Trades Qualifier- Recognized Credential Program Details

Confirm your eligibility 

• Find eligibility criteria here. 

Confirm your trade certificate is recognized in Alberta.

• Recognized credentials lookup tool
• Ensure your recognized trade certificate is not expired and will not expire for a minimum of 6 weeks from the date of your application.

Apply Online for the Trades Qualifier – Recognized Credential program. 

• Begin your application by clicking Apply Now here.
  • You will need a basic Alberta.ca Account and an Alberta Student Number to begin your application. 
• Upload and attach a clear copy of your trade certificate to your application.
  • Documents written in a language other than English must be translated into English by a member of a recognized translator association. 
  • More about document translation
• Pay the non-refundable $60 (CAD) application fee.

We review your application and verify your trade certificate with the issuing jurisdiction.

• The status of your application indicates ‘assessment.’
• Processing time is approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
• If your recognized credential is from outside Canada, it may take longer. 

You receive a letter with the results of our review through your MyTradesecrets profile.

Check on the status of your application.

• Once we have reviewed your application and contacted your employers, you will receive a letter with the results of our review through your MyTradesecrets profile.
• Review the chart below to determine what you need to do next, depending on your application status after our review. 

Complete your exam(s).

• All trades require a theory exam, and some also require a practical exam. 
• You will be notified of the date, time, and location of your exam(s) through your MyTradesecrets profile after your application is approved (Step 3). 
  • If you are unable to attend your exam on the scheduled date, contact us at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled exam. 
  • If you do not attend twice, and have not provided the required notice, your application is cancelled.
  • You are only permitted to reschedule your exam twice.
  • If your exam(s) was not automatically scheduled, review the next step in your assessment approval letter in your MyTradesecrets profile.
• Red Seal exams are available in both English and French.
  • All other exams are in English only.

Under limited conditions, you may be allowed to use an interpreter/reader during an examination.

• For more information, contact AIT.

Visit our exam centre for resources to help you prepare for your exam(s). 

More about Trades Qualifier Exams

First fail: If you fail an exam (pass mark is 70%), you may pay a $50 rewrite fee for a second attempt.

Second fail: If you fail an exam twice, a completed training plan is required and must be approved before consideration of a third, and every subsequent attempt, at the exam.

• This also pertains to any accumulated attempts at the Red Seal exam outside of Alberta, and any other exam attempts under previous applications in the same trade.

Third fail: A maximum of three attempts is permitted under one application in the same trade.

• If you fail a third time, you'll need to reapply (and pay the application fee) if you want to try again. 

Visit our exam centre for resources to help you prepare for your exam(s).

More about Trades Qualifier Exams

If you complete all Trades Qualifier – Recognized Credential program requirements within 18 months, your journeyperson certificate and wallet card is mailed to you. 

Make sure the address in your MyTradesecrets profile is accurate so you receive it!

If you have not satisfied all program requirements by 18 months, your application is cancelled, and you must:

• apply with a new application,
• pay the application fee, and
• repeat Steps 1 through 4.

Any new application submitted must contain enough information/correspondence to meet the minimum requirements.

• Information/correspondence submitted in any previous application(s) will not automatically be brought forward to the active application.