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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Show the source
“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 | C | V | V | V | V | C | V | V | V”
From ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations
- 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.
The steps are not listed yet.
Check the current steps with Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations.
Requirements
Education
To get into an apprenticeship program, you must pass an entrance examination to meet the minimum educational requirements.
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
Experience
Experienced workers who have not completed a Canadian apprenticeship program must have at least 9000 hours of work in the trade to be eligible to challenge the certification examination.
Source
“Required Hours for Trade Qualifier Provinces and Territories dictate a minimum number of required hours working in a trade for a trade qualifier to be eligible to challenge any certification examination; candidates must also demonstrate experience that covers the trade’s practices | 10800 | 10800 | 10800 | 10800 | Not applicable | 8000 | 10800 | 10800 | 9563 | 10080 | 10800 | 9000 | 9000”
ellischart.ca/eng/trades/powerline-tech/ellis-chart.shtml
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. This indicates if the province or territory allows these experienced but uncertified workers to challenge certification examinations once they have demonstrated proof of eligible trade experience | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not applicable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes”
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
-
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 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not applicable | No | Not applicable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes”
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. In many provinces and territories, the Red Seal examination is used for both certification and Red Seal endorsement. In some provinces and territories, there may be a different examination used for certification in that jurisdiction, written prior to attempting the Red Seal examination for Red Seal endorsement | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes”
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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