Province ending five-year certification renewal requirement for most skilled trades professionals, reducing exam challenge fees
Nova Scotia has announced it is eliminating the five-year certification renewal requirement for most skilled trades professionals and reducing exam challenge fees by nearly half, as part of efforts to reduce administrative barriers and costs in the sector.
The province removed the renewal requirement for journeypersons in 13 compulsory trades, including plumbers, construction electricians and boilermakers, and two non-compulsory trades. Only the blaster trade will continue requiring renewals due to mandatory re-certification training. The change is expected to save certified professionals $73.53 every five years and eliminate associated paperwork.
The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency noted it processed 11,829 certification renewals between 2019 and 2024. The elimination of most renewals reduces administrative workload for the agency, according to officials.
“These changes simplify the certification process and remove unnecessary administrative steps for both tradespeople and our staff,” said Michelle Bussey, CEO of the agency. “By reducing red tape, we can put more focus on apprentices, employers and reducing response times.”
Prior to the change, Nova Scotia and Ontario were the only Canadian provinces requiring regular trade certification renewals.
Exam feeds reduced for trades
The province also reduced exam challenge fees to $350 from $644.15 for more than 70 occupations, aligning Nova Scotia with other Canadian jurisdictions.
The trade qualifier process allows experienced workers, including newcomers, to challenge certification examinations without completing a full apprenticeship program.
“Eliminating renewals and lowering fees removes unnecessary red tape for trades professionals,” said Nolan Young, minister of labour, skills and immigration. “These common-sense changes save time and money, while helping more people gain certification and grow our skilled trades workforce.”
The government of Nova Scotia has also introduced new legislation aimed at significantly strengthening benefits for injured workers and their families. At the same time, the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Nova Scotia has announced plans for the province’s first employer rate cut in over 30 years.
Streamlining trades certification
The province implemented another streamlining measure on July 2, when it began automatically recognizing provincial certifications from Alberta and Quebec for Red Seal skilled trades. Tradespeople certified in those provinces can now work in Nova Scotia without additional applications or approvals, even without a Red Seal endorsement.
Trades professionals in compulsory trades must be registered apprentices or certified to work in Nova Scotia. The Red Seal designation represents a national standard of excellence in a trade.
Nova Scotia also increased paid domestic violence leave from three to five days, effective April 1, 2025.
