Alberta · Certification
Trades Qualifier - Work Experience Program
This page keeps the requirements and topics named on the public Tradesecrets page. It is not the official site, and it does not replace a form, an exam booking, or a decision by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Checked 4 October 2026. Tradesecrets and the Government of Alberta do not endorse TradesAtlas.
- Source
- Tradesecrets page
- Last checked
- 4 October 2026
- Apply for the Trades Qualifier - Work Experience program to qualify for your Alberta Journeyperson Certificate if:
- you have work experience in an Alberta-designated trade, but you do not hold a trade certificate, or Alberta-designated trade
- you have a trade certificate from out of province that is not recognized in Alberta. recognized in Alberta
Eligibility
- You must be legally authorized to work in Alberta and able to obtain and maintain any required immigration, visa, or work permit documentation necessary to complete program requirements. Approval into the Trades Qualifier - Work Experience program does not provide authorization to work in Canada or Alberta. More information is available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website .
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible Foreign National, Foreign National
- have the minimum required work experience months and hours in the trade you are applying for (listed in Trade Profile), Trade Profile
- have up-to-date contact information for employers who can verify your work experience,
- be prepared to live and work in Alberta with an eligible Alberta employer, as required, to complete all Trades Qualifier program requirements in Alberta, including any required examination(s), competency assessment(s), and practical evaluations, and
- meet all legal requirements to work in Alberta if you are applying as a foreign national.
How it Works
1. Demonstrate your experience.
- You can beginperformingrestricted activitiesthat require registration or certification in your trade after you have submitted the application, as long as your application is not rejected. restricted activities
- Once we have verified your experience, you will have 18 months to complete the competency and knowledge portions of the program.
2. Demonstrate your competency.
- Demonstrate that you have the hands-on skills required in your trade.
- Depending on the trade, one or more of the below may be required:
- practical exam
- trades competency verification (working with an Alberta journeyperson in the trade or a person who holds an Alberta-recognized credential to demonstrate your skills on the job), Alberta-recognized credential
- employer declaration letter from a current Alberta employer (confirming their satisfaction with your skills). employer declaration letter
- Review the Trades Qualifier section of the profile for your trade to determine which of the above are required in your trade. profile
3. Demonstrate your knowledge.
- Pass a theory exam to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and understanding required for your trade.
- Find out what topics you'll be asked about by downloading the exam Counselling Sheets (outlines) for your trade in ourStudy Resources section. Study Resources
- Learn more about Trades Qualifier Examshere. here.