All about Canada’s Red Seal for Trades

Did you know that each province and territory has slightly different standards for trade work? Plumbing is no exception. Before the Red Seal program was created in 1959, it could be very challenging for trade workers in one province to move and work in a different one. They sometimes had to take some or all of their apprenticeship over again. Immigrants from Europe and other parts of the world faced similar problems. Standardizing trades internationally with other continents wasn’t an option, but creating a program that allowed trade workers to easily move and work between province was: hence the creation of the Red Seal program.

The Red Seal program or (as it’s formally known) the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program sets the federal standard for excellence within a trade. It also dictates the federal standard that a tradesperson must adhere to if they want work across the country instead of in just one specific province. In fact, the Red Seal program is also widely respected abroad Canadians with this certification won’t face as much trouble finding work internationally.

To date, the Red Seal program covers over 50 trades including plumbing. Nearly 90% of apprentices and 80% of working tradespeople work in industries covered under this program. In order to qualify, apprentices will have to take the red seal examination and pass with at least 70%. For any apprentices reading this article, we at Plumbing Paramedics definitely recommend and encourage you to take the exam. This is because, some contractors and companies refuse to hire staff who aren’t certified. After all, having everyone certified means everyone on the team knows and uses the same excellence standards dictated by the Red Seal program.

When you’re searching for a plumber or furnace repair team in Calgary, you’ll want to choose a team that you can trust. The team at the Plumbing Paramedics are all certified with a Red Seal Master Plumber and Gas Fitter certification, so you know you’re getting the best in trade excellence every time. Call us today at (403) 452-2911.