Construction & skilled trades glossary.

Jobs where you build, install, or fix things with your hands and with tools — for example electrician, plumber, carpenter, and welder. You learn a skilled trade by doing an apprenticeship, not by going to university. People say “I work in the trades” or “she went into the trades.”

Any person who works in a skilled trade — an apprentice or a fully certified worker. “Tradesperson” is the word used in official documents; “tradesman” is the older everyday word.

A person who is learning a trade by working for pay under experienced workers, plus a few weeks of classes each year. In Ontario you can become an apprentice at age 16. On site, people name apprentices by their level: “he’s a second-year.”

See also: apprenticeship · sponsor · apprentice percentage

The way you learn a trade in Canada: about 80–85% is paid work under supervision, and the rest is in-class training. It takes about 2 to 5 years, depending on the trade. To start, you need a sponsor and a signed training agreement — it is a real paid job from day one, not school with fees.

See also: section 04 — Becoming a tradesperson

A worker who has finished their apprenticeship and, where needed, holds the Certificate of Qualification. A journeyperson can work without supervision and can train apprentices. “Journeyman” is the older word — it means exactly the same thing. Official Canadian documents now say “journeyperson,” but you will still hear “journeyman” on job sites every day.

The official certificate that proves you are a fully qualified journeyperson in your trade. You earn it by passing your trade’s certifying exam. In Ontario it is issued by Skilled Trades Ontario, and in compulsory trades you must renew it every year.

Easy to mix up with the Certificate of Apprenticeship — that one says you finished the program; this one says you passed the exam.

The document that proves you completed your apprenticeship — all the work hours and all the classes. It is not the same as the Certificate of Qualification: the C of A means you finished the program; the C of Q means you also passed the final exam.

A temporary certificate Ontario gives you automatically when you finish your apprenticeship in a trade that has an exam. It is valid for one year, so you can keep working legally — even in a compulsory trade — while you prepare for the exam.

A national stamp (endorsement) added to your provincial certificate when you pass the Red Seal exam. It lets you work in your trade in any province or territory of Canada without taking new tests. It is not a separate licence — it is an upgrade to your provincial certificate. “She’s red sealed” means she has it.

See also: Red Seal trade · Red Seal Program

The national multiple-choice exam for Red Seal trades. In Ontario, for these trades, this is also the certifying exam — pass it once and you get your Certificate of Qualification and your Red Seal at the same time.

The contract that makes your apprenticeship official. You and your sponsor sign it, and the Ontario government registers it. In a compulsory trade, holding an RTA is one of the legal ways to do the work while you learn.

The official book (paper or digital) that lists every skill you must learn on the job during your apprenticeship. Your sponsor signs off each skill as you master it. Keeping it complete is your responsibility — you need it to finish your program.

Job-site word for a certificate. “Getting your ticket” usually means earning your Certificate of Qualification — becoming a certified journeyperson. But small course cards are also called tickets (“first aid ticket,” “fall protection ticket”), so if it matters, ask which paper the person means.

See also: safety tickets

A free online list run by Skilled Trades Ontario where anyone can check that a worker in a compulsory trade holds a valid certificate. Employers and inspectors use it to verify workers.

A trade you are not allowed to work in unless you are a registered apprentice or hold a (provisional) Certificate of Qualification. This is the law, not just advice — companies can be fined for using uncertified workers. Ontario has 23 compulsory trades.

The compulsory construction trades are: electrician, plumber, steamfitter, sheet metal worker, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, sprinkler installer, and crane operators.

A trade where certification is optional — you can legally do the work without a certificate. Most construction trades are non-compulsory in Ontario, including carpenter, welder, and roofer. Getting certified is still worth it: many employers ask for it, and it usually means better pay.

A trade that a province officially recognizes, so it can have an apprenticeship program and a certificate. Ontario has 144 designated trades; across Canada there are more than 300. If a job is a designated trade, there is an official path to learn it and prove it.

