If you’ve ever wanted to work in Canada and wondered if a Red Seal Certification can help you get a job then you are in the right place.
You might heard of red seal certification, but did you know it could help you get trade jobs in Canada and immigrate to Canada without job offer!
What is Red Seal Certification or Endorsement?
A Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) shows that your trade skills are fitting Canadian standards.
There are more than 50 different trades that qualify for Red Seal Endorsement (RSE). Having an RSE will permit you to work anywhere in Canada.
See below for more details:
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3. Reasons Why You Should Get Red Seal Certified
People who Trade are a very important part of the Canadian economy.
To make sure that the expertise levels required to fill certain trade jobs in Canada are met, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) progressed standards for Red Seal Trades.
Meeting these standards will help you in 3 ways.
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1. It Inculcates credibility
Having a red seal certificate or endorsement validates your experience and knowledge in your particular trade, especially if you got your qualification outside Canada.
This won’t only make you a more suitable job applicant but a more suitable candidate for immigration too as it makes sure that your skills are up to Canadian standards.
You will need to have finished a 4-year apprenticeship to qualify to apply for a Red Seal Endorsement (RSE).
2. Opening up job opportunities across Canada
Did you know that having a red seal certificate would make you eligible to work anywhere in Canada?
This means that you will not have to apply for other journeyperson certifications in other Canadian territories and provinces. Below are a few of the top skilled trade jobs in Canada and where you could find them in 2022.
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Top Skilled Trade Jobs in Canada in 2022
| Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, chef & cooks, butchers | Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia |
| Maintenance technicians, electricians, plumbers | Quebec, Saskatchewan, British Columbia |
| Construction trades helpers and labourers, Crane operators, Contractors, and supervisors | Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia |
| Transport truck drivers | Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia |
| Welders, carpenters, millwrights, machine fitters | Ontario, Manitoba |
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3. Qualify for higher-paying jobs
Did you know just by having a Red Seal Endorsement (RSE), you could earn money?
That’s true, RSE trade workers generally earn more salaries or rates than non-red seal trade workers.
For example, did you know that in some trades you could earn more than double the national average only by being red seal certified in Canada?
Have a look at wage/salary comparisons between some of the top trade jobs that pay well in Canada.
- Plumber – 12% more than national average – $35.28 per hr
- Millwright – 19% more than national average – $40.71 per hr
- Mechanic – 30% more than national average – $40.28 per hr
- Industrial mechanic – 25% more than national average – $38.16 per hr
- Metal Worker – 40% more than national average – $39.10 per hour
- Automotive mechanic – 33% more than national average – $35.38 per hr
- Electrician – 14% more than national average – $35.55 per hour
- Electrical technician – 41% more than national average – $72,819 per hr
- Fitter – 33% more than national average – $36.34 per hour
- Building Maintenance – 102% more than national average – $41.95 per hr
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How to Get Red Seal Certified
In order to get red seal certified in your particular trade you’ll be required to take an exam.
What’s in the exam?
The 4-hour exam consists of a series of multiple-choice questions. You will need an aggregate of at least 70% to pass.
The examination will cover activities performed in your particular trade which are broken up into Major Work Activity tasks and sub-tasks.
Have a look at an example of the types of questions that a plumber may encounter in a red seal exam.
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About Registering for the Red Seal Exam
You can complete the examination application process in 3 easy steps:
Step 1: Check if your trade qualifies & you meet the available requirements
Each province or territory has its own set of criteria based on specific trades.
You’ll need to check the official provincial or territorial website to know what the requirements are for your trade.
Step 2: Finish and submit your application
Once you know that you’re eligible, you can start the examination application process.
Be sure that you confirm which language (English or French) the examination will be administered in before you submit your application.
You might be asked to submit a Trade Qualifier Application.
Step 3: Pay your fees
The last step is to make sure that you have confirmed the cost of the examination and method of payment. The fees differ depending on which province you will be writing your examination.
It could be anywhere from $120 and upwards. Many provinces also offer financial support in the form of apprenticeship loans or taxable cash grants for apprentices registered in red seal trades.
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Best Canadian Immigration Programs for Trade Workers
1. Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of 3 Express Entry programs. In order to qualify you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- meet the needed language levels for reading, writing, listening, and speaking
- have a minimum of two years of full-time paid work experience in a skilled trade within the last five years
- meet the job requirements of your skilled trade as per the National Occupational Classification, except for needing a certificate of qualification
- to have either a:
- valid full-time job offer in Canada for a minimum of 1 year; or
- certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority (Red Seal Certification).
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Step 2. Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Program or PNP has 11 participating provinces and also territories all headed towards achieving the same goal – to fill up the labour gap and assist to boost the local economy.
Each province has different labour needs and thus has different programs with different requirements.
Step 3: Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) was established to help Atlantic provinces in Canada fix their labour shortages and entice newcomers to stay in any of the 4 very underrated Atlantic provinces in Canada. The participating provinces include:
- Prince Edward Island
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland & Labrador; and
- New Brunswick
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You can apply through one of 3 AIP streams:
- Atlantic International Graduate Program
- Atlantic High Skilled Program; or
- The Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled program.
FAQs: Red Seal Certification
FAQ 1: Do you need to have a red seal to work in Canada?
There are certain trades in specific provinces that’ll require certification. Although this isn’t always the case, it’s very important to know if your trade is one with a certification requirement.
Interestingly, British Columbia is the only Canadian province that doesn’t have compulsory trades, however, this doesn’t really mean that you will not need to be certified.
For instance, to work in B.C. for a unionized company or project, it’s compulsory to be certified. So although it may not be compulsory to be certified for all trades, it could limit your job opportunities.
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FAQ 2: How do I get a red seal certificate outside Canada?
Unluckily, although you can apply for a red seal exam from outside of Canada, you’ll only be able to get red seal certified once you are in Canada.
Some provinces and Canadian employers have been known to recognize U.K., Irish, and South Africa Red Seal certifications however, it’s best to confirm this with your chosen provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority first.
FAQ 3: What’s the difference between a red seal and a journeyman?
A red seal is technically an endorsement that shows that you meet federal standards set out by various provincial training authorities. Once you’ve passed your exam you will be able to work in Canada as a journeyman without supervision.
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