Jameswsblackburn

Hello,

I recently moved to Vancouver with a 2 year open work permit. I have a background in Electrical installation and I’m a qualified as an electrician in the UK. I have recently been working as a Controls Systems Engineer but unfortunately I’m struggling to find work in that field. Therefore, I’m considering transferring my Electrical installation qualifications over which seems like a lot of work and I was hoping people on here could offer some guidance.

I understand that to become Red Seal approved you need 9000 hrs experience and to pass an exam - which is fine. The problem I’m having is knowing what books and learning information I need to learn to pass this test. I am trying to avoid paying a college to retrain and learn from books/online content.

If anyone who has gone through this process can offer any help, it would be greatly appreciated.

Siouxie

Hello and welcome to BE!

I believe there's a few threads on the subject of getting your Provincial Certificate of Qualification as an Electrician (are you a domestic / construction electrician, or an industrial electrician? - they are 2 separate trades here ) The Red Seal is an inter-Provincial 'endorsement' on your Provincial Certificate of Qualification.
https://www.itabc.ca/program/electrician-construction
https://www.itabc.ca/program/electrician-industrial

You will need to know the 'code' for Electrical safety.. you can probably get copies of the book cheaper 2nd hand or online (this is just to show the book you will probably need) https://store.csagroup.org/ccrz__Pro...I000002IWHjUAO

Check the local library too! https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/item/s...ode_simplified

If you do a bit of a search online you can usually find some parts of the code (and updates to regulations) online too
https://www.technicalsafetybc.ca/ele...al-regulations
http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=ca
https://eca.bc.ca/2018-canadian-elec...op-15-changes/
(opens in new tab) https://www.technicalsafetybc.ca/sites/default/files/2019-12/top-22-changes-in-the-2018-canadian-electrical-code.pdf
https://mytrainingbc.ca/youthexplore...ricianBook.pdf (opens in new tab)
https://psknight.com/residential
https://eiabc.org/inspector-faqs/

Jameswsblackburn

Hello, thanks for the reply. I have a background in both, but will be going for the commercial and domestic side.

have you sat this exam? Is it completely based on the code and will that book be enough for me? I was hoping to find a database with all the possible questions and learn that - is there such a thing?

Danny B

wow, that's 8hrs per day, 5 days per week for over 4hrs. Seems very high.

Siouxie

They are two separate certifications - you may need to challenge the requirements twice - showing proof of that 'type' of electrical work for each. Perhaps pick one for the time being! Are you able to get the declaration(s) signed off by your employers in the UK to show proof of the hours you have worked?

Do look at the different sites linked, lots of info.. the BC site has some example questions and the usual format.. as does the Red Seal site.
(no I'm not.. sorry)

Siouxie

Those are the standard hours required to challenge the Provincial Certificate of Qualification.

jeremy brewer

Hi
BCIT used to do a IPTQ refresher course, a couple of evenings each week for 10wks i think

i used this route about 14 yrs ago now

lots of little things different over here, electricity flows the other way

not MG rule here but GM


i got my books from the local library

hard to recall questions now , but one stuck in my mind

how to assemble a street light post the correct way

good luck

cheers
jerry