OYAP-FAST, AOYAP, Co-op / OYAP

OYAP-FAST

OYAP-FAST – New September 2025

Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training (FAST) is an accelerated stream within OYAP that will allow students in Grades 11 and 12 to participate in more apprenticeship learning through additional co-operative education credits while completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

To participate in OYAP-FAST, students must:

Meet the OYAP eligibility requirements
- Be 15 years old or older
- Have completed 14 credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma
- Complete an OYAP Participant Form during their Co-op placement
Select Coop “DCO3OO” as part of the grade 11 High School Plan in MyBlueprint during course selection
Complete the Intent to Register Application Form available from the school Coop and Guidance Departments
Complete the Student Intent to Participate Form (also available printed from the school Coop and Guidance Departments) and return to assigned Guidance Counsellor
Have signed parent/guardian consent to participate in OYAP-FAST

Student Intent to Participate Form

Completion requirements for OYAP-FAST include that a student has:

Earned 8 to 11 Cooperative Education credits with their placement component in the skilled trades.
Registered as an apprentice (obtained a Registered Training Agreement (RTA) by the time they complete their eighth cooperative education credit. This will be contingent upon the skills of the student and the willingness of an employer to sign the student as an apprentice. The school board cannot guarantee that all students who are participating in the OYAP  FAST program will obtain a Registered Training Agreement through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Other Considerations:

Although it’s not required, it is recommended that a grade 12 math course is completed on top of the above listed components.
While the OYAP-FAST program does provide an alternative pathway for students to achieve an OSSD, there may be post-secondary limitations to the OYAP-FAST OSSD seal. Students should consider all their pathway options before committing to OYAP-FAST.

Students who meet the above completion requirements and all other OSSD requirements will be awarded the OYAP-FAST seal on their OSSD, and OYAP-FAST will be listed in the Specialized Program field of the Ontario Student Transcript (OST). If a student has already been granted an OSSD, it cannot be exchanged for an OSSD with the OYAP-FAST seal.

Pathway Considerations

Students who are in this program should be quite confident that they are pursuing the apprenticeship pathway for their post-secondary education. Students must start the process by completing the Intent to Register Application Form available from their Guidance Counsellor or Coop Teacher at their school. The school board cannot guarantee that all students who register with the OYAP-FAST program will be signed on as apprentices.

For more information about the apprenticeship pathway and the skilled trades, please visit the  Skilled Trades Ontario website.

Fact Sheet

AOYAP

The Accelerated Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (AOYAP) provides the opportunity for OYAP students to earn Level 1 apprenticeship training in selected trades, based upon enrolment.

AOYAP receives funding from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. An OYAP student is defined as a student who is receiving Cooperative Education credits for work experience in an apprenticeship occupation. The student may or may not formally register as an apprentice while in secondary school. The student’s Cooperative Education personalized placement learning plan (PPLP) must be based on the on-the job training requirements outlined in the government approved training standards for the trade. Formal registrations are decided on a case by case basis by the Employment and Training Consultants and Service Delivery Manager after careful assessment of a student’s commitment towards the trade and of the employer’s commitment towards the student. (OYAP Guidelines 2010-11)

Co-op / OYAP

What is the Co-operative Education Program (Co-op)

Cooperative Education is a Ministry of Education–approved program that allows students to earn secondary school credits while completing a work placement. The program consists of a Cooperative Education (Co-op) course monitored by a Cooperative Education teacher, a related curriculum course in any subject, and a work placement. Students can count two co-op credits as compulsory credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Cooperative Education students must take the related course concurrently with the Cooperative Education or have successfully completed the related course before being placed in the program.

Please see the Coop Orientation Guide as it includes important pre course information for the coop program.