Regulated Trades in Ontario |

Some trades are regulated in Ontario. To work in these trades, you must have a certificate of qualification or be a registered apprentice.

In Canada, trades are regulated in each province. In Ontario there are more than 150 recognized trades. Of these, at least 23 require mandatory certification (i.e. you have to do an apprenticeship and take examinations). The other trades offer voluntary certification (i.e. certification and College membership are not legally required to practice the trade). The Ontario College of Trades regulates all trades in Ontario. To see fact sheets (which tell you about the trade, what training is required and how to find training for specific trades) visit Trades in Ontario and select any of the following four sectors:

Construction (e.g. electrician), Industrial (e.g. machinist), Motive Power (e.g. auto body repairer) or Service (e.g. hairstylist).

You can also find information about being an apprentice in a skilled trade on the Ontario government site Start an apprenticeship.

Now that you know what the regulated trades in Ontario are, you will need to find examination books. Toronto Public Library has examination books for many regulated trades that require certification for members. To find them, visit the Toronto Public Library website and in the search bar, type in terms like:

Electricians examinations	Plumbing examinations	Steam boilers examinations
Heating examinations	Automobile mechanic examinations	Beauty operators examinations
Food service examinations	Carpentry construction	Industrial mechanics