Canadian provinces and territories administer apprenticeship and trade certification. For designated Red Seal trades, eligible candidates can write the interprovincial examination and have the endorsement added to their provincial or territorial certificate; it is not a standalone federal license.
Source: PathGauge evidence review · Current guide and linked primary sources · Reviewed July 16, 2026
Begin with the province or territory
The jurisdiction decides how a trade is regulated, who may work in it, how apprenticeship is registered, and how experienced workers can qualify. Confirm whether the trade is compulsory, voluntary, or subject to other occupation-specific rules where you plan to work.
Separate apprenticeship from trade qualification
A registered apprentice follows the jurisdiction’s work-and-instruction route. An experienced worker who did not complete that apprenticeship may be assessed as a trade qualifier or challenger, but evidence and eligibility requirements are set by the authority.
Understand the Red Seal layer
Red Seal develops national standards and interprovincial examinations for designated trades. Passing the applicable exam leads to an endorsement on a provincial or territorial trade certificate; registration and fees remain with the jurisdiction.
Prepare records before a move
Keep employer letters, detailed hours, task descriptions, course outlines, transcripts, certificates, and translations if required. Ask the destination authority what it will assess before paying for repeat training or scheduling an exam.