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.
The province also reduced exam challenge fees to $350 from $644.15...
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