As part of Budget 2025: Smarter. Stronger. Better., the Provincial Government has eliminated fees for apprentices and trade qualifiers effective April 1, 2025, making it more affordable for individuals to obtain journeyperson certification and incentivizing entry into the skilled trades.

Newfoundland and Labrador apprentices will no longer have to pay fees to write or rewrite an exam. Fees for replacing logbooks and certificates have also been removed.

Trade qualifiers will no longer be required to pay application or examination fees. A trade qualifier is a tradesperson who has enough on-the-job work experience to write a certification examination without having completed any in-school training. This removes a barrier for trade qualifiers considering pursuing journeyperson or Red Seal certification.

This Budget 2025 initiative builds on a broader strategy to bolster the skilled trades workforce by supporting apprentices as well as encouraging individuals to consider rewarding careers in the skilled sector.

Ongoing efforts to support the skilled trades include:

• Approximately $3.5 million annually for the Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy, which is paid directly to employers who are approved to hire an apprentice.
• $1.7 million over two years for the Trades NL Indigenous Skilled Trades Office that works to create employment opportunities, reduce barriers and enhance supports for Indigenous tradespeople.
• Approximately $972,000 annually for the Office to Advance Women Apprentices.
• $1.7 million over five years for the Youth Summer Apprenticeship Program, administered through Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador, to give high school students the ability to have paid summer internships in the skilled trades.
• $55,000 annually for the Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador provincial competition that brings youth into a competitive spotlight while demonstrating the complexity and talent involved in skilled careers.
• Launching the Make it Excellent in the Skilled Trades campaign to encourage youth and underrepresented groups to consider careers in the skilled trades.
• Taking action to improve the provincial apprenticeships system by implementing recommendations to improve outcomes for apprentices, journeypersons and employers.

For a full list of the eliminated fees, please see the backgrounder.

More details on Budget 2025 investments are available online here.

Quotes
“By eliminating fees for tradespeople, we are lowering barriers and providing further incentives for individuals to consider rewarding careers in the trades. This Budget 2025 initiative adds to our ongoing actions to support the skilled trades sector and acknowledges the vital role tradespeople have in building our economy.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

“Any time you remove fees on hardworking people that are dedicated to advancing their careers, it’s a welcome initiative. This Provincial Government is clearly looking at all opportunities to lighten tax burdens on Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. We look forward to continuing our work with the Provincial Government in an effort to create opportunities for our skilled tradepersons.”
Bob Fiander
Executive Director, Trades NL

“The removal of these fees is a welcome initiative by the Provincial Government to improve access to careers in the skilled trades, reduce barriers, and expand employment. Careers in the skilled trades are important and valuable. The NLCA is committed to continuing to work with the Provincial Government to support our construction industry and workforce – that means supporting the hardworking individuals in the skilled trades sector, too.”
Rhonda Neary
President and COO, Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association

“The Office to Advance Women Apprentices is pleased to see the elimination of fees for apprentices in Budget 2025. This step by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador removes a financial barrier for tradeswomen pursuing their journeyperson or Red Seal certification and supports a more equitable skilled trades workforce.”
Lori LeDrew
Executive Director, Office to Advance Women Apprentices

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BACKGROUNDER

Apprentices and Trades Certification Division Fees Eliminated Through Budget 2025

Source: gov.nl.ca