A trade that is part of the national Red Seal Program — about 54 trades, covering most big construction trades. If your trade is a Red Seal trade, you can earn the Red Seal and work anywhere in Canada with one certificate.

The short number-and-letter code Ontario gives each trade. It appears on certificates, and workers use it as shorthand — “I’m a 309A” means “I’m a construction electrician.” You will see these codes in the trade list in section 11.

Ontario groups its trades into four families: construction (building things), industrial (factories and manufacturing), motive power (vehicles and engines), and service (trades like hairstylist and cook). This website is about the construction sector.

The employer (or group, or union) that agrees to train you as an apprentice. You cannot register as an apprentice in Ontario without one — finding a sponsor is usually the hardest step. The sponsor signs your training agreement and must make sure you learn the skills in your trade’s logbook.

The certified journeyperson who actually teaches you day to day on the job and signs off your skills. The sponsor is the company; the trainer is the person beside you.

The paid work part of an apprenticeship — about 80–85% of the whole program. Every hour you work counts toward the total your trade requires, so people talk about “getting their hours in.” An electrician needs about 9,000 hours in total; a labourer about 2,880.

The classroom part of an apprenticeship — usually a few weeks per year at a college or union training centre. It covers the theory: math, codes, drawings, and how things work. You go back to your job between class periods.

See also: levels · block release · Training Delivery Agent

The stages of in-class training. Most Ontario trades have three levels; some have four. Each level is one block of school, and your pay usually goes up after each one.

The most common way apprentices go to school: your employer releases you for one full-time block of classes — usually about 8 to 10 weeks — then you return to work. Many apprentices can get EI money during the block.

The other way to do in-class training: one day of school per week (or evening classes) while you keep working the rest of the week. Not offered for every trade or every college — ask your training centre.

The school approved by the Ontario government to teach the in-class part of your trade — usually a public college or a union training centre. Other provinces just say “training provider.”

The rule for how many apprentices can work per certified journeyperson. In Ontario the ratio is now one-to-one for all trades that have a ratio — one apprentice for each journeyperson on the job.

The final exam for your trade — multiple choice. In Ontario the pass mark is 70%, and if you fail you wait 30 days before trying again. In Red Seal trades, this exam is the Red Seal exam.

Apprentices earn a percentage of the full journeyperson wage, and it rises with each level — for example about half at the start, and 80–90% near the end. The exact numbers depend on the trade and the employer. “I’m at 70” means “I earn 70% of the journeyperson rate.”

A program that lets high-school students try a trade through co-op placements — and even become registered apprentices while still in school. You need to be at least 15 and in Grade 11 or 12. For many students it is the earliest possible start in the trades.

School courses where you earn credits by working at a real workplace instead of sitting in class. In Ontario high schools, co-op is the doorway to OYAP and a first look at a trade before you commit.

A free, government-funded program (up to about a year) that prepares you for an apprenticeship: safety training, basic trade skills, academic upgrading, and a work placement of 8–12 weeks. Aimed at youth, newcomers, women, Indigenous people, and adults changing careers. Tools, books, and safety gear are covered.

College programs that teach trade basics — useful, but they are not apprenticeships. You pay tuition, and the hours usually do not count as apprenticeship hours. To become an apprentice you still need a sponsor and a training agreement.

The route for people who already have trade experience but never did an Ontario apprenticeship — including experience from another country or another province. Skilled Trades Ontario reviews your proof of skills and hours, and if it matches the trade’s standard, you can go straight to the certifying exam. For newcomers with trade experience, this is the main door in.

Writing your trade’s certifying exam based on work experience instead of an apprenticeship. In Ontario you qualify to challenge through the Trade Equivalency Assessment.

A Canadian immigration stream made for trades workers. To qualify you need two years of trade experience, language test results, and either a Canadian job offer or a Canadian Certificate of Qualification. There is no education requirement. Many newcomers first get certified through a TEA, then apply.

Apprentices can usually get Employment Insurance payments while they are in full-time in-class training, so going to school does not mean earning nothing. Your college or apprenticeship office gives you a reference code to apply.

