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Regulated Professions and Trades

If you want to practise your trade or profession in Canada as an entrepreneur, or if you are an employer interested in hiring a tradesperson or professional, you will need to understand what education, standards, licensing or other requirements exist in your field.

Note: For simplicity, this document is written with tradesperson/professional contractors in mind (that is, those who want to establish their own business in a specific trade/profession). However, the information applies equally to an employer who wants to hire a tradesperson or professional and wants to learn how these professions are regulated.

General Information on Professions and Trades

There are certain factors to consider for the evaluation and recognition of your qualifications, when you pursue your career. Professions and trades in Canada are either regulated or non-regulated and, sometimes, it is not easy to decipher which area your occupation falls into.

• Priority Occupations
  
  http://workingincanada.gc.ca/content_pieces-eng.do?cid=941&lang=eng
  Find out which jobs are considered to be in high demand in Canada. This information includes education and regulation or licence requirements.

Regulated Professions and Trades

A regulated occupation is one that is governed by a provincial, territorial or sometimes federal authority (for example: veterinarians, electricians and plumbers). Certain entry requirements and standards of practice are used to assess your qualifications and certify, register or license you as a qualified applicant. Requirements can vary from one province or territory to another. For a regulated occupation, you must have a licence, certificate or be registered with the regulatory body, before you start practising your trade or profession. Approximately 20% of professions or trades are regulated in Canada.

Non-Regulated Professions

A non-regulated profession does not require that you have a licence, certificate or registration before you practise (for example, engineering technician or commercial planner). Most occupations fall into this category. Some occupations allow you to register with a professional body or association on a voluntary basis.

Specific Requirements for Professions and Trades

Find out what are the requirements for practising a specific trade or profession in Canada. This information will be useful to entrepreneurs who want to start a business in a specific trade or profession, or employers wishing to hire professionals or trades people.

• Working in Canada
  
  http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca/content_pieces-eng.do?lang=eng&cid=1
  Get information on specific certification and training requirements for regulated professions and trades in Canada.

Red Seal Trades

Some trades are recognized as Red Seal trades. These are specific trades for which some provinces and territories have jointly agreed on specific standards. In such trades, you can work in various provinces or territories without having to write examinations or get further certification. You would need to check each trade individually, as not all provinces have the Red Seal designation for each trade.

• Red Seal Program
  
  http://www.red-seal.ca/w.2lc.4m.2@-eng.jsp
  Find out more about trades that are designated under the Red Seal Program. This program is recognized as an interprovincial standard of excellence.