Getting Started in the Trades
How to Get Into the Trades in Canada: A Beginner's Guide
See all 54 Red Seal trades with BC and Alberta wages, how apprenticeships work, how to find a sponsor and how to pay for trade school.
There are 54 Red Seal trades in Canada, and most of them pay you while you learn. You work on the job, go to trade school for a few weeks at a time, and finish with a ticket that's recognized across the country.
Employers are going to need a lot of people. BuildForce Canada expects Alberta's construction industry to need 48,800 more workers by 2035, mostly to replace about 43,700 people retiring. In BC, the number is 48,200 workers, with 46,700 retirements, or 22% of today's construction workforce.
This guide covers how to pick a trade, how apprenticeships work, every Red Seal trade with BC and Alberta wages, how to find someone to sponsor you, and how to pay for school.
Step 1: Research the trade before you start putting in hours
The most common mistake is starting a trade because someone pushed you into it. A company needs an apprentice, or a family member is in that trade, and you sign up without looking at the other options. Two years in, with your hours and schooling already invested, you realize another trade would have suited you better.
Our co-founder Colton learned this firsthand. He started in a metal shop in high school, went full time after graduating, and began his apprenticeship a few months later. The shop offered three options: welding, millwright or metal fabricator. He chose metal fabricator, a three year program with seven to eight weeks of trade school each year.
He finished the apprenticeship, but found there weren't many jobs in that trade that interested him and paid what he wanted to make. Looking back, he wishes he had gone the welding or millwright route. The wage data backs that up: in Alberta, the median wage is $33/hr for metal fabricators, $38/hr for welders and $42/hr for millwrights.
Before you commit, check these for any trade you're considering:
Wages in your province, for both apprentices and journeypersons (see the list below)
Where the work is: shop, construction site, oilfield, mine or camp
What the jobs look like 5 to 10 years in, and whether they match the life you want
Job postings right now in your area, on CrewedUp and Job Bank
People already in the trade. Ask them what they like, what they don't, and what they'd do differently
How apprenticeships work in Canada
An apprenticeship takes 2 to 5 years depending on the trade. Most of it is paid work on the job, with short blocks of trade school along the way. In BC, about 80% of your training happens at work and about 20% in the classroom.
Here's the path, step by step:
Pick a trade. A Red Seal trade lets you work anywhere in Canada once you're certified.
Find an employer to sponsor you. They hire you and train you under a certified journeyperson.
Register as an apprentice with your province: SkilledTradesBC in BC, or Apprenticeship and Industry Training (MyTradesecrets) in Alberta.
Work and log your hours. Every hour on the job counts toward your apprenticeship.
Go to trade school for each level, usually a few weeks a year.
Write your exams and get certified. In a Red Seal trade, that includes the Red Seal exam.
What is a Red Seal? It's a national standard for a trade. Pass the Red Seal exam and your ticket gets the Red Seal endorsement, which employers recognize in every province and territory. See the Red Seal Program for exam details.
Some trades are compulsory. In compulsory trades, you must be a registered apprentice or certified to do the work. BC brought in compulsory certification for seven electrical and mechanical trades, including electrician, steamfitter/pipefitter and sheet metal worker. Alberta has its own list. Check your province's site before you start.
All 54 Red Seal trades, with BC and Alberta wages
The highest median wages are in industrial and energy trades: instrumentation in Alberta ($57/hr), powerline technician ($55 AB, $50 BC) and boilermaker ($52 AB, $51 BC).
Wages below are median hourly wages from Job Bank (2025 release). A median means half the workers earn more and half earn less. It includes apprentices and journeypersons, so certified workers usually earn more. Oilfield, camp and shutdown jobs often pay above these numbers, plus living out allowance. Some trades share one government wage category, so they show the same number.
Industrial, energy and heavy construction
Shutdowns, pipelines, plants, mines and big civil projects. Often camp or rotation work.
