YELLOWKNIFE - After four years of post-secondary education and a degree in digital arts and media, Jarred Chamberlin took the plunge.

From digital arts and media into a plumbing apprenticeship at JSL mechanical that is.

Jarred Chamberlin is an apprentice at JSL Mechanical for plumbing. Here he works on a heating system intallations. -Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

"I spent four years in college. I've got $22,000 of debt," Chamberlin said.

Looking back, he said that someone who had gone into trades from the start wouldn't have the debt he's shouldering.

But he's enjoying his career change, even if he isn't working on the movies he'd originally envisioned himself making at college.

"I'd rather be doing this than bussing tables, waiting to make my first movie."

The moment he realized that a skilled trade was for him was when he realized that it's not as complicated as it seemed.

Chamberlin wasn't shy revealing that at the start an apprentice can expect to make around $20 an hour.

It tops out at around $30 an hour when they become full-time.

"My knowledge of what I'm doing has been expanding by leaps and bounds," he said.

Chamberlin definitely advocates hands-on education, saying that book learning is fine but he's found that his understanding of things has increased.

In high school he said math wasn't his strongest subject, but being able to apply math in the real world has helped him understand it.

"For the first time in my life I had the highest mark in the class," he said, recalling his recent trades exam.

The benefits of the trades are many for Chamberlin.

"Like any trade, it's something you get to do and you see something done at the end of the day."

He's also glad not to be stuck in one place.

"I do like getting my hands dirty, I do like the shape it keeps me in," he said.

"You get to travel all over."