An interest-free government loan — up to $20,000 in total — to help apprentices in Red Seal trades pay for living costs during in-class training. You start paying it back only after you finish or leave your program.

Free money (a grant, not a loan) to help new apprentices buy their first tools — between $400 and $1,000 depending on the trade sector. You become eligible after finishing your first level of in-class training.

The main construction company in charge of the whole project. The GC runs the site and hires smaller companies — subcontractors — to do each part of the work.

A company hired by the general contractor to do one part of the job — the plumbing, the roofing, the electrical. Most tradespeople work for a sub, not for the GC.

The working boss of one crew. The foreman hands out the day’s tasks, answers questions, and usually still works with the tools. Your foreman is normally your first boss as an apprentice.

A boss above several foremen on a big job, planning the work of many crews at once. Mostly heard on larger commercial and industrial projects.

The general contractor’s top person on the site. The super runs the whole site day to day — the schedule, the safety, and all the subcontractors.

A senior worker who guides a small group but is one step below a foreman. A very Canadian job title — in the US, “foreman” usually covers this role.

The office-side manager of a project — budget, contracts, and schedule. The PM usually works from the site trailer or head office, not with the tools.

The person who calculates what a job will cost before the company offers a price for it. A common office career for experienced tradespeople later in life.

A person from the city or another authority who checks that the work follows the building code, and approves each stage before it can be covered up. “The inspector is coming” changes the plan for the whole day.

A new worker with no experience. “He’s still green” means he is new and needs watching. It is normal to be green — everyone starts there, and good crews look out for their green workers.

Friendly names for trades, said on site: a “sparky” is an electrician, a “tin basher” is a sheet metal worker, and a “rodbuster” is a reinforcing rodworker.

The trained worker who directs traffic around road work with a paddle sign. A common first job in road construction.

A helper — often the second person on a truck, crane, or heavy machine — who hooks up loads, guides the operator, and does the ground work. Heard mostly in Western Canada.

An organization of workers that negotiates pay, benefits, and rules with employers as a group. In construction, each trade usually has its own union. Union members often get work through the union instead of applying to companies one by one.

See also: local · hiring hall · collective agreement

One branch of a union, covering a trade in one area, known by its number. You join and pay dues to a local, and it dispatches you to jobs and often runs its own training school. Members say “my local.”

The union office that sends members out to jobs. Instead of applying to companies, you register at the hall and it matches you with contractors who need workers. “I got this job through the hall” is the normal way union work happens.

When the union hall sends a member to a job. “I got dispatched Monday” means the hall gave me work. A “name call” is when a company asks the hall for one specific worker by name.

The union’s waiting list of members who need work. When you are laid off, you “sign the book,” and jobs are offered in list order — usually to whoever has waited longest.

A paper from your home local that lets you work in another local’s area when they have extra work. A member working far from home this way is “travelling.”

A paid union official who deals with contractors, visits sites, and helps members with problems and jobs. “Call your BA” is standard advice when something is wrong.

A regular worker on the crew chosen to represent the union on that site. The steward is the first person to talk to about a problem, before it goes to the business agent.

The money members pay to their union — usually a set amount plus a small percentage of wages, taken off the paycheque. Dues fund the hall, the benefits plans, and the training centres.

The contract between a union and employers that sets wages, hours, overtime, travel pay, and rules for everyone it covers. On site people say “check the agreement.”

A “union shop” works under a union agreement; an “open shop” (also called “merit shop”) does not — pay and benefits are set by the employer. Both worlds are large in Canada, and both can train apprentices. Neither is automatically better; they are different systems.

The full hourly value of a job: wage plus pension, benefits, and other contributions. A “$60 package” might be about $45 in wages plus $15 going into your pension and benefits. When comparing jobs, always ask about the package, not just the wage.

The hourly wage. Trades pay is almost always talked about per hour, and “what’s the rate?” is the first question about any job. “Scale” means the full union rate for the trade. Apprentices earn a percentage of the rate — see apprentice percentage.

