Just got my Loi and I have some questions about electrical work in canada. I know there are a good few threads on this already but none really help me with the questions im looking answered. Im out of my time in December and hoping to travel in Janurary. I will have the 10000 hours worked so thats not a problem and I know I have to register as an apprentice before I travel. Have not decided to which part yet but looking at Calgary or Saskatchewan as thats where the work seems to be.

I was wondering how people went about getting jobs, did you get them before you travelled and if anyone went over without a job did you find it easy to get work over there? Also I know you have to register as an apprentice to work there until you do the test so if you are applying for jobs what can you apply for? Does it have to be a 3rd year or 4th year apprentice job or did you apply for electrician vacancys? Another thing im wondering is how easy is it to get a job with no post apprenticeship experience, has anyone went over soon after finishing your apprenticeship and if so how did you get on? Last one is how does the work compare to that at home? Im serving my time as a maintainance electrician but I doubt I will get work over there doing maintainance as they will probably be looking for journeymen for maintainance positions.

Sorry for the long list of questions, hopefully someone can help!!

Hello

Canada voltage is 120,240.600,they use white as a neutral.black as live and red as hot,what this means is lights and sockets are on the 120 side and any loads that are heavy/require a second hot wire to bring up to 240.conduit is bent with a former mounted on a broom handle.they use a lot of conduit/tray/snake basket the same as over here

When i go over will start as 4year construction apprentice say for few months just to speed up,then apply for my red seal.

most of my work is commerical/industrial so will do the same over there.

I think you cannot sit the red seal till 9500 hours after your time not 100%

All the best,any questions just ask

Hi
I'm not sure if you can just arrive and register for a 3rd or 4th level?
I believe you will need to get a job offer before you can register as an apprentice, and you might have to start at level 1.
The reason why is because there are apprentice to journeyman ratio's (in Manitoba it is 1:1) Therefore the jobs in demand are journeyman not apprentices, a level one apprentice has the advantage of not costing as much as a 3rd or 4th level, that still requires the same mentoring.

My advice is to take the best offer available to get you working in the trade, and focus on passing your interprovincial exam. Then your a very employable commodity! In the scheme of things it is a short term sacrifice.

I am an Industrial (Maintenance) Electrician, you do know there are 2 different tickets- Industrial (Maintenance) and Construction?

Any more questions I am glad to help where possible, we have 2 apprentices in our shop now, although my experience of establishing myself in the trade here, was in 2005 so possibly not 'up with the times'.

Darren

i'm a mechanical/aeronautical engineer and got a job in Calgary after being out of my time for 18 months

different industry, but they were happy enough to grant an LMO based on my trade papers and experience (or lack of it as the case may be )

Thanks for the help lads. Would love to get talking to someone newly qualified that went over to work. I seen that in alberta you have to have 9500 hours and 72 months of experience to challange the exam. As I will be just out of my time (4 year apprenticeship) I will have the 9500 hours done but ill only have 48 months experience. Looks like it will have to be Saskatchewan.

Lloyldminster is super busy maybe worth looking at as there are so many hiring signs at. Company's

Live and Hot are the same. Lighting often utilizes 347V to neutral in an industrial setting, the word receptacles is used instead of sockets. 120V can be distributed from 3 phase commercial panels at 208V phase to phase. Trunking is rarely used as it is in UK. The light duty former is common because the most commonly used conduit is thin walled known as EMT where you dont thread it. Armoured Cable is known as Teck or BX, glands are called connectors and flexible wire used for extension cords (not called leads) is known as 'cabtire', lots of differences in terminolgy and method here, but it doesnt take long to pick it up- you just might feel a little overwhelmed at first!

if your out of ur time in dec and traveling in jan why you saying your an apprentice all you need to do is bring any qualifications you get and go to AIT office in edmonton or calgary and challenge the red seal exam in your trade, thats what i done and i just wrote my exam there 2 weeks ago and waiting on word now..

come to alberta, i contacted a few different companys out here before travelling and got a job first company i applied too, northern alberta is were all the money and wor is atm

if you need any more info pm me and i can send you companys looking for sparkies atm and contact details and addresses of AIT and a link on how to come out as a temporay foreign worker with PR status if you pass your exams

i have also spoke to a few sparks who work 3 0n 1 off ,12 hours plus and the money is good.
Is canada good on price work, eg price per meter of conduit,swa and so on

Marretts now thats old skool

thanks for all the info lads, the more I can get the better!! How did you get on in your exam fireranger?

Hi

Im a Qualified Red Seal electrician in South Africa wanting to immigrate to Canada is there any advise you can give me on how to get a Job offer in Canada

Thanks

Willie