Canada · Trade code 306A in Ontario
How to become a plumber and prepare for the Red Seal exam
A practical guide to apprenticeship, exam eligibility, current Ontario fees, preparation time and plumber wages across Canada.
Fact-checked against official sources · Reviewed August 19, 2026
The trade
What does a plumber do in Canada?
Plumbers install, repair and maintain piping systems, fixtures and equipment used for water distribution, drainage and waste disposal. Work can include residential, commercial and industrial construction, service calls, testing, troubleshooting, reading drawings and applying the plumbing code.
Plumber certification is compulsory in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It is available but voluntary in the remaining provinces and territories. Always confirm your route with the apprenticeship authority where you plan to work.
Ontario eligibility
How can you qualify to write the 306A certifying exam?
There are two common routes. Skilled Trades Ontario must confirm eligibility before an exam can be scheduled.
Complete an Ontario apprenticeship
- Academic entry standard: Grade 10.
- 8,280 hours of workplace training.
- 720 hours of technical training across three levels.
- 9,000 total training hours, approximately five years.
- Submit completion documents and receive authorization to test.
Apply as an experienced worker
- Use the Trade Equivalency Assessment process.
- Document skills that match the Ontario training standard.
- Provide verifiable experience equal to the 9,000-hour training standard.
- Wait for approval before booking the certifying exam.
A recognized certificate from another Canadian jurisdiction may follow a labour-mobility route instead. International experience normally requires evidence through the Trade Equivalency Assessment. The authority decides whether each application qualifies.
Read the complete Ontario 306A exam guide →Fees
How much does the plumber exam cost?
Manitoba trade qualifier fees
Apprenticeship Manitoba currently lists a $200 Trade Qualification application, a $400 Trade Qualification certification exam and a $100 re-exam. The apprenticeship route has different fee rules. Prices and waivers can change, so verify the amount before paying or scheduling.
Study planning
How long should you prepare for the Red Seal Plumber exam?
There is no official required study period. A useful target is 6 to 10 weeksat five to seven focused hours per week. Your starting point matters more than the calendar.
Use the official exam breakdown and a diagnostic to identify weak work areas.
Study code navigation, calculations and trade concepts, then practise by topic.
Use randomized sessions and review every mistake rather than memorizing answer order.
Complete timed mixed practice and shorten the retry queue until recurring errors stop.
The Red Seal exam is 125 multiple-choice questions, allows four hours and requires 70% to pass. Practice finding information efficiently instead of trying to memorize every rule. PlumberExam.ca is an independent study tool and does not contain official exam questions.
Earnings across Canada
Helper and qualified plumber earnings compared
The helper column keeps one entry-level benchmark from Job Bank. The qualified plumber column is a current market sample: three advertised plumber or journeyperson roles in each province or territory, averaged from the midpoint of each advertised pay range.
| Province or territory | Helper / hour | Approx. helper / year | Licensed / qualified plumber / hour | Approx. licensed plumber / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $19.00 | $39,520 | $42.83 | $89,086 |
| British Columbia | $20.00 | $41,600 | $50.50 | $105,040 |
| Manitoba | $17.50 | $36,400 | $43.14 | $89,731 |
| New Brunswick | $16.00 | $33,280 | $33.29 | $69,243 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | $34,008 | $33.83 | $70,366 |
| Northwest Territories | $20.84 | $43,347 | $49.83 | $103,646 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.75 | $34,840 | $34.25 | $71,240 |
| Nunavut | $22.00 | $45,760 | $44.50 | $92,560 |
| Ontario | $18.50 | $38,480 | $45.83 | $95,326 |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.00 | $35,360 | $34.67 | $72,114 |
| Quebec | $20.00 | $41,600 | $42.67 | $88,754 |
| Saskatchewan | $17.00 | $35,360 | $40.00 | $83,200 |
| Yukon | $24.00 | $49,920 | $56.08 | $116,646 |
The helper figure is the Job Bank low wage for the broader Construction trades helpers and labourers group (NOC 75110), not a plumbing-helper-only statistic. Ads explicitly titled apprentice were excluded from the plumber sample. Annual estimates use the same hourly values shown above and multiply them by 2,080 hours before tax. Overtime, bonuses, allowances and benefits are excluded.
