Sheet Metal has more instructional (technical training) time than any other trade. No other trade does four periods of school, at 10 weeks per period, 40 weeks total. Instrumentation Technician is close, with two periods of eight weeks, and two periods of 10 weeks, for 36 weeks. Electrician is tied, with three periods of eight, and the final period of school being 12 weeks. Refrigeration is next, with four periods, eight weeks each for 32 weeks. Sheet Metal is Alberta's most educated trade.
To compare, if you were to go to school to get a Bachelor of Arts degree, you would spend approximately 1560 hours in the classroom. With Sheet Metal, you'll put in over 1200 hours. All of a sudden, those numbers aren't too far apart. The difference is that for a B.A. you'll spend close to $20,000 for the four-year degree. With Sheet Metal tuition will run you approximately $4000.
However, after a four-year Arts Degree, graduates can expect to make $33,000 annually. With a Journeyperson certificate, that number is at least double and has the potential to be much greater if the employee puts in overtime, runs crews, trains others, and advances to supervisory positions. Not only that, but instead of working part-time jobs in the year and doing temporary work in the summer like a university student would, you'll get up to 5700 hours of on-the-job training. That means that in that four-year time, you will gross over $110,000 (not including EI benefits). Not bad, considering that as a University student, your income during the same period might be half that, if you're lucky and it likely wouldn't be related to your career; meaning that you will have to start at the bottom when you're finished school.
The trades are where it's at. The money is good, the people are awesome, the training is challenging. You will reach your potential much faster than a university grad would and it will take you much further than being basic labour. LSM would like to congratulate its trades-people on the steps they've taken so far and encourage them to keep going and achieve their goals.