Qualities to Help You Pass the Red Seal Plumber Exam

The plumbing trade is filled with many individuals who are extremely skilled in their job and have been working in it for a number of years. If this is you, you’ll want to look into becoming Red Seal certified by completing the Red Seal Plumber Exam challenge. Red Seal certification is proof that you have the knowledge and skills to work at your trade at an advanced level that meets the trade standards across the country. Chances are, you’re already at that advanced level, you’ve just not yet taken the time to become Red Seal certified.

Alternatively, you may be a plumber who had immigrated to Canada with the advanced skills but found that any certifications or qualifications you had in your home country weren’t transferable when you came to Canada. Both of these situations happen regularly in the plumbing trade, and for those reasons, there are ways to become Red Seal certified without having to undergo the apprentice process. When a plumber has the required number of hours working in the trade and goes straight to taking the Red Seal exam, this is called the Red Seal Plumber Exam challenge. If you complete the exam and follow the steps outlined by the Red Seal program, you will become Red Seal certified.

This certification is an excellent addition to your skills and qualifications because taking the Red Seal Plumber Exam challenge and becoming certified ensures you are nationally-recognized for your plumbing skills by both the trades themselves and consumers.

Red Seal Plumber Exam Challenge Preparation

When you think it’s time to challenge the Red Seal exam, take a moment to think about your time and availability. While you may feel you’re ready to become certified, you need to be honest with yourself about your ability to study for the plumbing exam. The truth is that working as a plumber isn’t quite the same as explaining what you do and how you do it.

The Red Seal Plumber Exam challenge requires you to explain the skills of the trade; there is no physical practice of plumbing on the exam, it is a multiple-choice question and answer exam. Therefore, if you are new to living in Canada and are still getting settled and comfortable in your community, it may not be the right time to write the exam because you may lack enough time to study. Alternatively, if you are working as a plumber every day and commute long distances, that may prevent you from putting in the study time that you require. There are many life situations that would keep you from having the study time you need, so it’s important to be honest with yourself about your ability to prepare for the exam right now.

If you have time to study, but are lacking in focus or don’t know where to begin, you may want to look into a plumbing program designed to help you with the Red Seal Plumbing Exam challenge preparation. These courses are often delivered online, so they offer the flexibility of studying with others and learning from an instructor anywhere you have a computer, microphone, camera and internet connection. Red seal exam preparation doesn’t need to be overwhelming either. It requires a regular, ongoing time commitment and dedication, but the information will be about things you are familiar with and applicable as you work in your trade.

Visit the Red Seal site’s preparation guide section for more information on what you need to study or contact a local school that offers Red Seal a plumbing program for exam preparation to find out if a prep course is right for you. Registering for the exam is done through your provincial or territorial certification body. When you contact them to register for the Red Seal challenge exam, (find your region’s authority here) ask what specific criteria is required for a plumber in your region to challenge the exam as they will have the most up-to-date information on what experience and number of applicable work hours are required.

Skills to Help You Pass the Red Seal Plumber Exam Challenge

While the exam doesn’t include any “hands-on” plumbing work, you will need to fully understand the skills and practices required for all aspects of the trade to successfully pass the Red Seal Plumber Exam. There are several skills that are both beneficial for the job and will help you pass the exam:

-          Problem-solving skills. Like in any trade, there are standards to be followed and codes to be adhered to. A good plumber can review the job, assess what needs to be done, consider the options, choose the best one and do the work while adhering to codes and standards. Being able to think fast while being accurate and efficient is key. These same assessments and practice skills will allow you to think through the multiple-choice questions on the exam and come up with the right answer similarly to being on a job site.

-          Knowing the right tools to do the job. Similar to problem-solving, plumbers know which tool will do the job the most efficiently. No one wants to see a plumber bashing away at a pipe with a hammer when they should be using a pipe cutter or torch. The exam will require you to have a full understanding of your tools and when they are the right choice.

-          Communication skills. While the exam is multiple-choice, knowing how to make decisions fast, troubleshoot and explain situations will help you review questions and select the right answer.

Many plumbers working today have all the skills they need to become Red Seal certified. It will require some studying and conscious preparation, but the results will lead to a nationally-recognized certification of your abilities.