Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade

Compulsory Trades
Nine trades require compulsory apprenticeship training, meaning that to legally work in Manitoba, you must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson.

Red Seal Trades
41 Manitoba designated trades have interprovincial or "Red Seal" status which means an assurance of quality training and certification to nationally recognized standards.

There are over 50 designated trades in Manitoba in which you can take apprenticeship training. All designated trades are regulated by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act, the General Regulation and individual trade regulations.

Trade (click on the trade name to obtain specific trade & program information)	Certificate of Qualification	Length (Years)	Annual (Level) Requirements
			Total annual hours (on-the-job & technical training)	Technical Training (Weeks)	Delivered by

Industrial

Boilermaker	Interprovincial	4	1600	6-6-6-6	RRC
Electric Motor System Technician	Interprovincial	4	1500	8-8-8-8	SAIT
Industrial Electrician /	Interprovincial	4	1800	10-10-10-10	UCN (Level 4 only), RRC, ACC
Industrial Instrument Mechanic	Interprovincial	4	1600	10-10-10-10	NAIT, SAIT, SIAST
Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)	Interprovincial	4	1600	8-8-8-8	UCN
Machinist -CNC Machinist	Interprovincial Provincial	4 1	1800 1800	9-8-8-4 6	RRC RRC
Power Electrician /	Provincial	4	1600	10-10-10-10	RRC (Level 4 only), UCN, ACC
Steel Fabricator	Interprovincial	4	1800	8-8-8-0	NAIT
Tool & Die Maker	Interprovincial	4	1800	9-8-8-9	RRC
Welder	Interprovincial	3	1600	8-8-8	ACC

Transportation

Agricultural Equipment Technician	Interprovincial	4	1800	8-8-6-4	ACC
Aircraft Maintenance Journeyperson	Provincial †	4	1800	9-9-9-9	RRC (SAATC)
Automotive Service Technician	Interprovincial	4	1800	8-8-6-6	RRC, ACC
Diesel Engine Mechanic	Provincial	3	1800	9-7-6	RRC
Gas Turbine Repair and Overhaul Technician	Provincial	3	1800	12-16-6	RRC, Standard Aero
Heavy Duty Equipment Technician	Interprovincial	4	1800	8-8-6-4	ACC
Marine and Outdoor Power Equipment Technician	Provincial	3	1800	9-9-9	RRC
Motor Vehicle Body Painter	Interprovincial	2	1800	6-5	RRC
Motor Vehicle Body Repairer	Interprovincial	4	1800	7-6-7-6	RRC
Railway Car Technician	Provincial	3	1800	9-9-9	RRC
Recreation Vehicle Service Technician	Interprovincial	3	1600	8-8-8	SAIT
Transport Trailer Technician	Interprovincial	3	1800	8-8-8	RRC
Truck & Transport Mechanic	Interprovincial	4	1800	8-8-6-4	RRC

