With Red Seal endorsement of their apprenticeship training, certain skilled trades workers are qualified to work in all provinces and territories without further examination. For example, someone who passes the Red Seal Cook Exam is given the government recognised designation of “Red Seal Cook” which is a recognized qualification in every province and territory. There are 56 trades currently recognized under the program, covering such trades as cook, electrician, machinist, welder, heavy equipment operator, millwright, and roofer.
Many employers only hire persons with this qualification to avoid varying standards amongst the provinces,[19] or the company does work in more than one province. Some employers may hire a person with a provincial TQ (trade qualification) over someone with an IP because they feel that the training and education are of a higher standard in that province than the IP. Most employers accept both equally