COLLISION REPAIR APPRENTICESHIPS FROM COAST TO COAST
The Red Seal program, formally known as the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal program, was established in 1966 to make it easier for skilled tradespeople to find jobs anywhere in Canada. Through this program, apprentices who have completed their training and certified journeypersons can obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their certificates of qualification and apprenticeship by successfully completing an interprovincial standards examination.
The trades known nationally as autobody and collision technician (previously motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint)), automotive refinishing technician (previously automotive painter) and automotive service technician are all Red Seal trades. The Red Seal program allows qualified tradespersons to practise in any province or territory in Canada where the trade is designated without having to write further examinations.
Both motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) and automotive painter are among the 45 designated Red Seal trades, meaning that any certified collision repair professional can challenge the Red Seal exam in order to qualify to work in all provinces.
Provinces and territories are responsible for apprenticeship training and trade certification in their respective jurisdictions, including the administration of the Red Seal program in their jurisdictions (for example, Red Seal examinations). Most provinces and territories use the Red Seal examination as the final certification exam in 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.
For more information on the Red Seal program, please visit red-seal.ca.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
To qualify for a motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) apprenticeship, you need to find a shop able you take you on as an apprentice. You may need to complete a preapprenticeship program to do so. You must work four years (7,200 hours) in the shop and complete four technical training sessions in order to complete your apprenticeship. The technical exam for the apprenticeship in Newfoundland and Labrador is held at the College of the North Atlantic and a pre-apprenticeship program is offered at Academy Canada.
SASKATCHEWAN
In order to qualify for a motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) apprenticeship, you need to find a shop that is able to take you on as an apprentice. You may need to complete a pre-apprenticeship program first. You must spend four years (7,200 hours) working in the shop and complete four six- to seven-week technical training sessions. The classroom sessions are available at Saskatchewan Polytechnic at its Kelsey and Wascana campuses.
NOVA SCOTIA
You first need to find a shop that is able to take you on as an apprentice. You may need to complete a preapprenticeship program to do so. To complete your motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) apprenticeship, you must work 7,200 hours in the shop. You will be required to complete a four- to six -week technical training session. The technical training is available in-class or online through the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.
ALBERTA
In order to qualify for an auto body technician apprenticeship, you need to find a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. You must spend four years working in the shop and complete four six- to seven-week technical training sessions. Technical sessions are available at Alberta Institute of Technology, Red Deer College and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
To start a motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) apprenticeship, you must find a shop willing and able to take you on as an apprentice. You may need to complete a pre-apprenticeship program to do so. You must spend four years (7,200 hours) working in the shop in order to complete your apprenticeship. The technical training sessions are currently not offered in P.E.I., so you will be sent to a school in New Brunswick.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
In order to qualify for an automotive collision repair technician apprenticeship, you need to find a shop that is able to take you on as an apprentice. You may need to complete a pre-apprenticeship program first. You must spend four years (6,750 hours) working in the shop and complete three- five to six-week technical training sessions. Training is available at 100 institutions across B.C.
NEW BRUNSWICK
To qualify for a motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) apprenticeship, you need to find a shop that is able to take you on as an apprentice. You may need to complete a pre-apprenticeship program first. You must spend four years (7,200 hours) working in the shop in order to complete your apprenticeship. The classroom portion of the apprenticeship is offered in English at New Brunswick Community College’s Saint John campus and in French at Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick’s Bathurst campus.
NUNAVUT
In order to qualify for a motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) apprenticeship in Nunavut, you first need to find a shop that is able to take you on as an apprentice. You may need to complete a pre-apprenticeship program to do so. You must spend four years (7,200 hours) working in the shop and complete four four-seven-week technical training sessions in order to complete your apprenticeship. There are currently no colleges in Nunavut that offer the technical training component of the apprenticeship program. You will be sent to a college outof- province in order to attend trade school.
QUEBEC
Autobody repairer and painter certification is compulsory in Quebec. To become certified, completion of a three to four year motor vehicle body repair apprenticeship program or a combination of over three years of work experience in the motor vehicle body repair trade and completion of a high-school or college automotive body repair program is usually required.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
To qualify for an auto body technician apprenticeship in the N.W.T., you need to find a shop that is able to take you on as an apprentice. You may need to complete a pre-apprenticeship program first. You must spend four years (9,000 hours) working in the shop and may need to complete technical training sessions. There are currently no colleges in the N.W.T. that offer the technical training component of the apprenticeship program. You will be sent to a college out-ofprovince in order to attend trade school.
ONTARIO
The apprenticeship program for auto body and collision damage repairer requires: minimum Grade 12 high school education or its equivalent; and. 8,000 hours (approximately four years) of apprenticeship training (7,280 hours of on-the-job work experience and 720 hours of in-school training).
MANITOBA
To qualify for a motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) apprenticeship, you need to find a shop that is willing to take you on. You may need to complete a preapprenticeship program. You must spend four years (7,200 hours) working in the shop and complete four- six to seven-week technical training sessions. The training sessions and a pre-apprenticeship program are available at Red River College.
YUKON
If you wish to start a collision repair apprenticeship in the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, or Nunavut you first need to find a shop willing to take you on as an apprentice, and you will be sent to a college out of province in order to attend trade-school. There are a total of four technical training sessions lasting 4 to 7 weeks each. There are currently no colleges in the territories that offer the classroom component of a collision repair apprenticeship. You must spend four years (7,200 hours) combined working in the trade in order to complete your apprenticeship.
