Licensing guide · Manitoba

How to Become a Metal Fabricator (fitter) in Manitoba

Last checked 7 sources checkedNOC 72104

Do you need certification?

Certification is voluntary

Metal fabricator (fitter) is a voluntary trade in Manitoba. You can work in the trade without a certificate.

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“Compulsory/Voluntary (C/V) Certification Required by Apprenticeship Authority Provinces and Territories designate each trade as compulsory or voluntary. Work in Compulsory trades can only be performed by certified journeypersons or registered apprentices. Work in Voluntary trades may legally be performed with or without certification or apprenticeship training | V | V | V | V | V | V | V | V | V | V | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable”

From ellischart.ca/eng/trades/metal-fab-fitter/ellis-chart.shtml, checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Voluntary certification See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Your roadmap

Apprenticeship Manitoba has no page of its own for this trade. These are the steps it gives for every designated trade in Manitoba.

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 4 steps without a listed fee

  1. You complete and submit an Apprenticeship Agreement so it can be registered by Apprenticeship Manitoba.

    Source
    “Your apprentice’s program does not begin, and on-the-job hours are not eligible, until the Apprenticeship Agreement is registered by Apprenticeship Manitoba. So be sure to work with your apprentices to complete all information and submit the required documentation.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/employers/hiring-apprentices.html

  2. You spend about 80 per cent of your apprenticeship working on the job learning from a certified journeyperson, completing the required on-the-job hours for each level.

    Source
    “You will spend about 80 per cent of your apprenticeship working on the job. Here you will learn the knowledge and skills for your trade from a certified journeyperson. Each trade has a minimum number of on-the-job training hours required for each level.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

  3. After completing the required on-the-job hours, you register for and pass technical training delivered by a recognized training provider before progressing to the next level.

    Source
    “Once you have completed the required number of on-the-job hours, you can register for technical training delivered by a recognized technical training provider. You need to complete and pass the technical training before progressing to the next level.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

  4. Once you have completed all levels and requirements, you must pass the certification exam with a minimum grade of 70 per cent to earn your Certificate of Qualification.

    Source
    “Once you’ve completed all levels and apprenticeship requirements for your program, you must pass the certification (final) exam. The minimum passing grade is 70 per cent.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 3 steps without a listed fee

  1. You complete the Certificate Recognition Form to apply to have your credentials assessed and recognized.

    Source
    “To apply, complete the Certificate Recognition Form”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/labour-mobility.html

  2. You provide a copy of your credentials with your application.

    Source
    “Provide a copy of your credentials”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/labour-mobility.html

  3. If your application is approved, you receive a letter of recognition so you can work in Manitoba.

    Source
    “Subject to approval, a letter of recognition will be provided to you so that you can work in Manitoba.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/labour-mobility.html

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
  • 3 steps without a listed fee

  1. You visit your trade's page on the explore trades section to find the trades qualification requirements listed for your trade.

    Source
    “To be approved to take the certification exam for your trade, you must meet certain requirements. Visit your trade’s page at explore trades section of this website. Click on the trades qualification tab to find the requirements listed for your trade.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-...
    • Application fee: $200 (non-refundable, to assess your application)
      Source
      “Application fee - Include a $200 payment (non-refundable). - Make cheque payable to: Apprenticeship Manitoba. - This fee is to assess your application and does not guarantee that you will be approved.”
      gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-...
    Source
    “Complete and follow instructions. <h3>Trades Qualification Application</h3>”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-...

  3. Apprenticeship Manitoba verifies all declarations and documents and may request additional information or an interview.

    Source
    “All declarations and documents will be verified by Apprenticeship Manitoba. - You may be asked for additional information to support your application.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-...

  4. If approved, you are notified by email that you can challenge the certification exam as a trade qualifier.

    Source
    “If you meet the requirements, you will be notified via email that you have been approved to challenge the certification exam and you are accepted as a trade qualifier.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-...

Listed fees for this route

1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Experience

  • To qualify as a trade qualifier you must have a minimum number of years and hours working in the trade and experience in at least 70 per cent of the trade's scope.

    Source
    “You must have: - a minimum number of years working in the trade - a minimum number of hours working in the trade - experience (skills) in at least 70 per cent scope of the trade”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-...

Residency

  • You must reside in Manitoba when you apply, whether as an apprentice or a trade qualifier.

    Source
    “Whether you plan to be an apprentice, or plan to challenge the certification exam as a trade qualifier, you must reside in Manitoba when you apply.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/newcomers.html

Other

  • You must provide a letter from an employer or reference confirming your experience as proof that you meet the experience requirements.

    Source
    “As part of your application, you must provide a letter from an employer or reference as a form of proof that you meet the experience requirements for your trade. Your employer must have witnessed your work and confirmed your experience as shown in your application.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-...

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Because metal fabricator (fitter) is a voluntary trade in Manitoba, the CFTA certification process does not apply and you are legally allowed to work in the trade without certification.

Source
“If your trade is categorized as voluntary, the CFTA certification process does not apply because you can work in Manitoba without mandatory credentials. You are legally allowed to work in the trade without certification.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/labour-mobility.html

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 72104, Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Manitoba and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Manitoba $18.00 $24.00 $30.80 Limited (2 of 5)
Canada $21.00 $29.00 $43.30 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Manitoba

Wages in every province and territory

Metal fabricators (fitter) in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 9 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare metal fabricator (fitter) licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Metal Fabricator (Fitter) - Ellis Chart ellischart.ca/eng/trades/metal-fab-fitter/ellis-chart.shtml · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/employers/hiring-apprentices.html · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/labour-mobility.html · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier.... · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-... · fetched October 10, 2026
  7. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/newcomers.html · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a metal fabricator (fitter) in Manitoba?

No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in Manitoba. Certification is managed by Apprenticeship Manitoba.

Which exams are required?

Certification exam.

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