A 1-year Provisional Certificate of Qualification will be issued after you complete your apprenticeship in a trade that has a certifying exam. This certificate allows you to continue working in a compulsory trade while you attempt your certifying exam.

Skilled Trades Ontario will send you the certificate via email. If you do not have access to email, the certificate will be mailed to you.

  • Individuals in non-compulsory trades may continue working while awaiting the arrival of their certificate.
  • Individuals in compulsory trades must wait to receive their certificate to begin working in their trade.

A Provisional Certificate of Qualification holder may be granted a 6-month extension after submitting an application form, if the Registrar is satisfied that extenuating circumstances outside the individual’s control prevented them from scheduling or writing the certifying exam in the trade.

Extenuating circumstances include, without limitation, the existence of any barrier within the meaning of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and circumstances where the certifying exams cannot be administered for technical or operational reasons

Your application for a 6-month extension:

  • Must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on the day that your Provisional Certificate of Qualification expires. Applications submitted after that date and time will not be considered.
  • May be denied by Skilled Trades Ontario if you do not write your certifying exam prior to the expiry date of your Provisional Certificate of Qualification. Schedule your certifying exam here.
  • Will be ineligible for consideration if it is received more than 2 months before the expiry date.

You can still attempt the certifying examination even if your provisional Certificate of Qualification has expired.

To apply for a 6-month extension:

          Or

  • Mail a completed copy of the PDF form to:
    Skilled Trades Ontario
    PO Box 2354 RPO SQ1 Shoppers
    Mississauga, ON L5B 3C8