Classification of Combinations of Trades certificates and diplomas

1 - No trades certificate or diploma

This category includes persons who have not obtained any trades certificates or diplomas (including Certificates of Apprenticeship, Certificates of Qualification and, in Quebec, Diplomas of Vocational Studies) or their equivalents regardless of any other educational credentials they may have obtained.

2 - Trades certificate or diploma without Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification

This category includes persons who have obtained a certificate, diploma or equivalent award from an accredited educational institution in entry-level vocations, or in career and technical trades occupations that do not result in a Certificate or Diploma of Apprenticeship, Certificate of Qualification or a Journeyperson's designation. Persons who obtained qualifications from secondary level vocational training programs in the province of Quebec - such as the Diplôme d'études professionnelles/Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP/DVS) - are included here. Persons who have obtained a Certificate or Diploma of Apprenticeship and/or a Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) or a Journeyperson's designation in their trade are excluded from this category.

3 - Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification

This category includes persons who have successfully completed a registered apprenticeship training program, consisting of supervised on-the-job training which may be accompanied by course work or 'in-class' technical training, and have received a Certificate of Apprenticeship (C of A) or a Diploma of Apprenticeship and/or a Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) or Journeyperson's designation (JP) in their trade. Certificates of Qualification and Journeyperson's designations are obtained after successfully passing a provincial/territorial examination. For trades designated as Red Seal, the Red Seal endorsement is affixed to the Certificate of Qualification or Journeyperson's designation.

This category also includes persons who have not completed a formal apprenticeship program but who have extensive experience working in their trades may also apply to write the provincial/territorial exam in their trades. If successful on the exam, they also obtain a Certificate of Qualification or Journeyperson's designation. These persons, known as trade qualifiers or trade challengers, do not receive a Certificate or Diploma of Apprenticeship.

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