How to Book Your Red Seal Exam in Every Province
There is more than one way to earn a Red Seal endorsement in Canada. The most common path is through a registered apprenticeship. But if you have years of trade experience without formal schooling, you may be eligible to challenge the exam directly as a trade qualifier. Both paths lead to the same exam — see our breakdown of the Red Seal Steamfitter exam or the Red Seal Welder exam to understand what the exam looks like.
Path 1: The Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship is a structured, multi-year training program combining on-the-job learning with in-school technical training. Duration is typically 2 to 5 years (most trades require 4 years, approximately 7,200 hours of OJT plus 720 hours of technical training). You earn a wage throughout. Once you complete the program, you book the exam through your provincial authority — see our province-by-province guide to booking the Red Seal exam.
Path 2: The Trade Qualifier (Challenger)
A trade qualifier is someone with extensive work experience but no formal apprenticeship. Typical requirement is 6,000 to 9,000 hours of documented, directly related experience. You provide employer letters, pay stubs, or tax records. If approved, you write the same exam as apprentices.
The Key Differences
Preparation: Apprentices have had years of structured training. Trade qualifiers may have no formal classroom instruction, meaning they are often stronger on practical knowledge but weaker on theory, codes, and trade math.
Exam scope: The exam covers the full national scope, not just what you have done in your job. A trade qualifier with 10 years in one specialty will still be tested on all MWAs.
The pass rate for trade qualifiers is consistently lower than for apprentices — see our article on Red Seal exam pass rates for the numbers.
The Exam Cram Series from Red Seal Training Academy has books for over 30 trades, each with 750 to 1,000 practice questions structured to the relevant NOA.
[Browse all Exam Cram Series books → /books/]
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours do you need to challenge the Red Seal exam?
Typically 6,000 to 9,000 hours of documented, directly related work experience, varying by trade and province.
Is the exam the same for trade qualifiers and apprentices?
Yes. Identical exam content. The only difference is how you qualified to sit for it.
What if I trained overseas?
Overseas experience can count. You need documentation for your provincial authority. Some provinces have specific programs for internationally trained workers.
