How to apply for Red Seal Exam in Canada
Red Seal Exams are theoretical and practical tests conducted by provincial or territorial apprenticeship and certification offices in Canada in order to issue license to the trade persons so that they can become authorized to work in Canada. The list of trade worker titles mentioned here.
To apply for the Red Seal Exam in Canada, you need to follow the following steps:
- Ensure that you meet the Red Seal examination requirements of your province or territory. These can differ by trade and by type of tradesperson (e.g. apprentice or trade qualifier).
- Visit the official apprenticeship and certification website of your province or territory.
- Complete and submit the appropriate Red Seal Examination application form or contact your provincial or territorial apprenticeship office for more information.
- Ask about exam language and accommodations for special needs (if applicable)
- Confirm with your provincial or territorial office that your copy will be in the language of your choice.
- If you have special needs, ask about accommodations you may be entitled to when writing the exam. Keep in mind that the request for accommodation has to be made well in advance.
- Exam Fees
- The cost of the exam varies by province and territory. Your provincial or territorial office will let you know the cost when you register for your exam.
Writing your Red Seal exam
1. What to bring to the exam?
Photo ID (government-issued personal identification, such as a valid driver’s license)
Apprenticeship I.D. from your jurisdiction (if applicable)
Exam confirmation letter
Any other materials listed in your exam confirmation letter
2. What to expect during the exam?
You will not be allowed to talk to other candidates.
During the exam you are not allowed to access personal items, such as bags, mobile phones or any type of electronic or communication devices.
In some trades, you may be provided with reference documents such as code books. Your exam may include a diagram booklet, an acronym sheet and a mathematical formula sheet.
You will have to fill out the personal information section on your answer sheet. Wait for the signal from the invigilator of the exam before marking the answer sheet.
All materials must be returned to the invigilator of the exam.
If you don’t follow these rules, your exam may be invalidated.
3. What is the exam format?
The maximum time allowed is 4 hours.
There are between 100 and 150 questions per exam depending on the trade.
You will receive an exam package containing the questions, an answer sheet and scrap paper.
All questions are multiple choice and of equal value.
Each question has four possible choices (A, B, C and D). Only one answer is correct.
The pass mark is 70%.
Writing a multiple choice exam
Red Seal exams are written exclusively in a multiple choice format. There are no trick questions. Each question has four possible choices. The three incorrect answers are called ‘distracters’ because they are intended to look believable and distract you from the correct answer if you don’t know your trade adequately. You will need to read the question carefully as a single word can change the meaning of the answer.
Example:
1. Which trade is a designated Red Seal trade?
A. Florist
B. Locksmith
C. Shipwright
D. Boilermaker
In this example, the correct answer is D. The other three possible answers are the distracters. Although believable, as they are all trades, all three are incorrect because they are not Red Seal trades. Once you have chosen your answer, completely fill the appropriate circle on your answer sheet. The answer sheet is separate from your exam booklet.
If the answer to question one is D, go to line 1 on the answer sheet and completely fill in the D circle.
Example of the answer sheet you will receive for your exam.
This image is an example of the answer sheet you will receive for your exam.
The exam is graded by a computer, so when marking your answers:
- use an HB pencil only.
press firmly with the pencil to ensure the circle is filled in completely.
to change an answer, erase cleanly.
do not make stray marks on the answer sheet.
check regularly to ensure your mark is on the correct line, especially if you have skipped any questions.
Next Steps
What happens after you take the Red Seal exam?
Red Seal exam results
Your provincial or territorial apprenticeship and certification office will send you your exam results. This can take up to four weeks. Refer to your exam confirmation letter for more information.
Results are not released over the phone.
Receiving your Red Seal
If you are completing your provincial or territorial certification at the same time as your Red Seal exam, the Red Seal may be affixed to your provincial or territorial certificate.
If you already have a provincial certificate and you want to have the Red Seal affixed to your card, you may need to send your current card to your provincial and territorial apprenticeship office. Refer to your exam confirmation letter for more information.
What if you do not pass your exam?
The Red Seal is the standard of excellence in your trade. As such, Red Seal exams are designed to test the national scope of the trade. If you have less experience in some of the tasks and sub-tasks, you may not pass on your first attempt.
If you do not achieve the 70% pass mark, the number of times you can attempt the exam and the waiting period between attempts are determined by each province and territory. A course of study, approved by the jurisdictional certification authority, must be successfully completed before the third and every subsequent attempt. Contact your local apprenticeship and certification office for clarification.
Appendix A: Red Seal Trades
The following trades are designated as Red Seal trades. Note that your province/territory may have a different name for the trade.
- Agricultural Equipment Technician
- Appliance Service Technician
- Auto Body and Collision Technician
- Automotive Refinishing Technician
- Automotive Service Technician
- Baker
- Boilermaker
- Bricklayer
- Cabinetmaker
- Carpenter
- Concrete Finisher
- Construction Craft Worker
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Drywall Finisher and Plasterer
- Electric Motor System Technician
- Floorcovering Installer
- Gasfitter — Class A
- Gasfitter — Class B
- Glazier
- Hairstylist
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Heavy Equipment Operator (Dozer)
- Heavy Equipment Operator (Excavator)
- Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor-Loader-Backhoe)
- Industrial Electrician
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Instrumentation and Control Technician
- Insulator (Heat and Frost)
- Ironworker (Generalist)
- Ironworker (Reinforcing)
- Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental)
- Landscape Horticulturist
- Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)
- Machinist
- Metal Fabricator (Fitter)
- Mobile Crane Operator
- Motorcycle Mechanic
- Oil Heat System Technician
- Painter and Decorator
- Partsperson
- Plumber
- Powerline Technician
- Recreation Vehicle Service Technician
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
- Rig Technician
- Roofer
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Sprinkler Fitter
- Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Tilesetter
- Tool and Die Maker
- Tower Crane Operator
- Transport Trailer Technician
- Truck and Transport Mechanic
- Welder
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