WORKING IN A TRADE

Requirements to work in a trade

To work in a designated trade in Alberta, a person must:

• be a registered apprentice, a certified journeyman, or hold a recognized trade certificate (see Recognized Trade Certificates)

OR in some trades:

• work for an employer who is satisfied that the worker has the skills and knowledge expected of a certified journeyman, or be self-employed

If a person is going to work in any designated trade in Alberta but needs to learn the trade, the person must be a registered apprentice.

What is a registered apprentice?

Tradespeople learn their skills by registering with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in an Apprenticeship Program and, upon successful completion, are awarded the Alberta Journeyman Certificate.

What is a certified journeyman?

To be considered as a certified journeyman in Alberta, a person may be the holder of:

• Alberta Journeyman Certificate
  
  
• Interprovincial Standards 'Red Seal'
  
  Many trades that are designated in Alberta participate in the Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) Program.
  
  In these trades, a person who has a valid certificate from a Canadian province or territory bearing a 'Red Seal' granted under the Interprovincial Standards Program may work in Alberta.
  
  A person who holds a valid 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.
  
  
• Alberta Journeyman Equivalency document
  
  A person who holds a certificate that was issued by another recognized apprenticeship authority in Canada (province, territory or federal jurisdiction), for a trade that is designated in Alberta, may apply for an Alberta Journeyman Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.
  
  
• Alberta Qualification Certificate
  
  A person who has 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.

Tradespeople with other credentials, including those from outside of Canada, maybe be eligible to apply for certification in Alberta. For more information, contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.

What is a designated trade?

A designated trade:

• has been approved by the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology on the recommendation of the industry and the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board, and;
• is regulated by Alberta's Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act and associated regulations.

The legislation provides for apprenticeship programs and certification of tradespeople as evidence that their qualifications meet the industry-established standards for the trade.

There are 50 designated trades in Alberta. For a list of the trades and detailed information about each one, see Trades & Occupations.

Trade careers – a smart choice!

Trades careers have a lot going for the skilled men and women who work in them. lots more than most of them imagined when they first started out!

• many trades offer the right kind of challenge as they are highly technical, involve lots of math and sciences, and are changing quickly
• a trade career can lead to supervision, management, the professions and business entrepreneurship
• most tradespeople can write a 'Red Seal' exam and earn an Interprovincial Standards Red Seal on their journeyman certificate. This lets them work in most Canadian provinces and territories
• pay rates vary; generally they are good
• while some trades occasionally are affected by temporary economic slowdowns, the aging workforce means an overall increase in future demand for skilled tradespeople. Employers need people with the right skills!

Opportunities for journeymen

Journeymen make great mentors!

Journeymen have learned the skills of their trade and have met the high standards set by industry. Now, they can help apprentices to develop the same skills by supervising and coaching apprentices in the on-the-job training and work experience component of their apprenticeship program.

Journeymen know the industry!

A journeyman's knowledge of his/her trade and desire to see it constantly improving, are essential. Journeymen are invited to share their thoughts, ideas and suggestions with members of the Local or Provincial Apprenticeship Committees for that trade. These committees are involved in setting standards for the required skills and competencies in that trade. They also develop technical training course content and identify needs for improvement.

Better yet – think about becoming a member! If you have the time and qualifications, apply to become a member of a Local Apprenticeship Committee (LAC) or Provincial Apprenticeship Committee (PAC) and share your knowledge and experience today!

For more information, see Industry Committees.

Journeymen mean business!

Opportunities exist for journeymen to supervise or manage people or business. A great way to prepare, or enhance, these management duties is to obtain an 'Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal'. The Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board designed the Blue Seal program that provides an opportunity for journeymen to earn a business credential that is recognized by employers.

Wages and Salaries in Alberta

The Government of Alberta has released the 2007 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. This survey is conducted every two years.

For the 2007 survey, nearly 3,000 employers participated, representing almost 200,000 full and part-time employees. Wage information was collected for more than 400 occupations. Skill shortages were reported across many sectors. For more information on this survey, contact Jane Woo of Alberta Employment and Immigration at Jane.Woo@gov.ab.ca.

Survey Results

The 2007 results are available on www.alis.gov.ab.ca/wageinfo. Wage information for different occupational groups or Economic Regions in Alberta can be found in the website.