How to Become a Machinist in Yukon
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Machinist is a voluntary trade in Yukon. You can work in the trade without a certificate.
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- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Trades are regulated in the Yukon. You must follow the regulations for your trade while working in the territory. You may be required to provide a Yukon Certificate of Qualification as part of the licensing process.”
From yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/apply-cert..., checked October 11, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 5 steps (1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total)
- Licensed in another province: no separate route
- Trained outside Canada: no separate route
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Training
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 5 done
- 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 24.9 to 50.3 months (only 2 of 5 steps state a time)
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You apply to register as an apprentice in the apprenticeship program.
- Application fee: $10 (non-refundable, paid when applying to register as an apprentice)
Source
“You’ll pay a $10 non-refundable application fee when you apply to register as an apprentice.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou...
Source
“You’ll pay a $10 non-refundable application fee when you apply to register as an apprentice.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou... - Application fee: $10 (non-refundable, paid when applying to register as an apprentice)
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You spend 80 per cent of your apprenticeship learning from a certified journeyperson on the job while getting paid.
Source
“80 per cent of your time learning from a certified journeyperson on the job while getting paid;”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou... -
You spend 20 per cent of your time in in-school technical training, ranging from 4 to 10 weeks per year depending on your trade.
Time: 4 to 10 weeksTime source
“In-class training ranges from 4 to 10 weeks per year depending on your trade.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou...Source
“20 per cent of your time learning at in-school technical training. In-class training ranges from 4 to 10 weeks per year depending on your trade.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou... -
You write the apprenticeship level 1 exam and the journeyperson Certificate of Qualification exam in your trade based on your experience, training and your trade's requirements.
Source
“the apprenticeship level 1 exam based on: your previous experience and training; the requirements of your trade; and recommendation from your employer.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou... -
When you finish your apprenticeship you earn a Certificate of Qualification and become a certified journeyperson.
Time: 2 to 4 yearsTime source
“let you return to your job over the 2 to 4 year period until you're a certified journeyperson.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou...Source
“When you finish your apprenticeship, you earn a Certificate of Qualification and become a certified journeyperson.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou...
Listed fees for this route
1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
No separate route for this group. Source
“You can receive a Certificate of Qualification when you: complete the Yukon’s apprenticeship program; or apply with enough demonstrated working hours in a designated trade, including self-employment, and successfully pass the appropriate exam.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/apply-cert...
Trained outside Canada
No separate route for this group. Source
“You may be eligible to write or “challenge” the journeyperson Certificate of Qualification exam without completing an apprenticeship if you have enough experience working in the trade.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/apply-cert...
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Application fee: $15 (non-refundable, paid when applying for a Yukon certificate of qualification)
Source
“You will need to pay a non-refundable $15 application fee to apply for a Yukon certificate of qualification.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/apply-cert... - Practical examination fee: $20
Source
“The practical examination fee is $20 and is non-refundable.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/apply-cert...
Requirements
Education
To register as an apprentice you must meet the entrance requirements for your trade.
Source
“meet the entrance requirements for your trade; and”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou...
Experience
To challenge the journeyperson Certificate of Qualification exam without completing an apprenticeship you must have enough experience working in the trade.
Source
“You may be eligible to write or “challenge” the journeyperson Certificate of Qualification exam without completing an apprenticeship if you have enough experience working in the trade.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/apply-cert...
Residency
To register as an apprentice you must be a Yukon resident.
Other
To register as an apprentice you must be at least 16 years old.
Source
“To register as an apprentice in the apprenticeship program, you must: be at least 16 years old;”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou...To register as an apprentice you must work for an employer who employs a journeyperson certified in the trade and is willing to sponsor your apprenticeship.
Source
“work for an employer who: employs a journeyperson certified in the trade you’re applying to register in; and is willing to sponsor your apprenticeship.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou...
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages do not state how someone already licensed in another Canadian province or territory registers in the Yukon as a machinist. Source
“being able to work anywhere in Canada.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/apply-cert...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Training
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Training
Exams
-
apprenticeship level 1 exam
Source
“the apprenticeship level 1 exam based on: your previous experience and training;”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou... -
journeyperson Certificate of Qualification exam
Source
“the journeyperson Certificate of Qualification exam in your trade based on: your previous experience and training; and the requirements of your trade.”
yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou...
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Training
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Training
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Training
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon | — | — | — | Undetermined |
| Canada | $21.00 | $30.00 | $41.50 | — |
Machinists in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Voluntary certification
- Alberta Voluntary certification
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Voluntary certification
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Voluntary certification
- New Brunswick Voluntary certification
- Nova Scotia Voluntary certification
- Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
- Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
- Northwest Territories Voluntary certification
- Nunavut Voluntary certification
Sources checked
- Apply to certify as a journeyperson in a designated trade | Yukon.ca yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/apply-cert... · fetched October 9, 2026
- Learn about the apprenticeship program | Yukon.ca yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/apprentices-and-trades/learn-abou... · fetched October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a machinist in Yukon?
No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in Yukon. Certification is managed by Apprenticeship Training.
Which exams are required?
apprenticeship level 1 exam, journeyperson Certificate of Qualification exam.
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