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Why should I get a Red Seal Endorsement for my skilled trade?

The Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) is a stamp for your Certificate of Qualification that proves you are qualified to do your skilled trade. It also means you have met the national standard to practice your trade across Canada.

The RSE stamp is recognized and respected by the professional trades industry across Canada and promotes excellence in the skilled trades. Only compulsory or "Red Seal trades" are eligible for the RSE. In other words, regulated trades under the Provincial and Territorial Apprenticeship Act.

The endorsement is also a great way to further your trade profession because it can enhance your employment opportunities by:

opening doors to higher pay and better work opportunities, as well as job security.
increasing your mobility since it allows you to work anywhere in Canada.
assuring employers that you are skilled in your trade.
offering you better opportunities to get various financial incentives from the federal government, such as Apprenticeship Grants.
giving you the right to train apprentices in your trade.
letting you stand out in your business cards by putting the “RSE” acronym next to your name (be prepared to show your trade certificate with the Red Seal if you are asked about the acronym).

You must pass the Red Seal exam to get the endorsement.

Steps to Taking the Red Seal Exam

Choose a Red Seal trade - Not all trades qualify for an RSE. Check the list of Red Seal trades to see if your trade qualifies. There are over 50 trades to choose from, including carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.

Check your Eligibility - Make sure you meet the Red Seal examination requirements of Ontario or the province or territory you plan to live in. These can be different by trade and tradesperson ( trade or apprentice qualifier).

Submit the Application - Complete the application form and submit it to the apprenticeship and certification authority. Each province and territory has its authority. Visit Skilled Trades Ontario to complete and submit the form in Ontario.

Request Accommodations - If you need special accommodations like taking the exam in another language or any other needs, you can apply directly at the Employment Ontario apprenticeship and certification office near you. But be sure to make the request well in advance.

Pay the Exam Fees - The cost of the exam varies by province or territory. Your provincial or territorial office will let you know the cost when you register for your exam.

Preparing for the Exam

The Red Seal exam is a national trade certification exam that covers the scope of the trade across Canada. It is not just based on what you do in your job and in your province. Tradespeople across the country create the exam and decide the trade occupational standards. They also write and review every question that appears on the exam to ensure that the same standard of concepts, terms, and language relevant in the workplace is consistently applied to all exams.

Each Red Seal trade is outlined by its own occupational standard. You must be familiar with the entire occupational standard for your trade to prepare for the exam.

You can also read the Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide to better understand what to focus on. Or, to see how your trade is broken down by topic for the exam, look up your trade on the Red Seal Exam Breakdown list page from the Red Seal website.