How to start an apprenticeship in Canada?

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I'm interested in earning a Red Seal and gaining Journeyman status as a welder here in Canada. Because that's when you start to make some serious money.  Can somebody provide me some details on exactly how I would start an apprenticeship? I've looked on some sites, but the information that they provide is somewhat vague.  Thanks guys.
Reply:You do not require Red Seal status to make good money in most of Canada.If you wish to do code work in Alberta, then you do require Red Seal certification. You also require B Pressure ticket.In Ontario, You can go to work welding with a Pressure ticket from the TSSA or CWB. You can also go to work as a welder with a structural ticket from the CWB.Manitoba is similar to Ontario in that matter. If you have an employer that wants to put you through an apprenticeship, you can go that rout.Another way to obtain Red Seal certification is to get 5000 hours of welding time on paper, buy the study books, then you can challenge the Red Seal exam.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I am told that a welder apprenticeship and red seal qualification upon successful completion is available in Ontario.  Here it is the provincial Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities that looks after it.  I am sure there is a similar provincial gov't agency in Manitoba that you could inquire at."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:Thanks.  I was under the impression that in order to start an apprenticeship it had to be with companies that will start one with you. It's good to know that I can get my 5000 hours documented and I can challenge the Red Seal test myself. Alot of the companies in Manitoba don't offer apprenticeships. There are a handful that I know of but they are not in my area (believe it or not but they're actually in smaller towns). I know you can make upwards of $100 an hour out in Alberta WITHOUT a Red Seal or a B Pressure ticket, but it's hard to get into those positions. I've been waiting about 6 months to get on a camp position with one of the unions but I'm pretty high on the list so I'm expecting something very soon.
Reply:Originally Posted by Tat2dHandzI know you can make upwards of $100 an hour out in Alberta WITHOUT a Red Seal or a B Pressure ticket,
Reply:Here in Newfoundland if you're not an apprentice that's registered or a Red Seal no job....   If you're looking to go to Alberta to make BIG money you better have your Red Seal anyone saying you don't need it to make big money is full of it...I started out here in NL by doing a 9 month pre apprenticeship course,  gets you started on the basics,  then you find yourself a job and work your hours.   After so many hours you will go back to school (block training),  you will do this two or 3 times.  Once you have completed all of your blocks of training you will go back to school for your last block at the 5200 hour mark.   This is your journeyman/Red Seal block.  That block trains you up for the NL Journeymans test...   7018 roots, fill and cap on 6" 6G pipe,  tig roots 7018 fill/cap on 4 inch sch 40 and a few other minor tests,  all of which is timed.  You can fail for taking too long...  3 welding inspectors chasing you around make for a bit of a stressful day...  Everything has to pass bend testing,  if you have something open up at all,  they will let you have a second go,  if you screw that up you go home to come back sometime in the future....If you pass the practical they let you write the Red Seal exam,  The Red Seal is a joke to be honest...  A monkey could pass that test,  I didn't open a book,  load of BS if you ask me....Last edited by Newfie_1986; 07-22-2013 at 01:01 AM.Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:Originally Posted by Newfie_1986   7018 roots, fill and cap on 6" 6G pipe,
Reply:yes 7018 root,  its a lot harder to run due to the chance of trapping slag.  But it can be done and is done all the time, a 7018 root or a stainless stick root are about the hardest ways to put a root in,  but some cases its required.Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:Red Seal is a qualification to simplify working in different provinces.  If you're staying in the area you originally qualified in, then you won't need it.  As for a monkey passing the red seal test......try a practice test....http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/SOURC...acticeExam.pdfLast edited by OldSparks; 07-23-2013 at 11:05 AM.
Reply:For anyone building up hours make sure you have copies of record of employment when  leaving jobs.  Keep ALL documents including pay stubs.  Often there are disputes about time accrued if the person can't prove it.  Companies go broke, lose records or change ownership and it is hard to back track to prove hours.  I went through four different employers/sponsors for my steel fab apprenticeship.  It is worth getting and I even expereinced one employer who would not hire people with TQ ( trades qualification).  He wanted people who actually served the apprenticeship and had taken classes each year.  I have met TQ guys who were top notch but that was one employer's viewpoint.
Reply:In Alberta you need a Red Seal to get a "B" ticket.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldSparks.  As for a monkey passing the red seal test......try a practice test....http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/SOURC...acticeExam.pdf
Reply:Red Seal test is easy scored 95% took about 40-45 min, was for me anyway i took it a week after i passed my J-man.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldr11In Alberta you need a Red Seal to get a "B" ticket.
Reply:Newfie and weldr......good on you guys for flying through your red seal.  Little tougher on the old guys who  haven't touched a book in 20 years.... E492T – 6CH, what does the 2 denote?,   cutting tip for removing rivets?,   dual flow PAC torch system?   four types of FCAW electrodes?  type of flux can be re-used in SAW?.....might have to do a little guessing.
Reply:I pretty sure you need a Red Seal to get a "B" ticket in Alberta Oldsparks, I'm not dissing anyone about how easy the red seal was for me i just got j-man and still remembered everything it might not be that easy now lol.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldr11I pretty sure you need a Red Seal to get a "B" ticket in Alberta.
Reply:Originally Posted by Tat2dHandz Can somebody provide me some details on exactly how I would start an apprenticeship?
Reply:Originally Posted by OldSparksNewfie and weldr......good on you guys for flying through your red seal.  Little tougher on the old guys who  haven't touched a book in 20 years.... E492T – 6CH, what does the 2 denote?,   cutting tip for removing rivets?,   dual flow PAC torch system?   four types of FCAW electrodes?  type of flux can be re-used in SAW?.....might have to do a little guessing.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldSparks  Anyone experienced with travelling province to province with only a CWB?Maybe try these people for information....http://www.foremost.applyfirst.ca/jobs/36966
Reply:this is my first post guys, so go easy on me! I am a red seal  journeyman welder from Manitoba, Canada. I have my f3 f4 pressure ticket (called b pressure in ab) and all position cwb stick. I recently got my f5 f6 tig pipe ticket. some of my experiences getting tickets are as follows: I worked in a job shop for about three years before I got offered a chance to apprentice. this was about 11 yrs ago. now apparently they wont credit you hours more than a yr back, so get signed up asap. I also challenged the first level, then did the last to levels of school. now you have to do all levels, or challenge it all. The red seal allows me to transfer my pressure tickets to other provinces with just a phone call and credit card.
Reply:Originally Posted by wiebeweld The red seal allows me to transfer my pressure tickets to other provinces with just a phone call and credit card.
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeYou do not require Red Seal status to make good money in most of Canada.If you wish to do code work in Alberta, then you do require Red Seal certification. You also require B Pressure ticket.In Ontario, You can go to work welding with a Pressure ticket from the TSSA or CWB. You can also go to work as a welder with a structural ticket from the CWB.Manitoba is similar to Ontario in that matter. If you have an employer that wants to put you through an apprenticeship, you can go that rout.Another way to obtain Red Seal certification is to get 5000 hours of welding time on paper, buy the study books, then you can challenge the Red Seal exam.