Instrumentation and Control Technician: $57.00/hr in Alberta, $46.00/hr in BC
Powerline Technician: $55.00/hr in Alberta, $50.00/hr in BC
Boilermaker: $51.81/hr in Alberta, $51.07/hr in BC
Mobile Crane Operator: $45.00/hr in Alberta, $43.00/hr in BC
Tower Crane Operator: $45.00/hr in Alberta, $43.00/hr in BC
Steamfitter/Pipefitter: $44.90/hr in Alberta, $42.05/hr in BC
Industrial Electrician: $44.00/hr in Alberta, $45.00/hr in BC
Industrial Mechanic (Millwright): $42.00/hr in Alberta, $42.00/hr in BC
Ironworker (Generalist): $40.60/hr in Alberta, $38.09/hr in BC
Ironworker (Reinforcing): $40.60/hr in Alberta, $38.09/hr in BC
Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental): $40.60/hr in Alberta, $38.09/hr in BC
Welder: $38.00/hr in Alberta, $35.00/hr in BC
Machinist: $36.50/hr in Alberta, $38.00/hr in BC
Heavy Equipment Operator (Dozer): $34.30/hr in Alberta, $35.75/hr in BC
Heavy Equipment Operator (Excavator): $34.30/hr in Alberta, $35.75/hr in BC
Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor-Loader-Backhoe): $34.30/hr in Alberta, $35.75/hr in BC
Metal Fabricator (Fitter): $33.00/hr in Alberta, $35.00/hr in BC
Tool and Die Maker: $32.96/hr in Alberta, $36.05/hr in BC
Building construction
Houses, commercial buildings, hospitals and schools. Usually local work, home every night.
Sprinkler Fitter: $44.90/hr in Alberta, $42.05/hr in BC
Gasfitter (Class A): $42.27/hr in Alberta, $39.82/hr in BC
Gasfitter (Class B): $42.27/hr in Alberta, $39.82/hr in BC
Bricklayer: $41.85/hr in Alberta, $38.00/hr in BC
Insulator (Heat and Frost): $40.00/hr in Alberta, $32.50/hr in BC
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic: $40.00/hr in Alberta, $40.00/hr in BC
Construction Electrician: $38.00/hr in Alberta, $34.00/hr in BC
Carpenter: $34.00/hr in Alberta, $32.00/hr in BC
Concrete Finisher: $32.00/hr in Alberta, $35.00/hr in BC
Plumber: $30.00/hr in Alberta, $32.00/hr in BC
Sheet Metal Worker: $30.00/hr in Alberta, $32.16/hr in BC
Drywall Finisher and Plasterer: $28.65/hr in Alberta, $30.00/hr in BC
Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic): $28.65/hr in Alberta, $30.00/hr in BC
Glazier: $28.00/hr in Alberta, $30.00/hr in BC
Roofer: $28.00/hr in Alberta, $30.00/hr in BC
Painter and Decorator: $26.00/hr in Alberta, $28.00/hr in BC
Construction Craft Worker: $25.00/hr in Alberta, $25.00/hr in BC
Floorcovering Installer: $25.00/hr in Alberta, $30.00/hr in BC
Cabinetmaker: $23.00/hr in Alberta, $26.00/hr in BC
Tilesetter: Alberta not published, $30.00/hr in BC
Oil Heat System Technician: Alberta not published, BC not published
Mechanical and transportation
Keeping heavy equipment, trucks and vehicles running, in shops or out in the field.
Heavy Duty Equipment Technician: $42.00/hr in Alberta, $45.00/hr in BC
Agricultural Equipment Technician: $42.00/hr in Alberta, $45.00/hr in BC
Parts Technician: $30.29/hr in Alberta, $30.00/hr in BC
Automotive Service Technician: $30.00/hr in Alberta, $35.00/hr in BC
Truck and Transport Mechanic: $30.00/hr in Alberta, $35.00/hr in BC
Transport Trailer Technician: $30.00/hr in Alberta, $35.00/hr in BC
Motorcycle Technician: $29.44/hr in Alberta, $32.00/hr in BC
Auto Body and Collision Technician: $28.75/hr in Alberta, $31.82/hr in BC
Automotive Refinishing Technician: $28.75/hr in Alberta, $31.82/hr in BC
Appliance Service Technician: $25.00/hr in Alberta, $30.49/hr in BC
Recreation Vehicle Service Technician: Alberta not published, BC not published
Service and landscaping
Landscape Horticulturist: $23.00/hr in Alberta, $25.00/hr in BC
Hairstylist: $19.23/hr in Alberta, $23.00/hr in BC
Baker: $18.00/hr in Alberta, $20.00/hr in BC
Cook: $17.50/hr in Alberta, $20.00/hr in BC
Full official list: Red Seal trades. Some provinces also have their own trades that aren't Red Seal.
Finding a sponsor
Finding a sponsor is usually the hardest part of starting an apprenticeship. A sponsor is the employer, or sometimes a union or association, that gives you paid work, makes sure a certified journeyperson trains you, and signs off on your hours.
Sponsoring an apprentice costs an employer time and money. You'll make mistakes, you'll be slower at first, and you might leave once you're certified. So they look for people who show up, work hard and stick around.
How to find one:
Start as a helper or labourer. Getting hired on in any role lets a company see your work ethic before they sponsor you. This is how a lot of apprentices get their start.
Ask everyone you know who works in the trades. A referral from someone they trust goes a long way with employers.