Extra pay for extra hours. In Ontario the legal minimum is 1.5 times your rate (“time and a half”) after 44 hours in a week. Many union agreements pay overtime sooner, and “double time” — twice the rate — on Sundays, holidays, or long days.

Overtime hours saved up instead of paid right away, to be taken later as paid time off or a payout. The rules depend on the province and the employer.

In construction, vacation pay usually comes as an extra percentage on every paycheque instead of paid weeks off. Ontario construction workers typically see about 8–10% added as “vacation and holiday pay” — and in exchange, most do not get separate paid public holidays. This is a legal special rule for construction, not a trick.

A flat daily amount paid on top of wages when you work away from home, to cover meals and small costs. The words are Latin for “per day.”

Daily money paid when a job requires you to live away from home — for your room and food. Job ads for remote work often say “camp or LOA provided.” Within government limits, it is usually tax-free.

A work week of four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days — same hours, three-day weekend. A common schedule in construction.

The schedule of a remote camp job: days worked, then days off. “14 and 7” means 14 days at the site, then 7 days at home.

A job at a remote site where the company houses and feeds workers in a work camp. FIFO means the company also flies you in and out on a set rotation. Common in Alberta, BC, and the North — mines, oil sands, dams — and often very well paid.

A short, intense job where a factory or plant stops production so hundreds of tradespeople can repair it — long days, a few weeks, good money. “Shutdown season” is spring and fall.

Being paid by the amount of work done — for example, per sheet of drywall — instead of by the hour. Fast workers earn more. Common in residential drywall, framing, roofing, and flooring.

Losing your job because the project is finished or work is slow — not because you did something wrong. In construction, layoffs at the end of a project are completely normal. You get a Record of Employment and can apply for EI until the next job.

Losing work in winter because outdoor construction slows down, with the expectation of being hired back in spring. Many outdoor trades in Canada plan their whole year around it.

Government payments while you are between jobs and looking for work. Premiums come off every legal paycheque, and trades workers commonly use EI between projects and seasons. “Pogey” is old Canadian slang for it — casual, and a bit dated.

Work paid in cash with nothing reported. It may sound simple, but it costs you: no WSIB coverage if you are hurt, no EI hours, no pension contributions — and for apprentices, unreported hours do not count toward your apprenticeship. It is also against tax law.

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board — Ontario’s insurance system for workers hurt on the job. It pays part of your wages and covers treatment while you recover. Employers fund it; workers pay nothing. “He’s on WSIB” means he is off work with a workplace injury. Other provinces call it WCB or similar.

Everything that is not houses: factories, stores, offices, schools, hospitals. The industry splits into “ICI” and “residential,” and wages, unions, and agreements are often separate for each. Very common Canadian shorthand.

Construction of homes — houses, townhomes, and apartment or condo buildings. Residential and ICI work can feel like different industries: different pace, different rules, often different pay.

Construction of public infrastructure: roads, bridges, sewers, water mains, and earthworks. “He’s on the civil side” means he works on that kind of project.

“New construction” is building something from nothing. A “reno” (renovation) is changing an existing building. A “retrofit” is upgrading a building’s systems — new windows, new heating. “Reno” is everyday Canadian speech: “we do renos.”

Going to homes or businesses to fix or maintain things that already exist — one small job at a time, usually driving a company van. The opposite of working on one big site. Common for plumbers, electricians, and HVAC mechanics.

The first stage of a trade’s work, done while the walls and ceilings are still open: the pipes, wires, and ducts go in, but nothing is connected or finished yet. The rough-in gets inspected before the walls are closed.

The last, visible stage of the work: trim, doors, switches, fixtures, paint. Finish work has to look good, so it is slower and more careful than rough-in. “Finish carpenter” is its own specialty.

Building the wooden or steel skeleton of a building — the floors, walls, and roof structure. In housing, framers are usually their own fast-moving crew.

