Red Seal Program, specifically known as The Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program, is a program that sets common standards for tradespeople in Canada. It is a partnership between the Canadian federal government, the provinces and the territories.
The Red Seal program 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, held in Ottawa in 1952.[1] Not all provinces/territories participate in all the Red Seal trades.[2]
There are 54 trades currently recognized in the Red Seal program. They include auto mechanic, carpenter, cook, electrician, heavy equipment operator, ironworker, machinist, millwright, pipefitter, plumber, roofer, tool and die maker, and welder.[3]
When tradespersons complete their apprenticeships and pass the Red Seal examination they 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.[4]
Provinces and territories are responsible for administering apprenticeship training and trade certification in their respective jurisdictions, including the administration of the Red Seal Program. Each province and territory administers and regulates apprenticeship and certification under their own legislation:
Most provinces and territories use the Red Seal examination as the final certification exam in designated Red Seal trades.[18] Many employers only hire persons with this qualification to avoid varying standards among the provinces.[19]