Red Seal Brochure

Canadian Standard of Excellence for Skilled Trades

Quality Assurance and Confidence

www.red-seal.ca

What is the Red Seal Program?

The Red Seal Program is the Canadian standard of excellence for skilled trades. The Red Seal, when affixed to a provincial or territorial trade certificate, indicates that a tradesperson has demonstrated the knowledge required for the national standard in that trade. The Red Seal endorsement promotes excellence to employers, instills pride in skilled workers, and facilitates labour mobility.

Why is Red Seal important?

The Red Seal is evidence a journeyperson is qualified to do their job. This endorsement facilitates recognition of trade certification across Canada.

What are the benefits of Red Seal?

The Red Seal provides confidence to both employers and consumers that a tradesperson is skilled and knowledgeable. It is widely recognized and respected by the trades industry across Canada and internationally. A Red Seal endorsement is an employment advantage that opens the door to job opportunities, higher wages, sustaining employment, and career advancement.

The Red Seal Designated Trades are:

Not all of the trades listed above are Red Seal designated in all provinces and territories. Contact your local apprenticeship office to learn more about which of these trades are designated as Red Seal in your province/territory.

The Red Seal Program is administered in each province and territory under the guidance of the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA).

How to obtain a Red Seal?

To obtain a Red Seal endorsement, a candidate must pass the Red Seal examination administered by a provincial/territorial apprenticeship authority. Red Seal examinations are trade-specific and cover the skills and knowledge required in the trade. The examinations are used to determine whether apprentices and tradespersons meet the Canadian standard. To qualify to write a Red Seal examination, a tradesperson must have completed one of the following:

• Graduated from a recognized provincial or territorial apprenticeship training program;
• Obtained a journeyperson level Certificate of Qualification from a province or territory; or
• Provided confirmation of the requisite time and experience working in a Red Seal trade.

Red Seal Partners

The Red Seal Program is a partnership between the Government of Canada, the provinces and territories, with the participation from Canada's skilled trades industry. Each province and territory administers the program through their apprenticeship and certification authorities.

Ask for the Red Seal

Journeypersons can show their Red Seal endorsement on their certificate of qualification with pride. They may also use the professional acronym RSE after their name on their business cards to indicate their Red Seal Endorsement.

For more information, visit the Red Seal website, www.red-seal.ca or contact your provincial/ territorial apprenticeship authority.