Skills Exploration 10-12 (Ministry Link)
This high school course provides students with learning experiences that
involve the knowledge, skills, and attitudes in a number of trades and/or technology areas. It is meant as an introduction, where previous courses are a pre-requisite.
Although individual schools can select from a number of modules, most have tended to offer "carpentry, plumbing + electrical" as the main trades, plus either "drywall/painting" or "tiling" as an additional one. Students will also learn about safety, as well as career and educational exploration.
Presently, these schools will be offering this 4-credit course: CABE, Dr. Charles Best, Gleneagle, Heritage Woods, Riverside and Terry Fox. To participate in this class, simply select it on your course selection form.
BCIT Trades Discovery 'General' (BCIT webpage), and
BCIT Trades Discovery 'Women in Trades Training (BCIT webpage)
These two Trades Discovery programs are designed to allow students extensive access to the available trades and technical training at BCIT campuses. These highly practical and relevant training units prepare participants to successfully enter and complete trades/technical training or seek apprenticeship.
Students gain hands-on experience in approximately 15 different trades disciplines. Some examples of activities are: lay out and fabrication, general piping, carpentry framing, welding, wiring and working on mechanical systems in automobiles, aircraft, and heavy equipment.
The programs include two weeks of unpaid work experience, partnering education with industry and the community.
Students will also be trained and certified in the following: Forklift Training, Mental Health First Aid, OFA L1, and WHMIS.
For both Discovery programs, students will need to pass three BCIT assessments in: English, Math and Mechanical Reasoning. See right column links for sample assessments.
Students will receive 4 courses (16 credits) at the grade 12 level, plus BCIT credits.
The two programs are in high demand and BCIT has limited high school intake (across the Lower Mainland) to 2 seats per intake. So apply early if you are interested.
BCIT Trades Sampler (similar idea to Trades Discovery, above)Unfortunately, due to limited ability to get into all the different trade shops, this program is not able to run this 2023-24 school year. They are hopeful that it might return in February 2025. There is just so much demand for trades programs currently that there is no space for other programs, like this sampler, to fit in.
This trades sampler program is open to all students in grades 11 and 12..
This program is a larger version of the high school offering of Skills Exploration. It is taught at BCIT in semester 2 (early February to early May) where students will sample 10-12 trades, experience 3-4 technologies, and gain 3-4 certifications.
Interested students need to apply for this program by November to be considered.There will be an orientation day in early January where students will do two assessments (Math and Mechanical Reasoning) and have a tour of the campus.
About 85% of the time will be spent at the BCIT "Burnaby Campus", students will also attend the other campuses: "Marine" (North Van), "Annacis Island (Delta) and "Aerospace Technology" (Richmond).
This is a post-secondary level program; expectations, intensity and maturity need to reflect this.
Students will receive 3 courses (9 credits) at the grade 12 level, plus BCIT credits. 
