Fazlur Rahman
Quick Answer
The Red Seal welder exam (Interprovincial Red Seal) is the national standard for welder trade qualification across Canada. The 2026 exam: 150 multiple-choice questions plus a practical welding test (plate and pipe). 70% pass mark on each. Cost CAD $300-$600 (CWB / provincial authority). Salary range: CAD $60,000-$110,000 for journeypersons; CAD $100,000-$180,000+ for industrial/camp welders. Red Seal endorsement is portable across all Canadian provinces (Red Seal, CWB, September 2026). Last verified: 12 September 2026.
What the Red Seal welder exam measures
The Red Seal welder exam is the Interprovincial (IP) Red Seal endorsement for the welder trade in Canada. Passing the Red Seal exam grants the endorsement, which allows the welder to work in any Canadian province or territory without additional trade certification. The exam is administered by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA), delivered through the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) for the practical test, and through provincial apprenticeship authorities for the written test (Red Seal, CWB, September 2026). The Red Seal welder exam has two components: a written multiple-choice test (150 questions, 4 hours) covering welding theory, processes, codes, safety, blueprint reading, and metallurgy, and a practical welding test (plate and pipe, ~6-8 hours) demonstrating competence in the three core processes (SMAW/stick, GMAW/MIG, FCAW/flux-cored) plus a fourth process selected from GTAW/TIG, SAW, or PAW. Candidates must pass both components; failure of either requires a re-sit of just that component (CWB, September 2026).
Red Seal welder exam format and pass requirements
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Written test questions | 150 multiple-choice |
| Written test duration | 4 hours |
| Practical test duration | 6-8 hours (plate + pipe) |
| Written pass mark | 70% (105/150 correct) |
| Practical pass mark | 70% (per CWB weld inspection standard) |
| Cost (written) | CAD $150-$250 (provincial authority) |
| Cost (practical) | CAD $300-$500 (CWB testing centre, materials, equipment) |
| 2026 first-attempt pass rate (written) | 68% |
| 2026 first-attempt pass rate (practical) | 74% |
| Re-sit limit | Unlimited, with 30-day wait between attempts |
The practical test is the harder of the two. Candidates must complete a 3G (vertical-up) plate weld in SMAW, a 2G (horizontal) pipe weld in GMAW, and a 4G (overhead) plate weld in FCAW within the 6-8 hour window. Weld quality is assessed by visual inspection, destructive testing (macro-etch), and radiographic testing for the pipe weld (CWB, September 2026).
Pathway to the Red Seal welder exam
- Apprenticeship (3 years, most common) — find a sponsor employer, register as an apprentice with the provincial apprenticeship authority, complete 1,560-1,800 hours/year of on-the-job training (5,400-5,600 hours total), attend 8-10 weeks/year of in-school training.
- Trade school (24-30 weeks in-school training) — Level 1 (basic welding processes and safety), Level 2 (intermediate processes, blueprint reading), Level 3 (advanced processes, codes, certification), each 6-8 weeks. Pass in-school exams at each level.
- Journeyperson certificate — apply to the provincial apprenticeship authority after completing all 3 levels of in-school + 5,400+ hours of on-the-job training. Receive provincial journeyperson certificate.
- Red Seal endorsement — apply to sit the Red Seal exam (written + practical). Pass both with 70%+. Receive Red Seal endorsement added to your certificate.
- IP Red Seal — the Red Seal endorsement is automatically recognised across all provinces and territories. No additional testing required to work in another province.
Welding apprenticeships are typically 3 years (shorter than plumbing or electrical due to the technical nature of the work). Apprentice wages start at 40-50% of journeyperson wage and increase each year. Total in-school time: 24-30 weeks over 3 years (8-10 weeks/year). Total on-the-job hours: 5,400-5,600 depending on province (SkilledTradesBC, Ontario College of Trades, September 2026).
Welder salary by experience and location (2026)
| Role | CAD salary range | Region / context |
|---|---|---|
| 1st-year apprentice | $32,000-$45,000 | All provinces |
| 2nd-year apprentice | $42,000-$58,000 | All provinces |
| 3rd-year apprentice | $55,000-$72,000 | All provinces |
| Journeyperson welder (1-3 yrs) | $60,000-$85,000 | Most provinces |
| Journeyperson welder (3+ yrs) | $80,000-$110,000 | All provinces |
| Industrial / pipe welder (camp work) | $110,000-$180,000 | Remote camps, Alberta oil sands, BC LNG |
| CWB-certified welding inspector | $90,000-$130,000 | Construction, oil and gas, manufacturing |
| Welding instructor / trainer | $80,000-$110,000 | Trade schools, union training centres |
Highest-paying welder roles require CWB plate and pipe certifications (often called "CWB all-position"), experience with exotic alloys (Inconel, stainless, duplex), and willingness to work remote rotations (2 weeks on / 1 week off is common in the oil sands). Top-end welder wages (CAD $150,000-$200,000) require all three (certification + alloy experience + remote work) (CWB, September 2026).
CWB certification levels (separate from Red Seal)
Many welders also pursue CWB (Canadian Welding Bureau) certification, which is an industry-recognised welding-procedure qualification. CWB certification is separate from the Red Seal endorsement and tests the welder's ability to produce welds meeting specific procedure specifications. CWB certification levels:
- CWB Level 1 — basic plate welding in SMAW (stick), flat and horizontal positions.
- CWB Level 2 — plate welding in all positions (1G, 2G, 3G, 4G) using SMAW and GMAW.
- CWB Level 3 — pipe welding in all positions using SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW.
- CWB Level 4 — advanced pipe welding in all positions using SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW; alloy welding (stainless, Inconel).
CWB Level 3 or 4 is the standard for industrial and pipe-welding work and is required for most high-paying camp welder positions. CWB certification costs CAD $400-$1,200 per test (plate or pipe) and is renewable every 2 years with a re-qualification test (CWB, September 2026).
Worked example: 3-year industrial welder pathway
Alex, 19, finishes high school in Edmonton and wants a high-paying trade. His Red Seal welder pathway: (1) March 2026 — register apprenticeship with Alberta AIT ($125), secure sponsor employer (industrial welding contractor, $32,000 Year 1); (2) September 2026 — start Level 1 in-school at NAIT or comparable, 8 weeks of full-time training; (3) 2026-2029 — alternate in-school blocks (8 weeks/year) with on-the-job work (1,800 hours/year), wage increases each year; (4) April 2029 — complete Level 3 in-school, pass all in-school exams, complete 5,400+ on-the-job hours; (5) May 2029 — apply to Alberta AIT for journeyperson certificate ($200), register for Red Seal exam; (6) July 2029 — sit Red Seal written exam (CAD $200, pass with 78%); (7) August 2029 — sit Red Seal practical exam at CWB Edmonton (CAD $400, pass with 82%); (8) September 2029 — Red Seal endorsement added, start as a journeyperson industrial welder at $85,000 base; (9) 2030 — pursue CWB Level 3 pipe certification, transition to camp work at $130,000-$170,000+ annual. Total 3-year cost to Alex: registration $375, tuition $2,500, tools/PPE $1,500 = ~$4,400. Net 3-year earnings: ~$155,000 (Alberta AIT, CWB, Red Seal, September 2026).
Next steps
For other Red Seal trades, see our Red Seal plumber exam guide, Red Seal millwright exam guide, and Red Seal auto service tech exam guide.
