Hello good folks of this fine forum. I have Welding qualifications up to level 3 qualification, equivical to an NVQ level 3, I have the relevant work experience as a welder, I never did an apprenticeship (I was too old really, took up welding as a career change in my late 20's) so kind of walked into the job as a newly qualified welder. Now my question is before I started work as a welder in Canada, would I need to pass the red seal, or could I start welding work and take the red seal at a later date? And in Canada could I consider myself a Journeyman or a fully qualified welder? any advice greatly appreciated as always folks

Technically, you can't call yourself a journeyman or fully qualified until you have passed the exams in Canada. That said, some companies will take people on as long as they have the necessary skills and allow (or even help) them to get certified at a later date. You would still be called an apprentice even though you are earning close to journeyman's wages.

Amongst smaller companies there are less hard and fast rules about who does what.

Thanks for the response, so once I pass the red seal I can consider myself a journeyman?

Yup.

Thanks!

Be aware that some companies will employ you on the basis that you pass your journeyman (theres actually 2 different exams - the joureyman which entitles you to work in your selected province, and the red seal which is mostly Canada wide).

If your temp work permit is offered on the basis that you pass the exam, you have 6 months from arriving to do it.

My advice would be to sit the Red Seal, its tougher but if you don't quite meet the pass mark, they will asses the results and award the lesser journeyman one if you still prove you know your stuff.

Each province has its own certification, which is only recognised in the issuing province, so for example you could have a BC certification, but it would not be recognised in any other province. Red Seal is inter provincial and Red Seal is a transportable qualification recognised in all provinces. With provable experience you may be able to challenge the exam without serving extra time as an apprentice.

Thanks for letting me know. May I ask how much experience I have to prove I have to be able to challenge the exam? And do college hours count towards this aswell as working hours?

Thanks for that info very useful to know!

You've looked at this?
http://www.red-seal.ca/[email protected]?tid=250

Might also be worth calling them.

Can't help you with the technical questions but welcome to the Canada forum anyway.

http://www.tradesecrets.alberta.ca/i...ex_content.asp

is the place for alberta.
Mandy is right that you can get a job and sit the exam within the first 6mths of being here, so dont worry on that score.
Aguy that i know is moving from SK to alberta and although he is journeyman there he has to re-sit here.
Also i know the tradebody here has been cancelling licences for people who are flying over to do the exam and not already here, so speak to the trade body in the area that you are moving to before you waste money sitting the exam.
I have seen quiet a few welder jobs lately, keep a look out on www.sajobline.com/ it links to the local papers in alberta

Wages for this area are $25 to $40hr
Hope that helps
LB

So due to the tradebody cancelling licences for people who are flying over to do the exam, you're saying I should actually enter canada with the appropriate visa (in my case a perm skilled workers one) and then book to do the exam? So the red seal is something Immigration are not going to expect me to have at the time of applying for the skilled worker visa?

Exactly.

ditto...............
i know guys who have applied for sw as electricians as come as PR without job, then they sit the exam when they get here, also if you fail after 2 attempts you have to train