The Ontario College of Trades is an industry-driven, professional regulatory body that protects the public by regulating and promoting the skilled trades.

One of the main responsibilities of the College is to ensure that individuals performing the skills of compulsory trades have the training and certification required to legally practise this trade in Ontario.

The College is also responsible for:

- Issuing certificates of qualification and statements of membership
- Establishing apprenticeship programs and other training programs
- Maintaining a public registry of its members
- The process for determining appropriate apprentice to journeyperson ratios
- The process for trade classification reviews
- Establishing the scope of practice for trades

The Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act of 2009 established this arms-length, all-trades governance and regulatory institution, and in 2011, twenty-four (24) OPSEU Local 503 members transferred from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to OCOT in two phases (read the memorandum of settlement here). 

These members, and the positions they held, were subject to successor rights and so, OPSEU became the official bargaining agent for members at the College of Trades.

If you're an OPSEU member at the Ontario College of Trades and you need assistance with a workplace issue of any kind, please contact one of the stewards listed below.