Occupation
Trades instructor
Teaches a skilled trade to apprentices and students in a college shop, training centre, or secondary technical program. Combines theory teaching with supervised hands-on practice, and assesses whether learners meet the trade's competency standards safely.
Also known as: Apprenticeship instructor · Vocational trades teacher · Career and technical education teacher · Trade school instructor
Occupation content
Part of Education and training
What the work involves
- Deliver theory sessions covering codes, calculations, and trade practice
- Demonstrate techniques and supervise shop or lab practice
- Enforce safety rules and check tools, machines, and protective equipment
- Assess practical work against trade competency standards
- Keep training records and sign off completed competencies
- Liaise with employers, apprenticeship authorities, and program coordinators
How people commonly enter
- Certificate of qualification or journeyperson status in the trade plus experience
- Instructor training or a post-secondary teaching certificate from the institution
- Teaching qualification with a technical specialism for secondary school programs
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Regulated in some jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Typical work context
Lab or workshop · Classroom · Physically active · Team based · High responsibility
Related interests
Realistic (hands-on) · Social (helping)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Education and training.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Career and Technical Education Teachers · United States
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- UK National Careers Service — Further education teacher · United Kingdom
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- Canada Job Bank — Career planning (Employment and Social Development Canada) · Canada
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Education and training in Canada, not a figure for Trades instructor. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Education and training family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Education and training: education pathways
Some roles in Education and training may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Education and training: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)