This question can have a variety of answers, mostly because there are many trades that have to learn how to machine metal, but a machinist in my area of Ontario, Canada, refers to either a general machinist or a general CNC machinist and both have similar training.
Becoming a General machinist has a very similar path to most red seal trades. After finishing high school, one has to find an employer looking to hire and train an apprentice. This can sometimes be a challenge depending on the job market. One way to make yourself more attractive to an employer would be to consider pre-apprenticeship programs. These types of programs will give you some basic machining skills and shop skills to make you more prepared to be an apprentice and potentially increase your likelihood of being hired.
What is an apprenticeship here in Ontario Canada?
A General Machinist must complete an apprenticeship that includes 7280 hours of on the job training, where you will be required to follow and keep a log of the minimum skills you need to acquire while working, as well as 720 hours of in-school training to give you the academic training to support you in passing your Certificate of Qualification Test.
Most of North America has similar General machinist requirements, below are links to regions where General Machinist apprenticeships are offered,and there requirements for qualification. Apprenticeships are normally offered in regions where the work is needed.
https://www.collegeoftrades.ca/wp-content/uploads/General-Machinist.pdf
Ohio USA
https://omj.ohio.gov/program/Machinists.stm
Michigan
Texas
https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/registered-apprenticeship-training-programs-job-seekers
Once you have found an employer that will sponsor you for your apprenticeship, there are basically 3 main phases that you will have to complete to become a general machinist.
First, now that you have an apprenticeship position, you must register with the ministry of your local employing and training governing body so that your training can be tracked and recognized when it comes time to be certified.
Now that you have commenced your apprenticeship, you’re in the second phase of the apprenticeship candidate class. These are the 4 years where you work and get paid while getting training to become a General Machinist. Your employer will organize whether your in-class training will take place on a “block release”, where you are laid off or paid while you go to school for ten weeks each year for three of your four years, or on a day release, which allows the apprentice to go to school 1 day a week until the equivalent amount of time as 10 weeks is met for the year (normally it works out to two school semesters or 8 months). This is by far the longest and most involved portion of your apprenticeship. Working and learning, depending on the work environment you’re in, can be a very enjoyable, but also gruelling part of your apprenticeship.
Once you have completed all your in-class training, which is three sessions of ten weeks over four years, and 7,280 hours of on the job training completing the skills required in your skill journal, you will have met the standard to write your Certification of Qualification test.
This is the point at which most apprenticeships end and you may have a new title such as a journeyman candidate class during this third phase. Here in Ontario Canada, an apprentice is considered a journeyman candidate class for one year. This gives you an opportunity to study to pass your Certification of Qualification test and as soon as you pass this test you are now a journeyperson.
When You Get to this phase of your apprenticeship you may be looking for some study aids or tools to help you prepare to write your Certificate of Qualification test check out this great Resource that many Machinists have found helpful.
Click the link below
Typically, once you have achieved a journeyperson class it will come with some increase to your pay and, hopefully, better work and more responsibility in your shop.
I am a tool and die maker so I did not personally go through the general machinist program. However, I have noticed, while writing for this tool making and machining blog and doing research on job availability, there seems to be a lot more job opportunities for machinists than toolmakers, in my opinion. One reason for this may be that the sectors available to work in as a machinist are far more varied than as a tool maker, on the other hand, from talking to some machinists and looking at the job postings available, it looks like the starting wage for a general machinist is slightly lower than for a toolmaker. That being said, I think a case can be made that an experienced machinist in some niche sector can make alot more than a tool and die maker. One example that I found was looking at a job posting for a machinist with 7-10 years experience working in the nuclear energy sector offering a wage from $45-50/hr with room for growth as stated by the posting. I think this is very encouraging, especially with the aerospace sector booming here in North America.
I hope you have found some value in this post and that it’s given you the information you’re looking for to start your next step to becoming a journeyperson. If you would like to get updated when articles are posted, feel free to join our email list.