There are 9 electrician training providers in the Greater Toronto Area in our directory: five public colleges, three private career colleges and one union training centre. Four are in the City of Toronto itself; the rest are in Brampton, Vaughan, Whitby and Oshawa.
Which one fits depends on where you are starting from. In Ontario you do not graduate from a classroom into an electrician’s licence — you get there through a registered apprenticeship with an employer, and schools deliver the classroom part of it or help you get hired into one. So the first question is not “which school is best” but “which route am I taking”.
Greater Toronto Area here means the City of Toronto plus Peel, York, Durham and Halton regions. Looking further out? See all 30 Ontario electrician schools.
Current as of October 2026. Program availability, intakes and fees can change — verify with the school before applying.
Four ways to start in Toronto
Each GTA school is listed in our directory under the route its main electrician program serves. Several colleges run more than one — check the individual listing.
1 · College certificate
A one-year Electrical Techniques-style program that builds foundation skills before you have an employer.
In the GTA: Centennial College, George Brown Polytechnic (Toronto), Sheridan College (Brampton), Durham College (Whitby).
2 · Pre-apprenticeship at a career college
Shorter, intensive programs (roughly 12 to 29 weeks) aimed at getting you hired as a first-year apprentice.
In the GTA: Herzing College (Toronto), Skilled Trades College of Canada (Woodbridge), Trillium College (Oshawa).
3 · Apprenticeship in-school training
The classroom levels you attend once you are a registered apprentice with a sponsoring employer.
In the GTA: Humber Polytechnic (Toronto).
4 · Union pathway
Apply to the union’s training body, which places you with signatory contractors.
In the GTA: Electrical Apprentice Training Alliance, IBEW Local 353 (Vaughan).
Electrician Schools in Toronto and the GTA
Compare tuition, length and next intake for all 9 GTA providers. Use the Type and Pathway filters to narrow the list, and click a school for its full page.
💡 Tip: Use the Pathway filter to see only one route, such as pre-apprenticeship.
Greater Toronto Area 9 schools
| School | Tuition | Length | Total hours | Next cohort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Centennial College
Toronto
Public
EN
|
$2,775 | 1 year (2 semesters) | January 2027; May 2027 | |
|
Durham College
Whitby
Public
EN
|
Set by STO | 1 year (2 semesters) | January, September | |
|
Electrical Apprentice Training Alliance (IBEW Local 353)
Vaughan
Union
EN
|
Contact Alliance | 15 weeks training + 10 weeks placement | Cohort-based, per Alliance calendar | |
|
George Brown Polytechnic
Toronto
Public
EN
|
$5,313 | 2 semesters | January, May, September (2026-27) | |
|
Herzing College
Toronto
Private
EN
|
Contact college | 24 weeks | Multiple starts, enrol any time | |
|
Humber Polytechnic
Toronto
Public
EN
|
Set by STO | 8–10 weeks per level | Multiple intakes — contact college | |
|
Sheridan College
Brampton
Public
EN
|
$5,371 | 1 year (2 semesters, 8 months) | January, May, September | |
|
Skilled Trades College of Canada
Woodbridge
Private
EN
|
$14,400 | 12 weeks full-time (or 24 weeks weekend part-time) | 480 h | |
|
Trillium College
Oshawa
Private
EN
|
Contact college | 29 weeks | 578 h | Year-round enrollments |
Suggest a correction
Help us keep this directory accurate. All corrections are reviewed before going live.
Outside the GTA? Hamilton, Kitchener, Barrie and the rest of the province are on the Ontario page.
The licence you are working toward
Electrician is a compulsory trade in Ontario: to work as one in Toronto you need the 309A Certificate of Qualification from Skilled Trades Ontario, or to be a registered apprentice.