Construction

Bricklayer	Interprovincial	4	1200	9-8-6-0	RRC
Cabinetmaker	Interprovincial	4	1600	9-9-8-8	RRC
Carpenter	Interprovincial	4	1800	8-8-9-7	RRC, ACC, UCN
Concrete Finisher	Interprovincial	3	1200	4-4-0	SAIT
Construction Craft Worker	Interprovincial	2	1800	8-8	RRC
Construction Electrician /	Interprovincial	4	1800	10-10-10-10	RRC, ACC, UCN (up to Level 3)
Crane & Hoisting Equipment Operator
-Mobile Crane Operator /	Interprovincial	3	1700	7-7-0	RRC
-Boom Truck Hoist Operator /	Provincial	2	1250	7-8	RRC
-Tower Crane Operator /	Provincial	2	1500	7-7	RRC
-Power Generation and Transmission Mobile Crane Operator	Provincial	3	300	7-6-6	RRC (level 1&2), Manitoba Hydro (level 3)
-Power Generation and Transmission Boom Truck Hoist Operator	Provincial	3	300	7-4-5	RRC (level 1&2), Manitoba Hydro (level 3)
Gasfitter(commercial/industrial)	Provincial	4	1800	(10-10) 10-8	RRC
Domestic Gasfitter - Prerequisite for 'Gasfitter'	Provincial	2	1800	10-10	RRC, ACC
Glazier	Interprovincial	4	1800	6-6-6-6	SAIT
Insulator (Heat & Frost)	Interprovincial	4	1500	6-6-6-0	RRC
Ironworker	Interprovincial	3	1800	9-6-9	RRC
Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)	Interprovincial	4	1800	8-8-8-8	RRC
Painter & Decorator	Interprovincial	3	1800	8-8-8	RRC
Pre-Engineered Building Erector	Provincial		under development	under development	under development
Plumber	Interprovincial	5	1800	10-9-8-8-10	RRC, ACC
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic / -Commercial -Residential	Interprovincial Provincial	5 4	1800 1800	9-9-9-9-10 9-9-9-10	RRC RRC
Rig Technician	Interprovincial	3	1620	4-4-4	NAIT, SAIT, NHC, RDC
Roofer	Interprovincial	3	1400	6-6-6	under Development
Sheet Metal Worker	Interprovincial	4	1800	8-8-8-6	RRC
Sprinkler System Installer /	Interprovincial	4	1700	7-7-0-7	RRC
Steamfitter - Pipefitter /	Interprovincial	5	1800	9-9-9-8-10	RRC
Water and Wastewater Technician	Provincial	2	1600	9-10	RRC

Service

Cook	Interprovincial	3	2700	12-12	RRC
Esthetician /*/ -Nail Technician -Skin Care Technician	Provincial Provincial Provincial	2 1 2	1600 1000 1100	1060hrs 400 hrs 800 hrs	Various Locations in MB
Electrologist /**/ -public school program not currently available	Provincial	1	1000	500 hrs	Various Locations in MB
Floorcovering Installer	Interprovincial	3	1400	7-6-0	SAIT
Hairstylist /**/	Interprovincial	2	1500	1400 hrs	Various Locations in MB
Landscape Horticulturalist	Interprovincial	3	1700	11-11-11	RRC
Partsperson	Interprovincial	3	1800	8-8-6	SIAST
Pork Production Technician	Provincial	2	1800	185 hrs	ACC, Various Locations in MB

Compulsory apprenticeship or a Certificate of Qualification is required to work these trades
** Enrolment in, or completion of, technical training is required before an apprenticeship
†Used toward final federal certification as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
High School Apprenticeship Program available
Must be employed with Manitoba Hydro

Institutions providing apprenticeship technical training

Note: Technical training classes to apprenticeship standards are purchased by Apprenticeship Manitoba from the following training providers or delivered on the basis of interprovincial agreements.
RRC….Red River College, Winnipeg
ACC….Assiniboine Community College, Brandon
UCN.....University College of the North, The Pas and Thompson
SAIT….Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary
NAIT…Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmonton
SAATC..Stevenson Aviation and Aerospace Training Centre,(Southport), Portage la Prairie
SIAST…Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Moose Jaw/Saskatoon
RDC..... Red Deer College, AB
MHC..... Medicine Hat College, AB
SAATC..... Stevenson Campus formally Stevenson Aviation and Aerospace Training Centre

top of page

Compulsory Trades

Is Certification Compulsory or Voluntary?

Occupations are classified as either compulsory or voluntary. Generally, compulsory occupations require workers to be certified or registered as apprentices in order for them to practice in the occupation.

In Manitoba, "certified journeyperson" means a person who holds a Certificate of Qualification issued by Apprenticeship Manitoba. "Registered apprentice" means a person who has signed a formal apprenticeship training agreement with his or her employer, and has registered that agreement with Apprenticeship Manitoba.

