Basic Rights
Housing
Work & School
Family
Driving
Legal Life Skills
Health & Sexuality
Money Stuff
Crime & PoliceInternships, apprenticeships, volunteering, and practicums… Oh my!
Last Reviewed:
Reviewed By:
If you work like an employee, you should get paid like an employee.
Should I be paid for that? Click to find out. Still not sure? Contact the Employment Standards Branch.
Volunteering: Not paid
Volunteering is a great way to contribute to your community and help others while meeting people, building skills and getting experience. There should be a certain amount of flexibility and different levels of responsibility compared to paid employees.
Dig Deeper
As a volunteer, you still have responsibilities. You can learn about volunteering and the law here.
Practicums: Not paid
A practicum is part of formal education that offers hands-on training for students. Often found in educational programs like education, medicine, or engineering. It's not considered "work" under employment law and leads to a certificate or diploma.
Internship: Paid
An internship is practical training provided by an employer to individuals, usually after or during completing a degree. Unlike a practicum, it is not required for actually obtaining a degree or certificate. There are not allowed to be “unpaid internships” in BC. If the tasks meet the definition of "work" in employment law, interns are considered employees, and they have all the rights other employees are entitled to like minimum wage.
Legal Lingo
“Work” means the labour or services an employee performs for an employer whether in the employee's residence or elsewhere. See Employment Standards Act & Regulations Definitions
Apprenticeship: Paid
An apprentice is being trained while working for an employer and as such is performing work and must be paid wages.
What Rights and Responsibilities Do I have at the Age...
International Rights of the Child
UN Convention on the Right of the Child that apply to you up until you are 18. All children have the right
- Not to be discriminated against
- To live, be safe and develop to your fullest potential
- To have a voice heard and respected in decisions that impact you
- To have adults make decisions about you that are in your best interest
Dig deeper in Kids have rights!
Have a Voice
Adults making decisions about you should take your views seriously, even if they might not always be able to do exactly what you want.
This right becomes especially important if your parents are separating or you are in the government’s care. You have the right to express your views on things that impact your life. See Your Rights in Care: What You Need to Know and Dealing with Your Parents’ Separation or Divorce.
Register for List of Future Votes
The minimum age Canadian citizens can vote in municipal, provincial or federal elections is 18. If you are 16 or 17 you can register on the List of Future Voters which will automatically register you to vote when you turn 18. You can learn more about registering to the Future Voter list at Elections BC.