Trades in Alberta
On this page:
- Apprenticeship Education Program
- Trades Qualifier Program
- Employment in the Trade
Automotive Service Technician
Automotive service technicians perform preventative maintenance, diagnose faulty operations and repair automotive vehicles and light trucks. They adjust, test and repair engines, steering systems, braking systems, drive trains, vehicle suspensions, electrical systems and air-conditioning systems, and do wheel alignments.
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.
- Advanced Diploma
- Journeyperson Certificate
- Red Seal Endorsement (optional)
- 4 periods (levels)
- All periods:
- 1530 hours work experience per period
- 9 weeks classroom instruction per period
- Theory exam required
- Each period designed to take ~1 year
- Up to 18 months allowed between each requirement
- 9 weeks in all periods
- Offered at Lakeland College, Lethbridge Polytechnic, Medicine Hat College, NAIT, Northwestern Polytechnic, Red Deer Polytechnic, and SAIT
- Entrance requirements:
- English 20-2, Math 20-3, and Science 10
- or GED/CAEC
- or Entrance Exam
- 1530 hours in all periods
- 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.
- Theory exam required to complete each period
- Red Seal exam option in final period
- Curriculum updated during the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years.
- Agricultural Equipment Technician
- Heavy Equipment Technician
- Heavy Equipment Technician - Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off-road)
- Heavy Equipment Technician - Transport Trailer Mechanic
- Heavy Equipment Technician - Truck Transport Mechanic
- Motorcycle Mechanic
- Natural Gas Compression Technician
- Transport Refrigeration Technician
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 Automotive Service Technician 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).
- AEITP Regulation (open.alberta.ca)
- 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: 55%
- Period 2: 70%
- Period 3: 80%
- Period 4: 90%
- AEITP Regulation (open.alberta.ca)
- 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.