Compulsory trade licensing

If you are looking at an electrical, plumbing, refrigeration or similar business, the first question is who is legally allowed to do the work. That depends on whether the trade is compulsory where the business operates. In both provinces below, the rule applies to each worker in the trade, not only the owner.

How two provinces describe it

Skilled Trades Ontario says a trade is either compulsory or non-compulsory, and that compulsory trades require you to be a registered apprentice, Provisional Certificate of Qualification holder or Certificate of Qualification holder to legally work in the trade. The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission defines a compulsory trade as one where you must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson to perform the work, and lists its own compulsory trades. Other provinces are not covered here.

What to check or ask

• Which of the business’s services fall in a compulsory trade in its province.
• Whether every person doing that work is a registered apprentice or certified, and how that can be verified.
• Whether the business depends on one certified person who may not stay; see trade licences on a sale.