Training
Earn while
you learn.
Sheet metal is a skilled, certified trade. Local 409 members train through a registered apprenticeship and keep their skills current with SMART continuing education and supervisor programs — the investment that keeps our contractors competitive and our members in demand.
Apprenticeship
A Red Seal
career.
Apprenticeship is post-secondary education you get paid for. In Nova Scotia the sheet metal program runs roughly four years — about 8,000 hours — combining roughly 85% paid on-the-job training with 15% classroom instruction, assisting journeypersons in the fabrication, assembly and installation of sheet metal products and systems.
~4 yrs
Program length
~8,000 hrs
On-the-job + classroom
85 / 15
Job-site / classroom
Red Seal
Interprovincial credential
What you need
Getting started.
- 0118 years of age or older
- 02High school diploma or equivalent
- 03A valid driver's licence
- 04Trade experience is an asset, not a requirement
Nova Scotia administers a Level 2 completion exam (70% pass mark) and the interprovincial Red Seal exam. Federal Apprenticeship Incentive Grants may be available — ask the hall.
What you get
The payoff.
- 01The highest-quality classroom, on-the-job and safety training
- 02Earn while you learn, with wage step-ups at each level
- 03Health and pension benefits as you build hours
- 04A nationally recognized Red Seal credential
Continuing education
Beyond the ticket.
SMART offers ongoing training to sharpen skills, raise earning potential, and keep members current with codes, equipment and methods throughout their careers.
For members moving into leadership, Local 409 supports Better SuperVision©, the construction-supervisor program delivered through the Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council — covering supervisory competencies, understanding the purchaser’s needs, drawing on tradesperson input, continuous improvement, jobsite safety, and meeting schedules and budgets. Contact the hall to register.