309A at a glance
Total apprenticeship
9,000 hours (about 5 years)
On the job
7,950 hours of paid work with a licensed employer
In school
1,050 hours across 4 levels, delivered by colleges
Academic entry
Grade 10 minimum (individual programs often ask for more)
Ratio
No more than one apprentice per journeyperson
Credential
Certificate of Qualification, with Red Seal endorsement
⚠ Important — a certificate is not an apprenticeship
College certificate and pre-apprenticeship programs do not make you an apprentice on their own. You still need an employer (or the union) to sponsor and register you before your hours start counting. Ask any school what share of its graduates get hired into apprenticeships, and by whom.
How to become an electrician in Toronto
Whichever route you pick, the steps to a licence are the same.
1
Finish the basics. Grade 10 is the minimum; Grade 12 English and math are strongly preferred by employers and programs.
2
Pick your route. Go straight to employers, do a college certificate or pre-apprenticeship first, or apply to the union.
3
Get a sponsor and register. An employer or the union registers your apprenticeship with Skilled Trades Ontario. Hours do not count before this.
4
Work and learn — 9,000 hours. 7,950 on the job plus 1,050 in school across 4 levels.
5
Write the Certificate of Qualification exam.
6
Get licensed. You hold your 309A C of Q, with Red Seal endorsement.
Timelines vary. The apprenticeship is measured in hours, not calendar years — how fast you reach your Certificate of Qualification depends on how steadily you accumulate work hours.
Toronto region median electrician wage
$34.86/hour
Electricians (NOC 72200), Toronto region: low $20.62, median $34.86, high $51.40. Source: Government of Canada Job Bank, 2024 reference period, updated November 19, 2025.
→ Read the full guide: How to Become an Electrician in Ontario
Frequently Asked Questions
How many electrician schools are there in Toronto?
Our directory lists 9 in the Greater Toronto Area as of October 2026. Four are in the City of Toronto (Centennial College, George Brown Polytechnic, Humber Polytechnic and Herzing College). The others are Sheridan College in Brampton, Skilled Trades College of Canada and the IBEW Local 353 training alliance in Vaughan, Durham College in Whitby and Trillium College in Oshawa.
How much does electrician school cost in Toronto?
It depends on the route. Among GTA schools that publish tuition, one-year college certificates are listed from $2,775 (Centennial College) to $5,371 (Sheridan College), and Skilled Trades College of Canada’s pre-apprenticeship program is listed at $14,400. Apprenticeship in-school levels charge a much smaller per-level fee set provincially. Figures are as listed in October 2026 — see each school’s page for what the fee covers.
Do I need to go to college to become an electrician in Toronto?
Not before you start. The core requirement is a registered apprenticeship with an employer. You will attend a college for the 1,050 hours of in-school training during the apprenticeship, and many people take a certificate or pre-apprenticeship first to improve their odds of being hired.
Is there a union route in Toronto?
Yes. IBEW Local 353 covers the Toronto area, and its Electrical Apprentice Training Alliance in Vaughan runs the intake. Our listing shows 15 weeks of training followed by a 10-week placement; intakes are cohort-based, so check the Alliance’s calendar.
Can I study part-time or on weekends?
Some private career colleges offer it. Skilled Trades College of Canada lists a 24-week weekend part-time option alongside its 12-week full-time program, and Herzing College lists multiple start dates through the year. Public college certificates mostly start in September, January or May.
How long does it take to become a licensed electrician in Toronto?
About five years. The apprenticeship is 9,000 hours — 7,950 on the job and 1,050 in school — followed by the Certificate of Qualification exam. A certificate or pre-apprenticeship beforehand adds a few months to a year.
How much do electricians make in Toronto?
The median is $34.86 an hour in the Toronto region, ranging from $20.62 to $51.40, according to the Government of Canada Job Bank (2024 reference period, updated November 19, 2025). Apprentices start lower and move up as they complete each level.
Can I work outside Ontario with a Toronto apprenticeship?
The 309A Certificate of Qualification carries Red Seal endorsement, which supports mobility across much of Canada. Confirm the requirements of the province or territory you plan to work in.