Unsure of your career path? Take a step toward pursuing a career in skilled trades or engineering technology
Do you enjoy hands-on work but don’t know which trade to pursue? Or maybe you’re drawn to the field of engineering technology and want to know more. Explore career options and improve your technical, math, and English skills while you learn the fundamentals of the electrical, mechanical, and carpentry fields. Cambrian’s comprehensive program helps you enhance a wide range of core and technical skills by combining theory with hands-on training in labs and trade shops.
Through practical class projects like framing and roofing a shed, or repairing an engine in a snowmobile, you’ll learn the basics of work safety, measuring instruments, and hand and power tools. A partnership with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) allows you to take industry certification courses at a reduced rate during the program.
Program highlights
- Gain missing admission requirements and/or explore careers in trades and engineering technology
- Develop a wide set of skills and knowledge that will put you on the path to success in trades and tech
- Option to receive IHSA training and other industry certifications
- Opportunity to develop a personalized career path
Program of study for 2027-28 Academic Year
Students are required to successfully complete an online Lab Safety course (in Moodle) when starting their program at Cambrian. This course must be completed prior to entering the labs (as identified in the table below) in the Schools of Skills Training, Engineering Technology and Environmental Studies.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ELN 1122 | Electrical for Trades and Tech 1 | 3 |
| ENG 1212 | Foundations of College English | 3 |
| HRP 1002 | Job Search and Soft Skills | 2 |
| MTH 1173 | Math for Trades and Tech I | 3 |
| PRT 1000 | Applied Technology I 1 | 4 |
| PRT 1115 | Computers for Trades and Tech | 3 |
| PRT 1120 | Trades and Technology Career Exploration | 3 |
| SCI 1007 | Science for Trades and Tech 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 24 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CAD 1100 | Computer-Aided Drafting I | 2 |
| ENG 1002 | College Communications | 3 |
| MTH 1285 | Applied Math for Technical Problem Solving | 3 |
| PRT 1001 | Applied Technology II 1 | 4 |
| SAI 1100 | Professional Safety Certifications and Practice | 8 |
| Credits | 20 | |
| Total Credits | 44 | |
- 1
Course with Lab Component
- 2
For more information regarding General Education courses, click here.
Admission requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits) or equivalent or mature student status.
Specific program pathways
College or university degree opportunities
If you are a graduate of this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian's college and university agreement details for further information
Employment opportunities
Successful graduates are eligible to apply to a number of programs offered through Cambrian College's School of Skills Training and the Schools of Engineering Technology and Environmental Studies. The Pre-Trades/Technology program is the preferred designated preparatory program for admission to Cambrian College Trades and Technology programs.
Successful completion of the Pre-Trades/Technology program also provides students who have obtained their Ontario Secondary School Diploma, but lack key English and math prerequisites, to be eligible to apply to other Cambrian College programs that have these requirements.
Please note: Cambrian College strives to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website. Please note that the academic curriculum is continually reviewed and revised to ensure that Cambrian's programs and courses remain relevant. The College reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any course or program, fee, procedure, or campus location at any time.
