Tradespeople
can take many different paths into their professional field. Some of them complete
formal education and go through apprenticeship programs. Others start working
right away under the guidance of their mentors. There are also people who come
to Canada with foreign training and experience. Regardless of the route you’re
taking, at some point of your career you may want to consider pursuing Red Seal
certification for automotive technicians due to a number of benefits it can
give you.
Red Seal program, the former Interprovincial Standards Red Seal
Program, sets the national standards in 55 different trades and serves as an
official endorsement that your knowledge and skills meet the industry
requirements. Red Seal for automotive technicians is not mandatory in most of
the provinces and territories in Canada, with the exception of New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario. However, obtaining this
qualification can benefit your career in many ways.
1. Red Seal certification offers you flexibility.
If you choose to become an automotive mechanic in a certain
province or territory in Canada, you will need to undergo training, complete an
apprenticeship and then sit for exams with your local regulatory body or industry
training authority. This will enable you to obtain an official professional
certification in your trade. This qualification will permit you to work as an
automotive services mechanic in a province you got certified in, however, you
will not be able to do so in other parts of Canada, since each of them have
their own designation process.
The advantage of the Red Seal program is that it is regulated by the
Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) whose goal is to unify
the trade standards all across Canada. As a result, Red Seal for automotive
technicians, as well as many other trades, is recognized in all the provinces
and territories of the country. This greatly increases your career
opportunities and enables you to move all over the country. You can choose the
place you’d like to live in based on your personal preferences and you won’t
have to worry about being able to work there. Or you can move specifically to a
province with more job openings in your filed and better pay.
2.
Red
Seal contributes to your career advancement.
Even if you are happy to stay where you are and don’t want to move
to another province, Red Seal certification for automotive technicians can
still be beneficial for your career. This qualification is the gold standard
for the tradespeople and is regarded by the employers as a validation of your
qualification. With high competition you may be considered for a job ahead of
your rivals. The same goes with promotion and career advancement opportunities.
In general, Red Seal endorsement has proven to give access to more senior and
lucrative jobs.
If you operate your own garage and don’t really depend on an
employer to assess your skills, think about your clients. The title “Red Seal
certified” will add more credibility to your business and will lure more customers
who would want to entrust their vehicles to a qualified professional. This
again can be your competitive advantage over other mechanics who don’t have a
Red Seal endorsement. In addition to that you might find other employees and
apprentices to help you in response to the training you will be providing to
them on the job.
3. Red Seal can give you a sense of
accomplishment.
Getting Red Seal for automotive technician will serve as a
formal recognition of your skills and experience. The Red Seal program has
strict guidelines for the prerequisites the candidates should have. You can
qualify for the endorsement only after you have accumulated 9,720 documented
hours of work experience meaning that only those who have been in the industry
for years can obtain it. This is why Red Seal is trusted by trades
professionals and employers all over the country.
Another important factor is that Red Seal certification
cannot be just provided to you. First, you need to meet certain criteria to
qualify for an exam, such as the number of hours of experience mentioned above.
Second, you need to challenge the exam and actually prove that you possess the
necessary knowledge and skills and can apply them in real-life situations. Obtaining
Red Seal certification for automotive technicians will prove your potential
employers and/or clients that the vehicles you will deal with are in good
hands.
