Welding is one of the most flexible trades in Canada. Welders work in fabrication shops, construction, shipbuilding, pipelines, mining and manufacturing. The route into the trade is a little different from electrical or plumbing, because welding is not compulsory in most provinces and employers often care as much about your welding tests as your certificate. Here's how it fits together.
Two kinds of credentials
- Trade certification (Certificate of Qualification, often with Red Seal). Earned through a provincial apprenticeship or as a trade qualifier. Welder has been a Red Seal trade for decades, and the certificate shows you have broad knowledge of the trade.
- Welding procedure qualifications ("tickets"). Tests on specific processes and positions, such as those under Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) programs for structural work or pressure tickets for boilers and pressure piping. These are tied to a process, position and employer or code, and often need to be kept current.
Many welders hold both. When you look at welder job postings, note which tickets employers ask for.
Apprenticeship hours by province
According to the Ellis Chart, the interprovincial comparison of apprenticeship programs, most provinces and territories set the welder apprenticeship at 5,400 hours over three levels. Ontario's Welder (456A) program is 6,000 hours (5,280 on the job plus 720 in school, three levels, Grade 12 entry) per Skilled Trades Ontario. Quebec works differently, with programs outside and inside the construction sector.
| Jurisdiction | Apprenticeship hours | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 6,000 | Not compulsory |
| Alberta | 5,400 | Compulsory |
| B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Atlantic provinces, territories | 5,400 | Not compulsory |
| Quebec | See Quebec authorities | Compulsory (per Ellis Chart) |
Step 1: Learn the basics
Most new welders start with a college welding techniques or pre-apprenticeship program. You'll learn SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), FCAW (flux core) and often GTAW (TIG), along with blueprint reading, layout, cutting and gouging, and shop safety. Some programs include a CWB test at the end, which can make you much more employable.
Step 2: Find an employer
Fabrication shops, manufacturers and contractors hire entry-level welders and helpers. Bring a short resume that lists every process and position you've practised, plus any tickets. Be ready for a practical weld test on the spot. Our Welder trade guide lists typical work and wages, and our apprenticeship guide explains sponsorship and registration.
Step 3: Register as an apprentice
Even where welding is not compulsory, registering as an apprentice is worth it. Your hours count toward certification, you get structured in-school training, and you may qualify for grants, loans and EI during training blocks. See our funding guide.
Step 4: Write the Red Seal exam
The Red Seal Welder exam has 125 multiple-choice questions across four major work activities: common occupational skills, layout and fabrication, cutting and gouging, and welding processes. Welding processes is the largest block at 54 questions (Red Seal exam information). The pass mark is 70%. Read our Red Seal exam guide and try the free welder practice sample.
What welders earn
Job Bank's 2025 data for NOC 72106 (Welders and related machine operators) shows a national median of $30.00/hour, with the high end of the range at $47.00/hour (Job Bank wages, 2025). Wages vary a lot by sector and region. Pressure, pipeline and remote industrial work generally pays at the top of the range. Compare provinces with our wage comparison tool.
Checklist
- Take a welding techniques or pre-apprenticeship program
- Earn the tickets employers near you ask for
- Find an employer and register as an apprentice
- Complete your hours and three levels of training
- Pass the Red Seal Welder exam
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a certified welder?
Most provinces set the apprenticeship at 5,400 hours. Ontario's is 6,000. Working full time, that's usually three to four years, including in-school training blocks. A college welding program before you start can shorten the time it takes to get hired.
Do I need certification to work as a welder?
That depends on the province. Welder is not compulsory in Ontario and most other provinces, so you can be hired without a Certificate of Qualification. Alberta and Quebec are listed as compulsory on the Ellis Chart. Specific work such as structural or pressure welding usually needs a valid qualification test no matter where you are.
What's the difference between a CWB ticket and a Red Seal?
A CWB or pressure ticket shows you passed a test on a particular process and position for a particular code. The Red Seal shows broad knowledge of the whole welding trade. Employers may ask for either or both, so read job postings carefully.
Which welding process should I learn first?
Most programs start with SMAW (stick) because it teaches heat control and puddle reading, then move on to GMAW, FCAW and GTAW. Learn what local shops use. A structural fabrication shop may be mostly FCAW, while a stainless or aluminum shop leans on GTAW.
Can I challenge the welder exam with experience?
Most jurisdictions let experienced workers apply as trade qualifiers if they can document enough hours in the trade. Required hours differ by province, often more than the apprenticeship term, so check with your apprenticeship authority first.
This article is general information for people exploring trades careers in Canada. Rules, programs and amounts change and differ between provinces and territories — confirm details with your apprenticeship authority and official government sources.