How to Become a Tool and Die Maker in Manitoba
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Tool and die maker is a voluntary trade in Manitoba. You can work in the trade without a certificate.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“If a trade is voluntary , registering as an apprentice is optional. … Tool and Die Maker”
From gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles.html, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps
- Licensed in another province: 4 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 4 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
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Apprenticeship Manitoba sends you the Apprenticeship Agreement by email, and you and your employer must sign it, either on paper or electronically.
Source
“Sign the Apprenticeship Agreement - Apprenticeship Manitoba sends an email to you with the Apprenticeship Agreement - you can print out the agreement and sign it, or electronically sign the agreement - your employer must also sign Part C of the agreement”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... -
You submit your education records, any related work or educational experience documents, and the signed Apprenticeship Agreement to Apprenticeship Manitoba to register it.
Source
“Provide documentation and register your Apprenticeship Agreement with Apprenticeship Manitoba Follow instructions on your Apprenticeship Agreement to submit: - 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... -
You complete the on-the-job hours, technical training hours and exams required by the Act and your trade's regulation or by-law.
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... -
After completing all levels and apprenticeship requirements, you must pass the certification exam, and some trades also require passing a practical exam.
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. Some trades also include a practical exam that you must also pass).”
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.
Licensed in another province
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 1.4 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)
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You review the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website to determine whether your experience, training, knowledge and skills make you eligible 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 -
If you meet all the requirements to write the qualification exam, you submit your trades qualification application with your completed work experience form, employer letters and copies of any 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 -
You wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba, and approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.
Time: 6 weeksTime source
“Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks).”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupationsSource
“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 -
As a trade qualifier challenging the exam for this trade, you must also pass an additional practical exam.
Source
“Yes Additional Practical Exam Required”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/tool-and-die...
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.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 1.4 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)
-
You review the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website to determine whether your experience, training, knowledge and skills make you eligible 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 -
If you meet all the requirements to write the qualification exam, you submit your trades qualification application with your completed work experience form, employer letters and copies of any 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 -
You wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba, and approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.
Time: 6 weeksTime source
“Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks).”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupationsSource
“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 -
As a trade qualifier challenging the exam for this trade, you must also pass an additional practical exam.
Source
“Yes Additional Practical Exam Required”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/tool-and-die...
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.
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.
- Level Placement Exam: $200
Source
“Level Placement Exam $200”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... - NSF Cheque Service Fee: $20
Source
“NSF Cheque Service Fee $20”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... - Technical Training: $425 (starting at)
Source
“Technical Training (click link for full fee breakdown) Starting at $425”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... - Book and materials fees: $800 (vary by program and technical training provider)
Source
“NOTE: Book and materials fees vary by program and technical training provider and range from $800 to $1,500.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...
Requirements
Experience
To challenge the exam through trades qualification you need six years of experience and 10,800 hours.
Source
“Challenging the Exam - Trades Qualification: 6 Years of Experience 10,800 Hours Required”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/tool-and-die...
Residency
You must reside in Manitoba when you apply, whether as an apprentice or as 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.htmlYou must be a Manitoba resident to apply as a trade qualifier.
Source
“You must be a Manitoba resident to apply as a trade qualifier.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/tool-and-die...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
If you have received Red Seal certification for a trade, it will continue to be recognized in Manitoba. Source
“If you have received Red Seal certification for any trade (voluntary or compulsory certification), it will continue to be recognized in Manitoba.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier....
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
Exams
-
certification (final) exam
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... -
practical exam
Source
“Yes Additional Practical Exam Required”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/tool-and-die... -
Red Seal exam
Source
“## Red Seal Exam Information”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/tool-and-die... -
Level Placement Exam
Source
“Level Placement Exam $200”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
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
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | $22.66 | $31.62 | $41.46 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $22.50 | $34.00 | $44.65 | — |
Tools and die makers in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Voluntary certification
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Voluntary certification
- New Brunswick Voluntary certification
- Nova Scotia Voluntary certification
- Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
- Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles.html · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier.... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Regulated Occupations | Manitoba Immigration immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/tool-and-die... · fetched October 10, 2026
- 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 tool and die maker 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 (final) exam, practical exam, Red Seal exam, Level Placement Exam.
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