Licensing guide · Manitoba

How to Become a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (residential) in Manitoba

Last checked 6 sources checked

Do you need certification?

Certification required

Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic (residential) is a compulsory trade in Manitoba. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.

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“If a trade is designated as compulsory certification, it means you must be registered as an apprentice or be a certified journeyperson to work in that trade.”

From gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier...., checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

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

Your roadmap

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

Trained in Canada

  • 4 steps without a listed fee

  1. Apprenticeship Manitoba emails you the Apprenticeship Agreement, which you can print and sign or sign electronically, and your employer must also sign Part C.

    Source
    “Apprenticeship Manitoba sends an email to you with the Apprenticeship Agreement”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...

  2. You submit your education records, documentation of related work or educational experience, and the signed Apprenticeship Agreement to Apprenticeship Manitoba.

    Source
    “a copy of your education records (post-secondary transcript, or high school diploma, and/or Grade 12 transcripts, GED certificate/ Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC), or equivalent).”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...

  3. You complete the on-the-job hours, technical training hours and exams required for your trade under The Apprenticeship and Certification Act.

    Source
    “complete on-the-job hours, technical training hours and exams according to The Apprenticeship and Certification Act and for your specific trade regulation or by-law.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...

  4. After completing all levels and apprenticeship 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

  • 1 step without a listed fee

  1. If your certification from another province is not Red Seal in a compulsory certification trade, it will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

    Source
    “If you received certification that is not Red Seal in a compulsory certification trade, this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier....

Listed fees for this route

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

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $200
  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Listed time: 1.4 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)

  1. You review the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website to determine if you have the required experience, training, knowledge and skills to write the qualification exam.

    Source
    “Determine if you have the work experience, training, knowledge and skills required to be eligible to write the qualification exam by reviewing the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  2. If you meet all requirements, you submit your trades qualification application with your completed work experience form, employer letters and copies of previous trades certification to Apprenticeship Manitoba.

    Source
    “Submit to Apprenticeship Manitoba your trades qualification application (along with your completed work experience form, employer letter(s) and copies of previous trades certification) only if you meet all requirements to write the qualification exam in your trade.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  3. You wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba, and approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.

    Time: 6 weeks
    Time source
    “application review typically takes about six weeks”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations
    Source
    “Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks). Approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  4. Once approved as a trade qualifier, you study using the supports and sample exams and then take your certification exam.

    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

One-time total listed: $200

One-time fees listed for Trained outside Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $200 100%
One-time total $200 100%

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

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Experience

  • To be approved for trade qualification you must have a minimum number of years and a minimum number of hours working in the trade, with experience in at least 70 per cent of the scope of the trade.

    Source
    “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 challenging the certification exam.

    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 they witnessed your work and that your experience matches your application.

    Source
    “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-...

  • Hours worked as a registered apprentice count as training hours and do not qualify as experience toward trade qualification.

    Source
    “If part of your work experience was as a registered apprentice, these hours are considered training hours and will not qualify for experience towards trade qualification.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-...

Already licensed in another province?

Extra steps

Red Seal certification is recognized in Manitoba, but non-Red Seal certification in a compulsory certification trade is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Source
“If you received certification that is not Red Seal in a compulsory certification trade, this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier....

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

No Job Bank wage or outlook data for this occupation yet.

Refrigerations and air conditioning mechanics (residential) in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 0 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

  • British Columbia Not confirmed yet
  • Alberta Not confirmed yet
  • Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
  • Ontario Not confirmed yet
  • Quebec Not confirmed yet
  • New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
  • Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
  • Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
  • Yukon Not confirmed yet
  • Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
  • Nunavut Not confirmed yet

Compare refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic (residential) licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier.... · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Regulated Occupations | Manitoba Immigration immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/apply-to-become-... · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. 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 refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic (residential) in Manitoba?

Yes. Certification, or registration as an apprentice, is required to work in the trade in Manitoba. Certification is managed by Apprenticeship Manitoba.

Which exams are required?

certification exam, Red Seal exam, Level Placement Exam.

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