Enter your email below to receive weekly updates from the Ashton College blog straight to your inbox.
Canada has a labour shortage in the skilled trades, making experienced tradespeople highly sought after. Obtaining the Red Seal Endorsement is arguably the best way to demonstrate your excellence in your trade in Canada. This blog article will dive into everything you need to know about the Red Seal Program, including its purpose, history, benefits, the content and format of the exam, and tips for exam preparation.
The Red Seal Program evaluates the skills of tradespeople across Canada by setting national standards. The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) oversees the program. It covers 56 trades and operates as a partnership between the federal government and provinces and territories.
In order to obtain the Red Seal Endorsement, candidates must pass the Red Seal Exam. To be eligible, they must have considerable experience in one of Canada’s 56 Red Seal trades, which include occupations like Baker, Bricklayer, Carpenter, Hairstylist, Industrial Mechanic, Plumber, and Welder. Visit the Red Seal website for a complete list.
The needed expertise can be achieved through formal schooling, an apprenticeship, standard work experience, or a combination. However, the detailed eligibility requirements vary by province. For example, not all provinces and territories recognize all 56 occupations as Red Seal trades. Therefore, it is essential to consult your provincial or territorial authority, for instance, SkilledTrades BC in British Columbia and Apprenticeship and Industry Training in Alberta. Each provincial authority is responsible for administering Red Seal exams, and you can learn more about exam dates and locations on the respective websites.
The Red Seal Exam is considered the final test for many trades. It assesses a tradesperson's factual knowledge, problem-solving skills, knowledge of procedures, calculation skills, interpretation of diagrams and more. The exam has a multiple-choice format with four equally weighted answer choices and one correct answer. There is a time limit of four hours and a minimum passing score of 70%. Fees differ by province and range between $50 and $450.
The examination is designed so that only experienced tradespeople will be able to choose the correct answers.
The examination is directly based on the Red Seal Occupational Standard (RSOS), which is different for every Red Seal Trade. Every RSOS outlines all tasks and activities making up the respective trade and contains major work activities and subtasks, essentially breaking the trade down into increasingly smaller sections. All exams include sections based on major work activities, and all questions refer to sub-tasks in the RSOS. To ensure that the exam uses the same concepts, terms, and language as skilled workers do in the workplace, tradespeople across the country write and review all questions and decide on the content of the RSOS.
Even though the Red Seal Endorsement is not mandatory, it is highly beneficial for a tradesperson’s career. Tradespeople who receive the endorsement have proven their knowledge and skills in their trade. The Red Seal Endorsement allows them to demonstrate their excellence to employers, gives skilled workers confidence in their abilities, and allows them to work all across Canada. It also makes them eligible to include the acronym RSE (Red Seal Endorsement) on business cards and signatures and often provides them with a higher income.
To prepare for the test, candidates should review their trade’s RSOS and its major work activities and subtasks. Other beneficial resources, such as sample questions that familiarize you with the exam format, can also be found on the Red Seal website. It is essential to become familiar with frequently used terminology and acronyms, talk to mentors, employers, and fellow workers and consult other reputable sources. While textbooks may be helpful, don’t forget that they shouldn’t be your focus, as the Red Seal Exam is based on the practical work in your trade. Therefore, the most important thing you can do is continue to gain work experience, especially in the areas you are least familiar with.
Ashton College offers Red Seal Exam Prep Courses for 13 different trade occupations, including bakers, carpenters, and electricians. Our courses are designed for experienced individuals equipped with the necessary knowledge to write the exam. We offer part-time courses and multiple start dates throughout the year, allowing students to continue working full-time or take care of their busy schedules while pursuing their education. The courses are online and led by a live instructor who provides interactive, real-time feedback. All courses cover the trade’s RSOS and the exam format. They also intensively review all trade-specific concepts and theories, identify knowledge gaps, and help develop a strategic personal study plan.
The information contained in this post is considered true and accurate as of the publication date. However, the accuracy of this information may be impacted by changes in circumstances that occur after the time of publication. Ashton College assumes no liability for any error or omissions in the information contained in this post or any other post in our blog.
