Plumbers install, repair, and maintain water, drainage, gas, and venting systems in homes, businesses, and industrial sites. Across every province and territory JobAds.ca serves, plumbing is a compulsory Red Seal trade: once you start the work you must be either a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson. The path runs through a four-year, roughly 7,200-hour apprenticeship administered by the provincial apprenticeship authority, with annual classroom training blocks at a polytechnic. Credentials are portable across Canada once you earn the Red Seal endorsement.
The NOC 72300, Plumbers covers the following day-to-day work:
There is more than one way in. Pick the path that matches your timeline and how you want to learn.
Four 1,800-hour levels, each combining on-the-job work with an eight-week technical training block delivered at Sask Polytech Moose Jaw. Complete all four levels and pass the Interprovincial Red Seal exam to earn Journeyperson certification plus the Red Seal endorsement.
Full-time program at the Moose Jaw campus that covers plumbing fundamentals, pipe fitting, soldering, brazing, blueprint reading, and basic code. Counts for Level 1 technical training credit (1,800 SATCC-recognised hours) and gives you a head start when you look for an apprenticeship employer.
Indigenous-led program that introduces plumbing alongside carpentry, electrical, and welding. Delivered through SIIT instructor-led classes (contact your local JobConnections Centre for session availability). Gives you hands-on exposure across trades so you can decide which apprenticeship to register for, and SIIT JTC can help you register through SATCC if you choose plumbing.
The equivalent Alberta pathways. If you train in Alberta, your credential is portable to Saskatchewan and most other provinces.
Four 12-month periods, each with at least 1,560 hours on the job plus eight to twelve weeks of classroom instruction. Technical training is delivered by NAIT, SAIT, Keyano, Lakeland, Lethbridge Polytechnic, Northern Lakes, Olds, Portage, and Red Deer Polytechnic. Red Seal endorsed.
NAIT and SAIT are the two largest deliverers of Alberta plumber apprenticeship classroom training. Registered AIT apprentices attend an 8 to 12-week classroom block between each on-the-job period, four periods total, leading to the Red Seal exam at the end of Level 4. Apply through Tradesecrets once your apprenticeship is registered with AIT.
SATCC (Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission)
SATCC registers your apprenticeship, tracks on-the-job hours and technical training, and issues the Journeyperson Certificate after 7,200 hours and a passing Red Seal exam. Plumbing is a "compulsory apprenticeship" trade in Saskatchewan, which means you cannot be employed in the trade without being either a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson.
Visit the regulator's site →AIT (Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training)
AIT registers apprenticeships in Alberta, tracks on-the-job hours and technical training, and issues the Journeyperson Certificate. The Red Seal Endorsement is added after passing the Interprovincial exam, letting you work in any province. Plumber is a compulsory certification trade in Alberta: you must be a registered apprentice or certified journeyperson to perform the work.
Visit the regulator's site →The equivalent pathways in Manitoba. Your credential is portable back to Saskatchewan and most other provinces.
Four 12-month levels of on-the-job work combined with annual technical training blocks at Red River College Polytechnic. Apprenticeship Manitoba registers the apprenticeship and administers the Red Seal exam at the end of Level 4.
Full-time program at the Notre Dame campus in Winnipeg covering plumbing fundamentals, Code, blueprint reading, and shop work. Not a formal apprenticeship program but may qualify you for credit transfer toward Manitoba plumber apprenticeship levels. Confirm the current credit arrangement with RRC and Apprenticeship Manitoba before you register.
Apprenticeship Manitoba, Workforce Development
Apprenticeship Manitoba registers apprenticeships, tracks on-the-job and classroom hours, and administers the Journeyperson examination. Plumber is a compulsory trade in Manitoba: anyone performing plumbing work must be a registered apprentice or hold a Journeyperson certificate.
Visit the regulator's site →The equivalent pathways in Yukon. Your credential is portable back to Saskatchewan and most other provinces.
Pre-employment preparation program delivered by Yukon University. Covers plumbing and gasfitting fundamentals plus Level 1 theory. For registered apprentices, Yukon University also delivers Level 1 technical training as a separate eight-week block. Levels 2 to 4 technical training are placed with southern institutions (typically BCIT, NAIT, or SAIT).
Yukon Apprenticeship registers your indentureship, tracks your hours, and places you into technical training (Level 1 delivered locally at Yukon University, Levels 2 to 4 placed with BCIT, NAIT, or SAIT). Red Seal endorsed on completion.
Yukon Advanced Education, Apprenticeship Branch
The Yukon Apprenticeship Branch registers Yukon-based apprenticeships, co-ordinates technical training placements outside the territory, and issues the Journeyperson certificate on behalf of Yukon. Yukon recognises journeyperson certificates from every province.
Visit the regulator's site →The equivalent pathways in Northwest Territories. Your credential is portable back to Saskatchewan and most other provinces.
The NWT program registers the apprenticeship and sends apprentices out of territory for annual technical training blocks (typically NAIT, SAIT, or BCIT). Red Seal endorsed on completion. ECE pays travel and some living costs during the technical training weeks.
NWT ECE, Apprenticeship Trade and Occupation Certification
ECE registers NWT apprenticeships, places apprentices into southern technical training, tracks hours, and issues the Journeyperson certificate. NWT accepts Red Seal journeyperson certificates from every Canadian province without re-testing.
Visit the regulator's site →Job Bank Canada reports a Western Canada wage range of $26.00 to $48.00 per hour. Below is what is currently being offered in active job postings on JobAds.ca.
Updated every hour from Plumber postings on JobAds.ca.
Browse current plumber jobs in Western Canada with salaries shown up front.
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