Red Seal Program

The Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program, generally known as the  Red Seal Program,   is a program setting common standards for tradespeople in Canada as a partnership between the federal government and provinces and territories. It is under the jurisdiction of the  Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) It was created in 1959 as a result of  the first National Conference on Apprenticeship in Trades and Industries, which was held in Ottawa in 1952.

Operations 
Tradespersons after completing their  apprenticeship and passing the Red Seal examination receive a Red Seal Endorsement ("RSE") on their provincial/territorial trade certificate, usually called a "Certificate of Qualification". 

Chapter 7 of the Canada Free Trade Agreement (formerly the Agreement on Internal Trade) generally requires provincial and territorial governments to recognize individuals who hold certain trade certificates issued by a Canadian province or territory as having met the requirements to practice their occupation elsewhere in Canada. .

There are 56 trades currently recognized in the program, covering such trades as cook, electrician, machinist, welder, heavy equipment operator, millwright, and roofer. However, not all provinces/territories participate in all of the 56 Red Seal trades.

Provinces and territories are responsible for administering apprenticeship training and trade certification in their respective jurisdictions, including the administration of the Red Seal Program in their jurisdictions. Each provinces and territory administers and regulates apprenticeship and certification under their own legislation:

 Prince Edward Island's program is regulated by the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualification Act
 Nova Scotia's program is regulated by the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualification Act
 Newfoundland's program is regulated by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act
 New Brunswick's program is regulated by the Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification Act
 Quebec's program is regulated by the Manpower Vocational Training and Qualification Act
 Ontario 's program is regulated by the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act. 
 Manitoba's program is regulated by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act.
 Saskatchewan's program is regulated by the Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Act
 Alberta's program is regulated by the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act
 British Columbia's program is regulated by the Industry Training Authority Act
 Nunavut's program is regulated by the Trade and Occupations Certification Act
 The Yukon Territories' program is regulated by the Apprenticeship Training Act
 The Northwest Territories' program is regulated by the Apprenticeship, Trade, and Occupation Certification Act

Most provinces and territories use the Red Seal examination as the final certification exam in designated Red Seal trades. Many employers only hire persons with this qualification to avoid varying standards among the provinces.

References

External links
Red Seal Website

Category:Professional titles and certifications
Category:Vocational education in Canada
Category:Standards of Canada