Full-time Apprenticeship 4250appr

Overview

Note: To be eligible for apprenticeship training you must be registered as an apprentice. Go to the BCIT Apprenticeship website for more information.

Three trades make up the saw trades: Saw Fitting, Circular Sawfiler and Benchperson. BCIT is the only institution in B.C. that offers technical training for these trades. Saw Fitting is a two-year program, and Circular Sawfiler and Benchperson are one year each.

The skills of a Circular Sawfiler include the ability to:

  • Bench all types of circular saws which means to inspect saws for plumb, level and proper tension
  • Correct any saw plate defects by hammering or rolling the saws
  • Maintain and align components of circular saw machine centres - including circular head rigs, gang edgers, shifting edgers, trimmers and large cut-off saws - so that saws will operate at peak efficiency and with a minimum of saw wear and wood waste
  • Maintain the specified tooth geometry of circular saws by applying various tipping and sharpening methods
  • Maintain circular saw benching equipment, tipping and sharpening equipment and alignment tools and equipment
  • Use power tools and related hand tools needed to perform the circular sawfiler's work
  • Complete any other work that is usually performed by a circular sawfiler in the lumber manufacturing industry

The Program

The apprenticeship process requires time spent learning on the job and in the classroom. A Circular Sawfiler Apprentice must complete a one-year program including 1,680 workplace hours and 120iIn-school hours of training. After completion of training, a passing grade on exams will result in the B.C. Certificate of Apprenticeship and the B.C. Certificate of Qualification.

Program Entry

If you are registered with the Industry Training Authority, you can apply now to BCIT's Apprenticeship Studies program. Read more about BCIT's apprenticeship programs.

Entrance requirements

Circular Sawfiling is the second trade in a three-trade specialty in the lumber manufacturing Industry. An individual can be certified in one or all three depending on the scope of work in the workplace. The progression is:

  • Saw Fitting - requirements include two levels of technical training over two years to achieve a Certificate of Qualification.

  • Circular Sawfiler - apprentices must have a Saw Fitting Certificate of Qualification prior to acceptance into this program. Requirements also include one year of technical training and one year on-the-job training to achieve a Certificate of Qualification.

  • Benchperson - apprentices must have a Circular Sawfiler Certificate of Qualification prior to acceptance into this program. Requirements also include one year of technical training and one year on-the-job training to achieve a Certificate of Qualification.

Note: Entrance Requirements are used as a guideline for success in this Apprenticeship program. They are recommended, not required.

*High school graduation is preferred

BC provincial exams

Provincial exam marks are required for English 12, Communications 12, and Technical and Professional Communications 12. BCIT does not require applicants to write provincial exams for Grade 12 Math and Science courses.

Scheduled intakes

Multiple start dates each year.

Please refer to the Apprenticeship Training Schedule for availability of upcoming intakes.

myCommunication

Within 2 weeks of submitting your training request, a letter will be mailed to your home address. This letter details information on how to sign on to myBCIT, your one stop shop for BCIT apprentice communication. myBCIT is where you will receive your training confirmation details.

Please see myCommunication for more information.

Costs & Supplies

Tuition fees

Please see the Fees, Payments and Refunds section of the website for more information on full-time tuition fees.

Books and supplies

Apprentices are expected to bring their CSA-approved steel-toed boots and eye protection. There are student study guides available for each of the Saw trades. These are sold through the BCIT Bookstore on the Burnaby campus.

Financial assistance

Income support for apprentices is provided by Human Resource Development Canada (HRDC) through regular Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility. For questions regarding Employment Insurance or Personal Support Payments, please visit the income support overview for current BCIT apprentices.

Courses

Class hours

0700-1330, Monday through Friday

Please refer to the Apprenticeship Training Schedule for class hours and availability of upcoming intakes.

Transfer credit

Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.

Program Details

Program length

One level of four weeks

Grading

Minimum passing grade is 70 per cent.

Program location

Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC

Graduating & Jobs

Job Opportunities

Those working in the saw trades are employed in sawmills.

Graduate employment outcomes

The following link takes you to graduate outcome survey results containing mostly labour market results from the 2009-2011 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2008-2010 Graduates.
Note: The survey results will be displayed in a separate browser window. To view these results, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.

Credential

BCIT offers a Diploma of Trades Training for apprentices who have successfully completed their technical training at BCIT and have been granted a British Columbia Trades Qualification (IP/TQ). In trades where there is no requirement to complete a Trades Qualification (TQ), a Certificate of Apprenticeship is acceptable. Please see the BCIT apprenticeship training section of the website for more information.

Contact Us

BCIT Apprentice Services

For more information on this or other apprenticeship programs, tuition fees and when programs are offered, please contact BCIT Apprentice Services at:

Office Location: Building NE25, Room 102
Burnaby campus
Phone: 604-456-8100
1-800-667-0676 (BC)
Fax: 604-435-1197
On the web: bcit.ca/apprenticeship

The BCIT Apprentice Service can assist apprentices with their registration, tuition fee payments, and other details.

Anyone interested in registering as an apprentice can contact the Industry Training Authority (ITA) at 778-328-8700 or 1-866-660-6011 (BC). BCIT's Apprentice Services can also assist individuals interested in entering apprentice training.

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