I am not aware of a Canadian college that offers trade courses via distance education. The BE members who have qualified as electricians in Canada have ordered the study materials from Canada while they still were in the UK, have studied on their own at home, and then have written the Red Seal exam in Canada.

Places from which you can order the study materials include Canadian Standards Association, Orderline, and P. S. Knight.

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary offers some distance courses. When I look at the School of Construction within the Distance Education section of the website, however, I do not find a course for electricians.

Hi, this self evaluation CD might be of use, maybe talk to the people there too,

http://www.meleague.net/id13.html

Hi!

I have just ordered for my husband through CSA Order (Google search)

Part 1 20th Edition Electrical Code CAN$85.00

Electrical Code Simplified, Commercial & Industrial 2006 CAN$85.00

ESAT CD-ROM Electrician's Self Assessment Tool CAN$95.00

Shipping CAN$30.00 takes about 10 days

Had to ring through, choose head office and asked to be put through orderline.

Gentleman thought it was more than enough for the exams.

Rob needs to take both exams (1)Domestic/Commercial & (2)Industrial


Hope this helps!

Angela

Thanks for the replies. I am hoping to go to Alberta and I have noticed there are books for each state?? Likewise the self-assessment guide looks like it is aimed at Manitoba?
Angela, which books are just for the Domestic exams? Is your husband planning on self-study alone, then a trip to do the exam?

Complete newbie and starting to get a little overwhelmed by the whole idea.

Hi

I know what you mean, it's seems crazy but we'll get there.

It looks like a few provinces are under the same code book? Can't see why you say it's more for Manitoba?

The ESAT CD-ROM looks like a good idea before taking the exam.

I'm sure if you ring CSA orderline and ask them they will tell you.

Yes, he is doing the 'Red Seal' exam before going to Canada on a temp visa while we wait for our PR. We could not find any home studies other than these recommended books. I'm sure this will be OK. You can re-sit the exams 2 days later if you fail. Gill says her husband is taking the exam in August, so will wait to see how he finds it.

Does anyone know where the Manitoba 'Red Seal' exam is taken place?

Angela

Angela

You can sit the exam once you know if you have failed or not

Hubby has only interest in industrial/commerical so sitting the test in ontario as this is where we want to be
Dont know about other areas, i know darren lives in winnipeg and is the guy for that area, he has given me some good pointers over time.
The only way we have got on is ask ask and ask some more.
Use google.ca to do the search, follow links, ask trade people where you can, if anyone needs links within ontario i can help, but outside of ontario havent a clue

gill

Gill

Spoke to the Manitoba Apprentice.

Like everyone else have to prove that he is competent. Blar, blar, blar.......

Then if he can take the 'Red Seal' exam and passes he needs to register with the Licence Dept of labour, ONLY THEN HE CAN WORK; unless under an apprenticeship. I know now that you can only take one exam, because you have to prove which area in the last 6 yrs you have been actively working in. Rob has experience in both field domestic and commercial, so they are suggesting for him to take the 'construction' exam. He also suggested, if anyone is interested, to look at the terminology regarding A/C fundamentals and PLC'S. Also, I know that the books I mentioned earlier are the right ones.

Manitoba said they would do a review first, look at his experience and his qualifications before submitting an application. This can take several months, good job we've got plenty of time.

Hope this helps again!

Angela

Angela

When we looked at manitoba they advised that we could getthis done whilst there, to meet them and see if he can sit the test etc etc

He could take the trip and get the licience, doesnt need to take months realy, just another recci trip!!
We have just decided instead of me going away with kids like i normally do, we will have a holiday as well as a recci trip

I know andy will sit the industrial exam, so not sure if he will be able to help you on any questions as different field of work
Good luck with the search and do remember that manitobia have pnp for electricians

gill

This may help
http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/immigrat...struction.html

check out there website they have some good info
also the pnp route is there with some good links


gill

Gill

Thanks for info.

Manitoba says you can arrange for a review FIRST before going over to take the exam, they will then tell you what is the most suitable exam to take. Due to a death of a Senior colleague there is a slight back log until position is filled.

We have plenty of time!

Also, because Rob is Self-Employed he has to list every job and time spent to prove his experience, along side any evidence and qualifications. They go by calendar days/hours, what a DRAG!!! :curse: Previously to Rob's Self-Employment the company he worked for as Industrial/Commercial Electrician have gone BUST, no longer trading. :curse: Oh! well what the hell!

I think in Rob's case it's worth checking out everything FIRST before taking the exam.

FOR ANYBODY IF INTERESTED:

Useful Tele No: Arranging 'Red Seal' Exam in Manitoba

Manitoba Apprentice:

Brian Neal 001-204-9453345 or General Line 001-204-9453337

Angela


Many Thanks Gill, keep it coming, any info & links etc, etc!!

Hi

I know what you mean, it's seems crazy but we'll get there.

It looks like a few provinces are under the same code book? Can't see why you say it's more for Manitoba?

The ESAT CD-ROM looks like a good idea before taking the exam.