Contact companies directly that do the work you want, like fab shops and pipeline contractors for welding, or dealerships for automotive.
Reach out to unions and industry associations. Many run apprenticeship programs or keep contractor lists. In Alberta, Building Trades of Alberta links to union locals by trade.
Search job postings for apprentice, helper and labourer roles on CrewedUp and Job Bank.
Use school and training programs. Pre-apprenticeship and foundation programs, high school career counsellors and programs like Women Building Futures can connect you with employers.
In BC: you need a sponsor before you can register. Either you or your sponsor starts the registration in the SkilledTradesBC Portal, and the other side approves it.
In Alberta: you can register through MyTradesecrets and start classes before you have a sponsor. The application fee is $150. You do need a sponsor to start the on-the-job part, and Alberta recommends finding one early. For more tips, see How to Find an Apprenticeship Sponsor in Alberta.
Paying for trade school
Most apprentices aren't paid by their employer during trade school, but EI and interest-free loans help cover those weeks.
Employment Insurance (EI). When your province refers you to full-time technical training, you can usually collect EI regular benefits while in class. You get a 16-digit reference code for each training block, and you only serve the one-week waiting period once per apprenticeship program. You can apply up to seven days before your last day of work. EI for apprentices
Canada Apprentice Loan. Up to $4,000 interest-free per training period, for tuition, tools, rent or lost wages. You don't make payments until you finish or leave your program. You can apply up to three months before class starts. Canada Apprentice Loan
Tax deductions and credits. These include the tradesperson's tools deduction and tuition credits. Tax deductions for apprentices
Provincial help and scholarships. Alberta lists more than 900 scholarships for apprentices. Both provinces may help with travel, rent or childcare during school. See paying for apprenticeship in Alberta and SkilledTradesBC financial support.
Heads up: the federal Apprenticeship Incentive Grant ($1,000 per year, up to $2,000) and Apprenticeship Completion Grant ($2,000) closed on March 31, 2025. If you see older articles mentioning them, they no longer apply. Source
Getting a head start: high school and pre-apprenticeship programs
You can start earning apprenticeship credit before you graduate, or take a short program first that makes it easier to find a sponsor.
In high school
Alberta, Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP): you're a full-time student and a registered apprentice at the same time, earning high school credits and apprenticeship hours. RAP details
BC, SkilledTradesBC Youth programs: Youth Work in Trades gets you paid on-the-job training while in school, and Youth Train in Trades lets you start your trade's technical training for dual credit. Youth programs
After high school
BC foundation programs teach the basics of a trade in a school shop, and you don't need a sponsor to sign up. Many count toward your apprenticeship. For example, the Piping foundation program gives you credit for level 1 technical training plus 375 work hours toward plumber, steamfitter/pipefitter or sprinkler fitter. Foundation programs
Pre-apprenticeship programs at colleges, unions and community organizations in both provinces teach basic skills and often connect you with employers.
A short program like this is also a good way to try a trade before you commit years to it.
Your getting-started checklist
Shortlist 2 or 3 trades and compare their wages, type of work and job postings
Talk to at least one person working in each trade on your list
Get basic safety tickets employers ask for, like first aid, WHMIS and H2S Alive for oilfield work
Look for helper, labourer and apprentice jobs to get your foot in the door
Find a sponsor and register with SkilledTradesBC or Alberta's MyTradesecrets
Plan for trade school: apply for EI and a Canada Apprentice Loan before your first block
Find your first job on CrewedUp. CrewedUp is a free job platform built for the trades in BC and Alberta. Build a profile with your tickets and experience, and browse apprentice, helper and labourer jobs from employers hiring now. Sign up free at crewedup.ca
FAQ
How long does an apprenticeship take?
Between 2 and 5 years, depending on the trade. Most of that time is paid work, with a few weeks of trade school each year.
Do apprentices get paid?
Yes, for the time on the job. During trade school, most apprentices collect EI and can take an interest-free Canada Apprentice Loan.
Can I get into the trades with no experience?
Yes. Most people start as a helper or labourer, or take a foundation or pre-apprenticeship program first.
Do I need a sponsor before I start?
In BC, yes, you need one to register. In Alberta, you can register and start classes first, but you need a sponsor for the on-the-job part.
What's the highest paying trade?
By median wage in Alberta: instrumentation and control technician ($57/hr), powerline technician ($55/hr) and boilermaker ($52/hr). In BC: boilermaker ($51/hr), powerline technician ($50/hr) and instrumentation and control technician ($46/hr).
Do I need a Red Seal?
Not always, but it's the national standard, and it lets you work in your trade anywhere in Canada.
Helpful links and sources
How to become an apprentice, Government of Canada
SkilledTradesBC: start an apprenticeship and sponsor employers