?
The in-school portion of this apprenticeship runs to 1 level. Skilled Trades Ontario does not publish a total hour requirement for this trade on its trade page; confirm the current requirement in the trade's apprenticeship training standard before signing an agreement.
What do you study in school for the 620A?
The in-school portion covers, but is not limited to:
- developmental issues in childhood and adolescence
- childhood disorders
- counselling and communication skills
- principles of human behaviour
- residential treatment
- group interaction and skills
- psychopathology in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood
- clinical recording and presentation skills
- family dysfunction and multi-modal therapies
- laws affecting treatment delivery
- prevention and management of aggressive behaviour
- child abuse
- crisis intervention
Is child and youth worker a compulsory trade in Ontario?
No. Child and Youth Worker is a prescribed trade under section 1 of O. Reg. 876/21, but it is not on the compulsory list in section 2. That means you can legally work in this trade in Ontario without holding a Certificate of Qualification. Certification is voluntary and serves as formal proof of competency to employers and clients.
Voluntary classification only covers certification under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act. Specific work within the trade can still require separate licences or permits under other Ontario statutes, so confirm the rules for the actual work being done. The 23 trades where certification is mandatory are on the compulsory trades list.
How do you become a child and youth worker in Ontario?
The apprenticeship pathway for this trade is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario under section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021:
- Find a sponsor and register a training agreement. An employer or union sponsor takes you on and the training agreement is registered with the ministry.
- Complete the on the job and in school training. The skills are set out in the trade's Apprenticeship Training Standard, signed off by your sponsor as you demonstrate them, alongside levels of in school theory at a training delivery agent.
- Receive your Certificate of Apprenticeship. Skilled Trades Ontario issues it when the program is complete.
- No certifying exam follows. O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3 does not prescribe a certifying exam for this trade, so the Certificate of Apprenticeship is the completion credential.
The exact training standard, current curriculum and program details are on the Skilled Trades Ontario page for Child and Youth Worker. On the job hour requirements vary by trade and are not published on this page yet; confirm them in the training standard before signing an agreement.
Is the 620A a Red Seal trade?
No. Child and Youth Worker is an Ontario prescribed trade but is not part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program, so an Ontario credential in this trade does not carry automatic recognition in other provinces. Workers moving to another province should check that province's own trade classification.
Certification is not the only paperwork
A Certificate of Qualification covers the person. Running a business in the trade carries its own obligations: many Ontario municipalities require a contractor licence on top of personal certification, and construction employers must complete WSIB registration before work begins. Both are indexed on our sister site: municipal contractor licensing requirements by city and WSIB Form 1000, registration of constructors and employers, on Ontario Trade Registry.
Where can you train as a child and youth worker in Ontario?
| Public training providers | 4 colleges deliver the in-school portion |
|---|---|
| Approved sponsors | 479 employers registered to train apprentices |
| Apprentices in training | 1,110 |
Counts are from Ontario's published apprenticeships dataset. A sponsor is the employer or union that registers and trains the apprentice; you need one before an apprenticeship can start.
Related Ontario trades
Other service sector trades with certification records on this registry:
Official verification sources
- RegulationO. Reg. 876/21, Prescribed Trades and Related Matters (e-Laws)
- Certifying bodySkilled Trades Ontario: Child and Youth Worker
- ActBuilding Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 (e-Laws)
- Participation dataOntario open data: Apprenticeships dataset
Classification, exam requirement and ratio status on this page are read directly from O. Reg. 876/21 as consolidated on e-Laws, not from secondary summaries. Facts not yet verified against a primary source are marked as not published rather than estimated.