Building the temporary molds that wet concrete is poured into, then stripping them off after it hardens. A big part of high-rise construction — most tall concrete buildings are built by forming crews, floor by floor.

Tearing down all or part of a building before new work starts. Most renovations begin with “demo day.”

The plans for the project. On site people say “the prints” or “the drawings.” “Blueprints” is the older word — plans have not actually been blue for decades. Reading prints is a core skill in every trade.

The written rule book for a project: exactly what materials and what quality are required. The drawings show where; the specs say what and how good.

The exact list of work a contract covers. “That’s not in our scope” means our company was not hired to do that part. One of the most-said words on any site.

A formal written question sent to the designers when something on the drawings is unclear or does not match the site. “Send an RFI” means: get an official answer before you build it.

A signed document that changes the contract — added work, removed work, or a new price. Workers call added work “extras.”

A “tender” is a formal invitation for contractors to offer a price for a job; the offer itself is a “bid.” “The job went to tender” means companies are now competing for it. Canada says “tender” a lot; the US mostly says “bid.”

The official list of small things that are wrong, damaged, or unfinished at the end of a job — each one is a “deficiency.” The contractor must fix them before final payment. You will also hear the US word “punch list” for the same thing.

Money — usually 10% of every payment — that the payer keeps back until the end of a construction job. Provincial law requires it, to protect workers and suppliers who might not get paid. Contractors talk about “waiting on holdback.”

The legal moment when a project is finished enough to use, even with small deficiencies left. It starts important clocks for payments and for releasing the holdback. You hear it near the end of every big job.

Drawings updated to show how the building was actually built, including every change made along the way. Handed over at the end of the job so future workers know what is behind the walls.

Setting up on a site before the work starts — trailers, fencing, equipment. “Demobilization” (demob) is packing it all up at the end.

Testing and adjusting all of a building’s systems at the end of a project, to prove everything works as designed before it is handed over. Also a career path for experienced trades workers.

Reaching the highest point of the structure. Crews often mark it with a small ceremony — a flag or a small tree on the last beam, and sometimes a lunch from the boss. An old construction tradition that is alive and well in Canada.

The open space on site where materials and equipment are stored until they are needed.

The temporary walls around or inside a construction site — plywood fences on city sidewalks, or heated tarp enclosures (“hoarding and heat”) that let concrete work continue through a Canadian winter. Nothing to do with collecting things.

A steel shipping container used on site to store tools and materials. A very Canadian nickname — Americans say “conex.”

A big lockable steel chest where a crew keeps its shared tools overnight.

In most of Canada, “hydro” means electricity itself and the power company — not water. A “hydro pole” is a power pole, and the “hydro bill” is the electricity bill. Very confusing for newcomers, completely normal for Canadians.

The Canadian word for the rain gutter along the edge of a roof. Almost unknown outside Canada — in the US and the UK it is just a “gutter.”

The gear you wear for protection: hard hat, safety boots, safety glasses, gloves, and high-visibility clothing. “Full PPE” means all of it, all the time. On Ontario construction sites, a hard hat and safety boots are required by law.

Safety boots certified to the Canadian CSA standard. The green triangle patch on the boot shows a protective toe and a puncture-resistant sole — the marking sites expect. Buy these before your first day; someone may check for the green patch.

Bright orange or yellow clothing with reflective stripes, so drivers and machine operators can see you. “Where’s your hi-vis?” is a question you only get asked once.

Canada’s system for warning workers about hazardous products — the labels, the safety data sheets, and the training that teaches you to read them. WHMIS training is usually the first certificate any new worker gets, and it is required by law.

Mandatory Ontario training for construction workers who might use fall protection equipment. It must come from a government-approved provider, includes hands-on practice, and is valid for three years. No valid WAH ticket, no working up high — simple as that.

The equipment and systems that stop you from falling, or catch you if you do: guardrails, “travel restraint” (keeps you away from the edge), and “fall arrest” (a harness and line that stop a fall). Falls are the biggest killer in construction, which is why this training is so serious.

