Effective April 30, 2007, persons who work in the steamfitter/pipefitter trade in PEI will be required to hold a certificate of qualification or be a registered apprentice under the PEI Apprenticeship and Trade Qualifications Act.

Minister Dover advised that the move to certification was recommended by the industry. “Certification of the trade will mean improved safety for workers and the public. Testing will be done to national standards and successful apprentices will receive the nationally recognized Interprovincial Red Seal,” she said. “Employers who have licensed workers on staff can use this as an indicator of skill level when competing for work in PEI and elsewhere.”

Other certified trades in PEI include the automotive service technician, plumber and construction electrician trades.

“We are proud of the progressive work being done by our trades community to continuously improve service quality,” said Minister Dover. “We will continue to support our tradespeople as they aspire to higher standards and rewarding careers in the trades,” she said.

The certification was made possible through a partnership of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, the Provincial Apprenticeship Board and the Department of Education Apprenticeship and Training Section.

A grandparent provision in the Apprenticeship and Trade Qualifications Act provides tradespeople who have worked in the steamfitter/pipefitter trade for five of the last seven years the opportunity to apply for a work permit without testing.