Voluntary occupations often will also have certification and apprenticeship to indicate the level of competency of the worker. Although workers are not required to be registered or certified in order to practice in the voluntary occupations, in order to be an apprentice and work in the in these trades, apprentices must be employed with a certified journeyperson.

Note: Even though many occupations deemed compulsory in some of the jurisdictions are also "Red Seal" trades, the Red Seal itself is not mandatory except where indicated as such by jurisdictions in specific legislation.

Who Determines if a Trade is Compulsory?

The requirement of compulsory certification in a trade is based on a request from industry. Criteria for compulsory certification in any trade must include proven enhancement of:

• public and worker safety
• consumer and environmental protection
• value added to the quality of work being offered to the public through uniform training and professional standards

A request for compulsory certification should be made in writing to the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade.

List of Compulsory Trades in Manitoba

There are over 50 designated trades in Manitoba in which you can take apprenticeship training. Nine of these trades require compulsory apprenticeship training, meaning that to legally work in Manitoba, you must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson.

• Construction Electrician**
• Industrial Electrician**
• Crane & Hoisting Equipment Operator (includes Mobile, Boom Truck Hoist and Tower Crane Operator)
• Electrologist*
• Esthetician (includes Skin Care Technician and Nail Technician)*
• Hairstylist*
• Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic
• Sprinkler System Installer
• Steamfitter - Pipefitter

*To work in these trades, you must also hold an Authorization to Practise, Temporary Permit, or a Limited Practise Permit issued by Apprenticeship Manitoba. The Authorization to Practise and Limited Practise Permits (for existing holders only) are renewable every two years. The Temporary Permit is also issued by Apprenticeship Manitoba and the renewal date varies according to applicant type.

**To work in these trades, you must also hold a Journeyperson Electrician Licence issued by the Mechanical and Engineering Branch of Manitoba Labor and Immigration. This license must be renewed every four years.

If you work in any of these trades and are unsure of your status, contact Apprenticeship Manitoba in Winnipeg.

For more information about these compulsory trades, please view the trade program section of this website.

top of page

Red Seal Trades

Why should I get the “Red Seal”- Interprovincial Certification?

The Red Seal Program was established to provide greater mobility across Canada for skilled workers. Through this program certified journeypersons and apprentices, who have completed their training, are able to obtain a "Red Seal" endorsement on their Certificate of Qualification by successfully completing an Interprovincial Standards Examination. Currently the “Red Seal” endorsement is available in almost 50 trades! See: Trade Programs.

The Red Seal Program encourages standardization of provincial and territorial apprenticeship training and certification. It allows qualified trades professionals to practice the trade in any province or territory in Canada where the trade is designated without having to write further examinations.

With this endorsement, you can also build respect in your community for your designation and knowledge, and as a qualified and certified journeyperson you can expect to increase your average annual income.

Red Seal official website
Red Seal Wear

Red Seal Infoline for frequently asked questions: 1-877-599-6933

top of page

Designated Trade Programs

Each province and territory has the responsibility for education and training which includes apprenticeship. Each province and territory has its own legislation that permits it to designate occupations for apprenticeship.

A trade defined in regulation & for which an apprenticeship program is established is referred to as a "Designated Trade".

A trade defined in regulation for which no apprenticeship program is established is referred to as a "Designated Occupation". Occupations are recognized to facilitate the establishment of occupational training and certification standards where a formal apprenticeship program is not offered.

Designated trades in Manitoba are governed by regulations under the provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Act. These regulations outline the standards and conditions of training for specific trades (e.g. methods of registering apprentices, curriculum, accreditation, certification).

The designation of a new trade and/or occupation can originate outside the provincial or territorial apprenticeship authorities. Stakeholders can make a formal request to the Apprenticeship & Certification Board’s Community Liaison Committee (CLC) to have a trade or occupation designated in Manitoba. See section on Trade and Occupation Designation Process for more information.

top of page