The set of small course cards a worker is expected to carry: WHMIS, Working at Heights, first aid, lift training, and so on. Job ads say “must have valid tickets.” Each one is a short course, and most expire after a few years.

The mandatory first session on any big site: the site rules, the hazards, the emergency plan, and where everything is. You cannot start work without it — expect one at every new site.

A short safety meeting, usually at the start of the day or week, where the crew goes over one hazard or topic. About five minutes. “Tailgate” comes from crews meeting at the back of a truck.

Locking a machine or electrical circuit in the off position — with your own physical lock and a tag with your name — before working on it, so nobody can turn it on while you are inside. A life-saving routine in electrical and mechanical work.

The marked safe place where everyone must gather if the site is evacuated. You learn yours at orientation.

An incident where nobody was hurt but somebody easily could have been — a dropped tool that lands beside someone. Good sites want near misses reported, so the cause gets fixed before someone is hurt. Reporting one is not “telling on” anyone.

A short form a worker or crew fills out before a task, listing its dangers and how they will control them. Daily paperwork on industrial sites, especially in Alberta.

A powerful saw with a blade that pushes back and forth, used mostly for demolition. “Sawzall” is a Milwaukee brand name that became the everyday word for all of them.

Any hand-held circular saw — the round-bladed saw carpenters use all day. Named after the Skil brand.

The square-hole screw and matching screwdriver — invented in Canada in 1908 and still the everyday screw of Canadian job sites, while the US mostly uses Phillips. Screwdriver handles are colour-coded; the red Robertson (#2) is the one you will use most.

Big adjustable pliers with an angled jaw, loved by plumbers. Named after the Channellock brand.

Pliers that clamp on and stay locked by themselves until you release them. Named after the Vise-Grip brand.

A wrench with a jaw you widen and narrow with a small wheel — one wrench for many bolt sizes. Named after the Crescent brand.

A triangle-shaped measuring tool carpenters use for quick square lines and angle cuts. One of the first tools a new carpenter buys.

Strong scissors for cutting sheet metal. The colour of the handles tells you the cut direction: red cuts left, green cuts right, yellow cuts straight.

A hand-operated winch with a ratchet, used to pull heavy things tight or into place.

A long, flat, springy wire that electricians push through walls and pipes to pull cables through. “Fishing” is doing exactly that.

Machines that lift workers up to high work. A scissor lift goes straight up on folding arms; a boom lift reaches up and out on an arm. You need a short training ticket to operate one.

A forklift with a long telescopic arm that can place loads high up or far away. “Zoom boom” is the common Canadian name.

A small, powerful loader that turns by sliding its wheels. Everyone calls it a “bobcat” after the brand, no matter who made it.

The Ontario government agency in charge of the skilled trades since 2022. It sets training standards, runs the exams, issues certificates, and handles Trade Equivalency Assessments. It replaced the old Ontario College of Trades — if a website mentions “the College of Trades,” that information is out of date.

Do not confuse it with Skills Ontario, a separate non-profit that runs trades competitions and promotion in schools.

The part of the Ontario government that registers apprentices, signs off training agreements, funds programs, and enforces workplace laws. When apprenticeship paperwork says “the ministry,” this is who it means.

The national program — run together by all provinces, territories, and the federal government — that sets one Canadian standard per trade and one national exam. It is what makes a Red Seal certificate work across the whole country.

Ontario’s official health and safety organization for construction. It delivers training — including Working at Heights — and publishes free safety resources used on sites across the province.

The Ontario regulator for technical safety — elevators, fuels, boilers, and pressure vessels. Some trades need a TSSA licence on top of their trade certificate, like the elevator mechanic.

The Government of Canada’s free job-posting website. Beyond job ads, it publishes typical wages for every trade in every region — useful for checking whether an offer is fair.

The province’s free network of employment services. Its offices help people find apprenticeship sponsors, pre-apprenticeship programs, and jobs — a good first stop if you do not know where to begin.