Preparing for a Red Seal Exam
Apprentices – Steps to Write the Exam
Ready to write your exam? Here is how to get started:
- Make sure all your required work hours are recorded and signed by your journeyperson mentor.
- Finish your required in-school training.
- Submit a Statement of Eligibility form. Once submitted, you will receive an approval email.
If you have questions or need help, just contact an Apprenticeship Program Officer.
Trade Qualifiers – Steps to Write the Exam
If you are a trade qualifier, here is how to get started:
- Complete and submit the Trade Qualifier Application to be Examined form.
- Include your Record of Work Experiences form with your application.
- If you are approved as a Trade Qualifier, submit the Certification Exam Registration form to schedule your exam. Once submitted, you will receive an approval email.
Need assistance? Reach out to an Apprenticeship Program Officer for support.
Scheduling Your Red Seal Exam
Exams are scheduled at the end of your training period. You will get a confirmation of your exam date and location ahead of time. You will have 4 hours to write the exam.
Need to Defer Your Exam?
If an unforeseen circumstance prevents you from taking your exam on the scheduled date, you can request a deferral. Just send an email to certificationexams@gov.nl.ca with a written explanation of why you need to defer at least 3 business days before your exam.
Once your request is reviewed, you will be notified of a decision. If approved, your exam can be rescheduled during one of the monthly rewrites at an Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division (ATCD) regional office. If you miss your exam without prior notice, you will need to contact certificationexams@gov.nl.ca with a valid reason (like a doctor’s note) to have it rescheduled.
Please Note: If you have deferred your rewrite three times or more, it will only be rescheduled after all other requests for a particular monthly rewrite session have been scheduled.
Tips and Rules for Exam Day
Below are some tips to make your exam day stress-free:
- Bring a government issued Photo ID, such as your Driver’s License.
- Don’t worry about supplies – all exam materials will be provided.
- Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to allow time for set-up.
Review and follow the exam room rules – violations will result in immediate termination of your exam.
- The complete list of exam room rules can be viewed here.
- ATCD’s Exam Misconduct Policy can be viewed here.
Please Note: If unexpected issues come up, like a fire alarm or equipment trouble, start and stop times may be adjusted. In some cases, if there is a substantial break in time, exams might need to be rescheduled.
| EXAM PREPARATION RESOURCES |
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| Trade-Specific Study Guides |
| Study Strategies and Exam Preparation Guide |
| Sample Questions and Answers (click on trade, then sample questions) |
| Get Ready for your Red Seal Exam |
| Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide |