Dairy Herdsperson Apprenticeship

About this programme

Choose our Dairy Herdsperson Apprenticeship Program to gain hands-on experience and in-depth training in cow care. The program offers practical, on-farm learning combined with classroom instruction, covering essential skills like herd health, nutrition, and barn maintenance. This comprehensive approach equips you with the expertise needed for a successful career in dairy management. 5,520 hours of on-farm training with your employer are required, following the Apprenticeship Training Standard which describes the skills you must become competent in to complete your training. 480 hours of in-school training is required, which will focus primarily on the theory you need to support the skills in the Apprenticeship Training Standard. Once you are working and your employer has agreed to sponsor you as an apprentice, you will need to Apply for an apprenticeship through Skills Trades Ontario . Once approved, you and your sponsor will sign a Training Agreement, officially registering you as an apprentice. After you are a registered apprentice, you will receive an Offer of Classroom Training letter from the Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development. Once you have received an offer for in class training from the Ministry, Ridgetown Campus will send you a confirmation and instructions on next steps. To become an apprentice Dairy Herdsperson, you need to complete your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Ministry-approved equivalent. Credits in math, science, and communications are helpful. Some knowledge of agriculture is also beneficial.