Trades in Alberta
On this page:
- Apprenticeship Education Program
- Trades Qualifier Program
- Employment in the Trade
Electrician
Electricians work with electrical systems that provide heat, light, power, control signals, and fire alarms in all kinds of buildings and structures. They also install and maintain equipment like switches, relays, circuit breakers, and fuse boxes to keep everything running safely and smoothly.
Apprenticeship Education Program
Apprenticeship blends hands-on work experience with classroom learning, so you can build skills, knowledge, and a career all at once.
- Gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined in the program Competence Statements.
- Electrician Competence Statements (coming soon)
- Advanced Diploma
- Journeyperson Certificate
- Red Seal Endorsement (optional)
- 4 periods (levels)
- Period 1 and 2:
- 1560 hours work experience per period
- 8 weeks classroom instruction per period
- Period 3 and 4:
- 1500 hours work experience per period
- 10 weeks classroom instruction per period
- All periods:
- Theory exam required
- Each period designed to take ~1 year
- Up to 18 months allowed between each requirement
- 8 weeks in period 1 and 2
- 10 weeks in period 3 and 4
- Offered at Keyano College, Lakeland College, Lethbridge Polytechnic, Medicine Hat College, NAIT, Northern Lakes College, Northwestern Polytechnic, Portage College, Red Deer Polytechnic, and SAIT
- Entrance requirements:
- English 20-2, Math 20-3, and Science 10
- or GED/CAEC
- or Entrance Exam
- Class Catalogue
- Curriculum Guide
- Curriculum Guide Companion Document (coming soon)
- Financial Assistance
- Entrance Requirements
- Entrance Exams
- 1560 hours in period 1 and 2
- 1500 hours in period 3 and 4
- Sponsorship agreement required to earn hours.
- Must be completed with a qualified mentor.
- Demonstrate competence in activities outlined in the record book to receive credit.
- Sponsorship Agreements
- About the Record Book
- Record Book Sample (coming soon)
- Record Book Companion Document (coming soon)
- Theory exam required to complete each period
- Red Seal exam option in final period
- Curriculum updated during the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years.
- Recognized programs offered by:
Trades Qualifier Program
If you have experience in the trade without an Alberta Journeyperson Certificate, the Trades Qualifier Program is your pathway to qualify.
- Complete 72 months and 9180 hours of verifiable Electrician work experience.
- Pass a theory exam.
- Submit a Trades Competency Verification (TCV).
Applicants holding a related trade certificate may be eligible for credit toward these requirements (see Related Trade Certificates for the Apprenticeship Education Program above).
- Submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.
- Pass a theory exam.
Employment in the Trade
As a designated trade under the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act, employed individuals or those employing tradespeople must meet certain regulated standards.
- Specific tasks and function within the trade may only be performed by authorized individuals.
- To perform restricted activities, you must be:
- a registered apprentice, or
- working at a journeyperson level in the opinion of your employer (journeyperson certification optional).
- Employers may employ two apprentices for every one assigned mentor (2:1).
- Apprentices must be paid at least the below percentage of the rate received by the lowest-paid Electrician journeyperson employed by the same company.
- Period 1: 50%
- Period 2: 60%
- Period 3: 70%
- Period 4: 80%
- If you hold a recognized trade certificate from outside of Alberta, you are authorized to work in the full scope of the trade in Alberta.
- You may take the Red Seal Exam upon the completion of your apprenticeship in this trade.