Farm Technician Apprenticeship
Interested in learning a variety of skills and gaining knowledge that will prepare you to work in the daily operations of a farm?
The Certified Farm Technician program may be for you!
Farm technicians work on farms that raise livestock and/or grow crops and fibres. They are responsible for key areas of the operation that include, but are not limited to:
- Soil and nutrient management
- Crop management
- Integrated pest management
- Herd or flock management, including animal health, care, feeding, and breeding
- Maintenance of farm property and equipment
- Increasing the overall efficiency and productivity of the operation using technology
By participating in the Farm Technician trade, you will be provided with comprehensive skills training that will allow you and the farm you train with to meet the technical, climatic, safety and human resource challenges of the future. This is an exciting new way to enter the agriculture industry with the knowledge, training and motivation for success.
The development of the Farm Technician trade stems from an NSFA policy that identified the lack of skilled labour as a critical issue for Nova Scotia farms. The Farm Technician trade designation was approved by the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency Board in February 2020. The course has now been developed and was launched in January 2024.
An overview of what to expect of the trade can be found here
How do I become a certified Farm Technician?
There are two pathways to follow:
- If you have 5400 hours or more of work experience in the Farm Technician trade, you can challenge the exam. This is called a Trade Qualifier, and there is a fee of $740. The Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture and the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency have partnered to offer a free Online Exam Study Guide to prepare individuals interested in challenging the exam. When you successfully complete the exam, you become a certified farm technician and are recognized as a journeyperson, who can then train and mentor new workers in the trade. This is a great way to continue to develop new trained workers who can support Nova Scotia agriculture.
- If you have less than 5400 hours of work experience, consider enrolling as a Farm Technician apprentice. Apprentices complete technical training, practical on-the-job hours and have a journeyperson sign off on their skills. Apprentices can then challenge the certification exam.
Hiring an apprentice
The apprenticeship process begins with an Employer hiring an employee whom they would like to register as an Apprentice. Once a potential Apprentice and an Employer decide to enter into an apprenticeship agreement, an application package must be completed, signed, and submitted to the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA). The process is as simple as filling out an agreement form (Apprentice Registration Agreement) to become a Farm Technician apprentice.
The submitted registration agreement will go to an NSAA representative called an Industry Training Consultant. The Industry Training Consultant will work with the Employer and Apprentice to complete the registration process and provide needed supports and guidance for a successful apprenticeship experience.
Youth Apprenticeship
Youth aged 16 to 19 years old who are employed in the skilled trades can register as a youth apprentice. A registered youth apprentice will continue to study while working part-time.
Youth apprenticeship works the same as an apprenticeship – the youth apprentice accumulates hours and experience towards trade certification while getting paid. The only difference is that the youth is completing high school while beginning an apprenticeship.
Once the youth has graduated high school, they can continue their apprenticeship training on a full-time basis until they have completed all the required hours and training levels, and successfully pass the certification exam to become a certified journeyperson.
For more information on navigating the youth apprenticeship pathway, visit nsapprenticeship.ca/youth-apprenticeship
Visit http://www.nsapprenticeship.ca for more information or check out these FAQs on becoming a Certified Farm Technician
