Benefits of the Red Seal Program

In order to allow tradespeople to work across the country, all provinces and territories in partnership with the federal government have created the “Red Seal (InterProvincial Standards) Program”. It permits skilled tradespeople in specified trades to work anywhere in Canada. The ‘Red Seal’ endorsement is an additional seal or a valuable recognition that is placed on your Provincial or Territorial Certificate of Qualification/Journeyperson’s Certificate. To obtain it, you must graduate from a recognized provincial/territorial apprenticeship program or obtain a journeyperson level Certificate of Qualification from a province/territory and sit and pass the Interprovincial Standards (“Red Seal”) exam. To date, over 50 trades are included in the Red Seal program, accounting for almost 90% of all apprentices and more than 80% of the total trades workforce in Canada.

The Red Seal Program encourages common standards for trades in all the provinces and territories. It is designed to extend the benefits of training across all provinces and territories. As well, it alleviates barriers to labour mobility for workers in the skilled trades. It also reduces the risk of skill shortages by allowing qualified workers to seek work in other provinces/territories.

Benefits of obtaining a Red Seal endorsement:

1) Your trade certification is recognized in other provinces/territories when seeking work elsewhere in Canada.

2) A Red Seal on your journeyperson certificate confirms that you have achieved a nationally recognized level of competency in your trade.

3) It qualifies you to seek work in other provinces and territories.

 

Sources:

https://www.red-seal.ca/w.2lc.4m.2@-eng.jsp

https://www.apprenticetrades.ca/EN/displayContent/default.asp?userAction=LOADARTICLE&txtArticleID=1024

https://www.apprenticetrades.ca/EN/displayContent/default.asp?userAction=LOADARTICLE8&txtArticleID=1125

https://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/apprenticeship/grants/redseal.shtml