See the three plumber ads and calculation for every region
For a range such as $40–$50/hour, the sample value is $45/hour. Annual ranges were divided by 2,080 before finding the midpoint. In smaller markets where three postings were not active at the same moment, recent still-public postings were used to complete the three-ad sample.
Alberta
- Tiptop Plumbing and Heating$45.00–$50.00/hour → $47.50
- Fritz Tiny Homes Inc.$40.00/hour → $40.00
- Neptune Plumbing & Heating Ltd.$38.00–$44.00/hour → $41.00
British Columbia
- Gandy Installations$45.00–$52.00/hour → $48.50
- Tetra Mechanical$50.00–$55.00/hour → $52.50
- Mountain West Mechanical$45.00–$56.00/hour → $50.50
Manitoba
- Pro-West Refrigeration Ltd.$35.00–$45.00/hour → $40.00
- Lowe Mechanical Services Ltd.$90,000–$114,000/year → $49.04
- First Choice Maintenance$76,000–$92,000/year → $40.38
New Brunswick
- E G Stairs Ltd.$35.00–$36.00/hour → $35.50
- Horizon Health Network$31.35–$33.39/hour → $32.37
- Kent Building Supplies$19.00–$45.00/hour → $32.00
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Transfer Energy Ltd.$35.00–$40.00/hour → $37.50
- Kent Building Supplies (Grand Falls-Windsor)$19.00–$45.00/hour → $32.00
- Kent Building Supplies (Conception Bay South)$19.00–$45.00/hour → $32.00
Northwest Territories
- Alpha Construction NT Ltd.$40.00–$60.00/hour → $50.00
- Government of Northwest Territories — Fort Simpson$45.34–$54.15/hour → $49.74
- Government of Northwest Territories — Fort Smith$45.34–$54.15/hour → $49.74
Nova Scotia
- Tapped In Plumbing + Heating$20.00–$45.00/hour → $32.50
- AAA Plumbing and Heating Ltd.$40.00–$50.00/hour → $45.00
- Graves Electrical & Mechanical Limited$20.63–$29.87/hour → $25.25
Nunavut
- Jago Services$45.00–$50.00/hour → $47.50
- Baker Lake Contracting & Supplies$35.00–$45.00/hour → $40.00
- Northview Residential REIT$46.00/hour → $46.00
Ontario
- Bedard Plumbing of North Bay$40.00–$50.00/hour → $45.00
- E Del Signore Plumbing Limited$40.00–$45.00/hour → $42.50
- Martyn Mechanical Inc.$50.00/hour → $50.00
Prince Edward Island
- Kent Building Supplies$19.00–$45.00/hour → $32.00
- Island Plumbing Services$31.00–$45.00/hour → $38.00
- Red Sands Properties$34.00/hour → $34.00
Quebec
- PDG Mécanique Soudure$42.00/hour → $42.00
- D’uniform Elegance$38.00/hour → $38.00
- Globatech$48.00/hour → $48.00
Saskatchewan
- North Battleford LUK Plumbing, Heating & Electric$40.00–$48.00/hour → $44.00
- Deiana General Construction Ltd.$35.00–$45.00/hour → $40.00
- Little’s Plumbing & Heating$32.00–$40.00/hour → $36.00
Yukon
- Northern Plumbing$54.00–$60.00/hour → $57.00
- 845214 Yukon Inc.$60.00/hour → $60.00
- Plumbineers Plumbing & Heating Inc.$47.50–$55.00/hour → $51.25
Verify before you apply
Official plumber certification sources
Use these government pages for the current application, fee and exam rules.
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