Fast facts
| Trade code | 244H |
|---|---|
| Sector | Construction |
| Classification | Voluntary trade |
| Certifying exam | Not prescribed under O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3 |
| Apprentice to journeyperson ratio | Subject to a ratio (O. Reg. 876/21, s. 4) |
| Red Seal trade | No |
| Active apprentices in Ontario | under 20 (reported in Ontario's apprenticeship dataset) |
| Approved sponsors | 4 |
| Certifying body | Skilled Trades Ontario |
Last verified August 19, 2026 against the sources listed below.
Is restoration mason a compulsory trade in Ontario?
No. Restoration Mason is a prescribed trade under section 1 of O. Reg. 876/21, but it is not on the compulsory list in section 2. That means you can legally work in this trade in Ontario without holding a Certificate of Qualification. Certification is voluntary and serves as formal proof of competency to employers and clients.
Voluntary classification only covers certification under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act. Specific work within the trade can still require separate licences or permits under other Ontario statutes, so confirm the rules for the actual work being done. The 23 trades where certification is mandatory are on the compulsory trades list.
How do you become a restoration mason in Ontario?
The apprenticeship pathway for this trade is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario under section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021:
- Find a sponsor and register a training agreement. An employer or union sponsor takes you on and the training agreement is registered with the ministry.
- Complete the on the job and in school training. The skills are set out in the trade's Apprenticeship Training Standard, signed off by your sponsor as you demonstrate them, alongside levels of in school theory at a training delivery agent.
- Receive your Certificate of Apprenticeship. Skilled Trades Ontario issues it when the program is complete.
- No certifying exam follows. O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3 does not prescribe a certifying exam for this trade, so the Certificate of Apprenticeship is the completion credential.
The exact training standard, current curriculum and program details are on the Skilled Trades Ontario page for Restoration Mason. On the job hour requirements vary by trade and are not published on this page yet; confirm them in the training standard before signing an agreement.
Is there an apprentice to journeyperson ratio for the 244H?
Yes. Restoration Mason is one of the 33 trades that section 4 of O. Reg. 876/21 makes subject to an apprentice to journeyperson ratio. The regulation establishes that a ratio applies, but the numeric ratio itself is not stated in section 4. Confirm the current ratio with Skilled Trades Ontario before registering an additional apprentice, because it limits how many apprentices a sponsor may train at once.
Is the 244H a Red Seal trade?
No. Restoration Mason is an Ontario prescribed trade but is not part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program, so an Ontario credential in this trade does not carry automatic recognition in other provinces. Workers moving to another province should check that province's own trade classification.
Related Ontario trades
Other construction sector trades with certification records on this registry:
Official verification sources
- RegulationO. Reg. 876/21, Prescribed Trades and Related Matters (e-Laws)
- Certifying bodySkilled Trades Ontario: Restoration Mason
- Participation dataOntario open data: Apprenticeships dataset
Classification, exam requirement and ratio status on this page are read directly from O. Reg. 876/21 as consolidated on e-Laws, not from secondary summaries. Facts not yet verified against a primary source are marked as not published rather than estimated.