How to Become a Powerline Technician in Northwest Territories
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Powerline technician is a voluntary trade in Northwest Territories. You can work in the trade without a certificate.
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- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Work in Voluntary trades may legally be performed with or without certification or apprenticeship training”
From ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml, checked October 11, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
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- Trained in Canada: 3 steps
- Licensed in another province: no separate route
- Trained outside Canada: no separate route
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations
Your roadmap
Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations has no page of its own for this trade. These are the steps it gives for every designated trade in Northwest Territories.
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
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To enter an apprenticeship program you must pass an entrance examination that meets the minimum educational requirements for the trade.
Source
“To get into an apprenticeship program, you must pass an entrance examination to meet the minimum educational requirements. A pass is 70% and there are different tests, depending on the trade.”
ece.gov.nt.ca/en/career-in-trades -
Complete the apprenticeship program, which combines on-the-job working hours with technical training at school.
Source
“The length of time it takes to become a journeyperson depends on the trade, but it is usually four years, with time split between working (80%) and technical training at school (20%).”
ece.gov.nt.ca/en/career-in-trades -
Write the written certification examination required to become certified in the trade.
Source
“Written Certification Examination Indicates if there is a written examination required for certification.”
ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
- 2 steps without a listed fee
No separate route for this group. Source
“Trade Qualifier Challenge Option (Yes/No) Trade qualifiers are people who have experience working in the trade, but have not completed an apprenticeship program in Canada.”
ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml
Trained outside Canada
No separate route for this group. Source
“Trade Qualifier Challenge Option (Yes/No) Trade qualifiers are people who have experience working in the trade, but have not completed an apprenticeship program in Canada.”
ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml
Requirements
Education
Applicants to an apprenticeship program must pass an entrance examination to meet the minimum educational requirements, with a pass mark of 70%.
Source
“To get into an apprenticeship program, you must pass an entrance examination to meet the minimum educational requirements. A pass is 70% and there are different tests, depending on the trade.”
ece.gov.nt.ca/en/career-in-trades
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages do not state how someone already licensed in another Canadian province or territory registers in the Northwest Territories. Source
“Trade Qualifier Challenge Option (Yes/No) Trade qualifiers are people who have experience working in the trade, but have not completed an apprenticeship program in Canada.”
ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations
Exams
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entrance examination
Source
“To get into an apprenticeship program, you must pass an entrance examination to meet the minimum educational requirements. A pass is 70% and there are different tests, depending on the trade.”
ece.gov.nt.ca/en/career-in-trades -
Written Level Examinations
Source
“Written Level Examinations Indicates if written examinations are required to successfully complete and advance past each level of training”
ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml -
Written Certification Examination
Source
“Written Certification Examination Indicates if there is a written examination required for certification.”
ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml -
interprovincial standards (Red Seal) exam
Source
“This applies to skilled tradespeople in certain trades who have completed an apprenticeship program with a journeyperson level certificate of qualification, and passed an interprovincial standards (Red Seal) exam.”
ece.gov.nt.ca/en/career-in-tradesWhich provinces ask for the interprovincial standards (Red Seal) exam
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Territories | $39.38 | $66.32 | $78.51 | Undetermined |
| Canada | $28.40 | $46.00 | $62.00 | — |
Powerline technicians in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Certification required
- Alberta Voluntary certification
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Certification required
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Certification required
- New Brunswick Voluntary certification
- Nova Scotia Voluntary certification
- Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
- Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
- Yukon Voluntary certification
- Nunavut Voluntary certification
Sources checked
- Powerline Technician – Ellis Chart ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml · fetched October 9, 2026
- Thinking about a Career in the Trades? | Education, Culture and Employment ece.gov.nt.ca/en/career-in-trades · fetched October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a powerline technician in Northwest Territories?
No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in Northwest Territories. Certification is managed by Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations.
Which exams are required?
entrance examination, Written Level Examinations, Written Certification Examination, interprovincial standards (Red Seal) exam.
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