In-person trade exams resume
The Ministry of Labour Training and Skills Development announced on June 23 that it has resumed in-person trade exams at its local offices in those public-health unit regions that have moved into Step 1 of the province’s reopening roadmap.
“Tradespeople are the backbone of our communities. Resuming their exams means more apprentices and journeypersons on our worksites as soon as possible. They build our future hospitals, roads, pipelines, broadband and homes. These workers play – and will continue to play – a critical role in our economic prosperity,” said minister Monte McNaughton.
The ministry has put in place safety measures in those re-opened exam centres, including mandatory face coverings, physical distancing and additional cleaning measures.
It also says that exam centres may prioritize exam bookings for compulsory trades, construction-related trades, journeypersons whose candidate status has expired or will expire soon, people whose current employment depends on obtaining a certificate of qualification, those whose Canadian residency or visa depends on their obtaining certificate of qualification, and those whose exam sitting was postponed.
The ministry will contact anyone who had requested an exam during the provincial lockdown to rebook an exam sitting. In those areas of the province where exam demand is highest, local offices will explore options to increase capacity.
Exams will not resume in public health unit regions that have not moved into Step 1 of the reopening roadmap.
Featured image: Apprentice masons train in Ottawa. (Ron de Vries Photography)