The Red Seal is an inter-provincial ticket recognized across Canada. The program covers a broad scope of knowledge which Labourers traditionally perform in the field. The scope is comprised of 17% Occupational Skills, 17% Site Work, 14% Scaffolding and Access Equipment, 20% Concrete Work, 10% Masonry Work, 12% Utilities and Pipeline, and 10% Roadwork.
Challenge the Red Seal Exam
The requirements that must be met in order to apply to Challenge the Red Seal exam are a minimum of 6,000 field hours performing work within the scope of the Construction Craft Worker (CCW) as above. An employer can sign off on the work an individual has performed while under their employ on an Industry Training Authority (ITA) Employer Declaration Form. This form also requires the dates of employment and the hours worked. A minimum of 70% of the CCW scope is required along with the minimum of 6,000 field hours for an applicant to be successful. There is a $120 application fee which currently the Union will cover on behalf of our Members in good standing for those who qualify to challenge the Red Seal exam. There are 100 questions on the multiple choice Red Seal exam and a minimum of 70% is required in order to pass. Any fees attached to “rewrites” will be the responsibility of the individual. There are 8 colleges including the CSWTS that are provisional designated training facilities in BC. We are the ONLY training facility that provides a 4 day Upgrade program with exam. Attendance of this Upgrade program increases a successful outcome of the exam dramatically!
Red Seal Apprenticeships
For those with less hours of field experience there are two levels of Apprenticeship programs with a 4 week technical training (Monday to Friday) in each level. The course is comprised of both classroom and practical hands on training covering every scope of the CCW. There is an exam at the end of the program and a 70% overall grade is required to pass. The exam written at the end of Level Two Technical Training is the Interprovincial Red Seal Exam. Apprentices are given time and a half credit for Technical Training. Therefore, one can achieve journeyman status with recommendation at 4,000 hours. Keep in mind Apprentices must also have field experience of 70% of the Construction Craft Worker scope. Apprentices are required to have Employer Declaration forms completed by the employer to verify that the 70% CCW scope has been fulfilled.
The Construction & Specialized Workers Training Society (CSWTS) is the Sponsor for all Apprentices of Local 1611 members that are in good standing. At this time, a person who has over 2,000 hours cannot challenge the Level One Apprenticeship exam and accelerate into Level Two. Both Level One and Two Technical Training must be completed.
Another option available for a person who is registered as a Level One Apprentice is to withdraw from the Apprenticeship and apply to challenge the Red Seal once they’ve achieved 6,000 CCW work related field hours and are confident an employer can verify the required scope of knowledge on the Employer Declaration Form.
Procedure
The paperwork submitted to the ITA to register an apprenticeship can take up to 10 business days for the ITA to process and the Red Seal Challenge applications can take approximately 6 to 8 weeks. Once an apprentice is registered they are required to take Technical Training within a year or their registration becomes dormant and they must re-register. A successful Red Seal Challenge applicant must also write the exam within a year from application or the process must be repeated and the fee attached will be the responsibility of that individual.
There are also apprenticeship incentive and completion grants available. More information is available on the Service Canada website. The training in the Apprenticeship levels is a benefit to both employers and our members. The Red Seal gives recognition to our trade and has been a long time in the making.
We encourage all of our members to participate and register with us for Apprenticeship programs or Upgrade programs for the Red Seal Certification.
We are more than happy to answer any questions that you may have. There is additional information available online at www.itabc.ca under the Construction Craft Worker tab.
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