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IRONWORKER |
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Select Alternate Year - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008
There have been no changes to this trade in the year of 2008.
Ironworkers fabricate, construct and join scaffolding, structural steel buildings, bridges, ornamental ironwork and pre-cast structures.
They erect structural steel components, reinforce steel, post tension tendons, install conveyors and robotic equipment, and sometimes perform reconstructive work on existing structures.
In general, ironworkers:
Ironworkers generally work outdoors in teams or crews in remote locations as well as urban areas. Their work is physically strenuous and often dangerous. They often work at great heights and must rely on one another to use good judgment as well as safety equipment and procedures to reduce the risk of injury from falling or from falling objects. Adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow or high winds can shut down projects for days at a time.
Successful ironworkers enjoy developing their expertise by doing precise work in a broad range of industries and locations. They enjoy the outdoors and often like travelling and working with different crews.
To be successful in their trade, ironworkers need:
Most ironworkers are employed by construction contractors, but some are employed in industries such as metal fabricating, oil and gas production, iron and steel production, electric utilities and rail transport. Very few ironworkers are self-employed. In the construction industry, ironworkers work on a project-to-project basis and frequently travel long distances from job to job. Union members work out of union hiring halls where work is allocated on a rotating basis.
Employment is seasonal, and employment prospects change with the economic climate, particularly with the volume of commercial and industrial construction projects.
Journeyman wage rates vary, but generally range from $20 to $30 an hour plus benefits.
Experienced ironworkers may advance to supervisory positions such as foreman and construction superintendent.
To work as an Ironworker in Alberta, a person must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyman or hold a recognized trade certificate. (see Recognized Trade Certificates)
Ironworkers learn their skills by registering with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in apprenticeship training and, upon successful completion, are awarded the Alberta Journeyman Certificate.
An ironworker who holds a valid trade certificate from Alberta or from another Canadian province or territory may apply to write the Interprovincial Exam and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal under the Interprovincial Standards Program. The Red Seal is recognized throughout most of Canada.
An ironworker who holds a certificate that was issued by another recognized apprenticeship authority in Canada (province, territory or federal jurisdiction) may apply for an Alberta Journeyman Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.
Ironworkers who have no trade certification but can prove that their skills and work experience meet the standards set for journeymen in Alberta may apply for certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, a document indicating that the individual holds a certificate that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate, or a certificate that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate are eligible to receive a Blue Seal business credential after completing the necessary requirements.
The term of apprenticeship for an ironworker is 4 years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of technical training each period.
To learn the skills required of a ironworker in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
- during on-the-job training, apprentice ironworkers earn at least 60 percent of the journeyman wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 percent in the second, 80 percent in the third, and 90 percent in the fourth year.
- select an educational institution that offers training for ironworker apprentices, and a time to attend training (see Technical Training Locations and Schedule)
- determine requirements for enrolling at the selected institution, and forward completed enrollment form to the selected institution (see Enrollment Instructions)
Apprentices may attempt the Interprovincial Exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal. (see Exam Counselling Sheets, and click here to view the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Policy on Cheating)
When apprentices attend technical training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies.
Grants, scholarships and other financial assistance may be available. For more information see Financial Assistance or contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
To qualify for a Red Seal, a person must:
- an Alberta trade certificate or completion of apprenticeship certificate, OR
- a journeyman or completion of apprenticeship certificate issued by another Canadian province or territory
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials - Ironworker )
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized certificate, a person must:
A person who has a recognized certificate, as described above, does not require an Alberta Journeyman Equivalency document. Because some employers may not be familiar with these certificates, the holder may choose to apply for an Equivalency document.
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a non-recognized certificate, a person must:
An applicant who chooses to write the exam(s) must:
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials - Ironworker )
An applicant who chooses to have their skills and knowledge assessed (instead of writing an exam) must:
- complete the Equivalency Application – Alternate Assessment and submit it to an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office
- pay the non-refundable application fee as identified on the application noted above
The Alternate Assessment process includes an assessment of the standards that the certificate is based on compared to Alberta's standards, and verification and assessment of the applicant's previous work experience, skills, knowledge and training in the trade. The application fee covers the verification and assessment of the applicant's experience in the trade.
An applicant whose trade credential from another Canadian province or territory is currently not valid (has expired) in the jurisdiction for which it was originally issued may apply to the Qualification Certificate Program to have their experience assessed and examined.
To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate, a person must:
- a certified structural steel and plate fitter must have at least 5,400 hours and 36 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as a ironworker
- a certified boilermaker must have at least 5,400 hours and 36 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as a ironworker
- a certified ironworker – metal building systems erector must have at least 3,000 hours and 24 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as a ironworker
Time spent on supervisory or foreman duties, counter work, heading the tool crib, or on a training course is NOT counted as ‘hands-on’ work experience.
This application fee covers the verification and assessment of the applicant's work experience hours/months as well as one attempt at the Qualification Certificate theory examination.
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials - Ironworker )