I'm sure if you ring CSA orderline and ask them they will tell you.

Yes, he is doing the 'Red Seal' exam before going to Canada on a temp visa while we wait for our PR. We could not find any home studies other than these recommended books. I'm sure this will be OK. You can re-sit the exams 2 days later if you fail. Gill says her husband is taking the exam in August, so will wait to see how he finds it.

Are you sure you can retake the exam 2 days later? Remember, if you fail on the 3rd attempt they ask you to take some kind of retraining, so I certainly wouldnt rush back into a retake especially after 2 days

Does anyone know where the Manitoba 'Red Seal' exam is taken place?

Basement Auditorium, 301 Yorke Ave, Downtown Winnipeg

Angela

Not sure on your area, but my ho is sitting his test in london, ontario.
He see's the lady monday, if she thinks his paper work is in order and that he is able to sit the test blablabla
then he will sit the test tuesday and interviews start wednesday

If he fails then bum will be kicked and re-test the following tuesday

We are on the net over there as the house we are renting has wireless set up for us
If he passes, it may be 24 hrs or so for us to post after we find out as we maybe on the
We have been told by someone there that we can find out within the day if he has passed, but he took the exam 2yrs ago.
But will defo post asap


gill

From experience, I advise that you guys start to get yourself known in the IBEW local branch for your chosen area. They might give you some leads or advice.

I had no idea how influential the Construction Trade Union is here, you have Union Shops and Non Union shops, the bigger companies like Comstock and Wescan, are generally union and hire through the Union Hall, you are ensured a good rate and benefits, but the union dues are quite high, although these are tax deductable. It is an odd system though, you go on a revolving list at first, if your name is at the top of the list you will be offered a position somewhere, if you do not take it, you go to the bottom of the list again, if a contract ends you go back onto the bottom of the list again, generally speaking though, especially with Manitoba booming, once you get on with a company and you are happy there, you will stay with them, pay your dues and never have to go back on the Union Hall list.

I started my Canadian experience for a Non Union Shop, it was a fast growing concern and they had a lot of work, they were experiencing labour issues and not being able to find enough Journeymen, primarily because the unions mission statement is to get every Electrical worker onboard, I witnessed a lock out once where some of our guys were prevented from working on the New Manitoba Hydro Building, so to stay non union and be a big company here is difficult, that company is bound to face labour issues.

Although the union is not perfect, I was glad to get out of the non union environment, you narrow your options and to be honest the only boss that would resist a unionised workforce is one that does not want to pay the package that the union dictates.
It was not uncommon for us to be offered as much overtime as we wanted- but for flat time- this is where the union is better.

So my advice, I am not promoting union or non union, if you have passionate distaste for unions or non unions, you have to leave that baggage in the UK and learn the culture here, as the union/ non union debate lives on. But definitely do not make enemies with the union as you will certainly narrow your options.



I feel for you guys, in the position that I was in 2 years ago. Although Canada is desperate for tradespeople, they still make it very tough for you to get your foot in the door. I suppose the protectionist principles are good for Canada, and if Britain was a little more like it, you might not be thinking about leaving!

For me it was a huge oversight on there part to not let a foreign Journeyman be instantly recognised as a higher level apprentice, this would be easier all round- you could at least work on a reasonable wage, gaining Canadian practical experience and study for your Red Seal Journeyman Ticket at the same time.

The problem is the licensing within the trade, this was recent in Manitoba, spurred on by a few high profile accidents. You could work in the trade as a helper until recently, whereas now you can only work in the trade as either a registered apprentice or Journeyman, this is where it gets difficult for an immigrant you either become a first level apprentice on $12 p.h. or you struggle like mad to pass the exam, with what I felt was very little infrastructure or study assistance aimed towards immigrants.

One other useful piece of info is Apprentice to Journeyman ratios, this is strictly controlled by the labour board a 1;1 ration, this I feel is good as some unscrupulous companies would have one tradesman looking after a gang of apprentices (used as cheap labour) the poor guy would be babysitting these kids and still be responsible when mistakes or substandard work is done.

Regards

Darren

Darren & Forum


FIRSTLY, I would like EVERYONE to send a prayer to my brother 'Steven' age 42 who sadly died yesterday morning. Unfortunately, due to many reasons he took his own life, he will be sadly missed. RIP!

THANK YOU!!

.................................................. .................................................. ....

Some really good info, makes sense!

I general think once people pass their 'Red Seal' exam I don't think it's going to be too much of an issue to find work. We were In Manitoba area a few weeks ago for a couple of weeks. My husband was offered jobs here and there, some were not the positions he wanted to be in, but all I'm saying there are jobs! Guys just get yourselves noticed, be sociable and I'm sure you'll find something.

We were lucky because we stayed with a family and they kindly introduced us to all sorts of people, some from middle-class and others' from higher-class backgrounds. This has giving us many leads, you never know what will turn up! You may need to start at the bottom but I'm sure it wouldn't be too long to get yourselves recognized and further up the ladder.

Angela