Established in 1966, the Red Seal program was formed to make it easier for skilled tradespeople to find jobs in Canada. Once apprentices have completed their training, they, along with certified journeypersons, can take an interprovincial standards examination to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their certificates of qualifications. Having the Red Seal qualification allows qualified tradespeople to practice in any province or territory in Canada without having to take any further examinations.
Red Seal trades are auto body and collision technicians, automotive refinishing technicians and automotive service technicians. Any motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) and any automotive painter can challenge the Red Seal exam in order to qualify to work in all provinces as they are all among the 45 designated Red Seal Trades. The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) is responsible for the Red Seal program. All provinces and territories and the federal government participate as members of the CCDA.
Provinces and territories are responsible for the apprenticeship training and trade certification in their respective jurisdictions, including the administration of the Red Seal program in their jurisdictions. Generally, most provinces and territories use the Red Seal examination as the final certification exam in designated Red Seal trades. For more information of the Red Seal program please visit red-seal.ca.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Once you find a shop able to take you on as an apprentice (you may need to complete a pre-apprenticeship program before hand) you will qualify for a motor vehicle body repair apprenticeship. In order to complete your apprenticeship, you must work four years (7,200 hours) in the shop and complete four technical training sessions. The College of the North Atlantic holds the technical exam for apprenticeship and Academy Canada offers a pre-apprenticeship program.
NOVA SCOTIA
The first step to apprenticeship in Nova Scotia is finding a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. Some shops may require you to first complete a pre-apprenticeship program. You will be required to take a four to six-week technical training session as well as you must complete 7,200 hours in the shop. The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency offers technical training both in-class as well as online.
ONTARIO
To enter the apprenticeship program for auto body and collision damage repair you must have at least a grade 12 high school education or its equivalent: 8,000 hours of apprenticeship training (7, 280 hours of on-the-job work experience and 720 hours of in-school training).
MANITOBA
The first step to a motor vehicle body repairer apprenticeship in Manitoba is finding a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. Some shops may require you to first complete a pre-apprenticeship program. You will be required to take a four-to six to seven-week technical training session as well as you must complete 7,200 hours in the shop. The training sessions and a pre-apprenticeship program are available at Red River College
ALBERTA
The first step to a motor vehicle body repairer apprenticeship in Alberta is finding a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. Some shops may require you to first complete a pre-apprenticeship program. You will be required to take a four- to six to seven-week technical training session as well as you must complete 7,200 hours in the shop. Technical sessions are available at Alberta Institute of Technology, Red Deer College and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
YUKON
The first step to a motor vehicle body repairer apprenticeship in the Yukon is finding a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. Some shops may require you to first complete a pre-apprenticeship program. You will be required to take a four- six to seven-week technical training session as well as you must complete 7,200 hours in the shop. There are currently no colleges in Yukon that offer the technical training component of the apprenticeship program. To attend trade school, you will be sent out of province.
NUNAVUT
The first step to motor vehicle body repairer apprenticeship in Nunavut is finding a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. Some shops may require you to first complete a pre-apprenticeship program. You will be required to take a four-to six to seven-week technical training session as well as you must complete 7,200 hours in the shop. There are currently no colleges in Nunavut that offer the technical component of the apprenticeship program. To attend trade school, you will be sent out of province.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
To start a motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) apprenticeship a shop must be willing and capable of taking you on as an apprentice. Some shops may require you to first take a pre-apprenticeship program. To complete your apprenticeship, you must spend 4 years (7,200 hours) working in the shop. As there are not currently any technical training sessions offered in P.E.I you will be sent to a school in New Brunswick.
QUEBEC
Auto body repairer and painter certification is compulsory in Quebec. Three to four years of motor vehicle body repair apprenticeship program or a combination of more than three years of work experience and a completion of a high school or college automotive body repair program is usually required.
NEW BRUNSWICK
To start a motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) apprenticeship a shop must be willing and capable of taking you on as an apprentice. Some shops may first require you to take a pre-apprenticeship program. Four years (7,200 hours) must be spent working in the shop to complete your apprenticeship. The English version of the classroom sessions is offered at New Brunswick Community College’s Saint John campus and the French at Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick’s Bathurst campus.
SASKATCHEWAN
The first step to a motor vehicle body repairer apprenticeship in Saskatchewan is finding a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. Some shops may require you to first complete a pre-apprenticeship program. You will be required to take a four- to six to seven-week technical training session as well as you must complete 7,200 hours in the shop. The classroom sessions are available at Saskatchewan Polytechnic at its Kelsey and Wascana campuses.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
The first step to a motor vehicle body repairer apprenticeship in British Columbia is finding a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. Some shops may require you to first complete a pre-apprenticeship program. You will be required to take a three-to five to six-week technical training session as well as you must complete 6,750 hours in the shop. Training is available at 100 institutions across B.C.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The first step to a motor vehicle body repairer apprenticeship in N.W.T is finding a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. Some shops may require you to first complete a pre-apprenticeship program. You may be required to take technical training session as well as completing 9,000 hours in the shop. There are currently no colleges in N.W.T that offer the technical training component of the apprenticeship program. To attend trade school, you will be sent out of province.
