# The 23 compulsory trades in Ontario

## What does compulsory mean?

A compulsory trade is one where practicing without valid certification is an offence. Every compulsory trade has a certifying exam, and journeypersons in compulsory trades must renew their Certificate of Qualification every year. Whether a specific person is qualified can be checked on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.

The other 121 prescribed trades are voluntary: you can work in them without a certificate, and certification serves as formal proof of competency. Note that voluntary status under this Act does not remove licensing that other statutes attach to specific work.

## The full list, from O. Reg. 876/21, s. 2

| # | Trade |
| --- | --- |
| 1 | Alignment and Brakes Technician |
| 2 | Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer |
| 3 | Auto Body Repairer |
| 4 | Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician |
| 5 | Automotive Service Technician |
| 6 | [Electrician - Construction and Maintenance certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/309a-electrician-construction-and-maintenance/) |
| 7 | [Electrician - Domestic and Rural certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/309c-electrician-domestic-and-rural/) |
| 8 | Fuel and Electrical Systems Technician |
| 9 | Hairstylist |
| 10 | [Hoisting Engineer - Mobile Crane Operator 1 certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/339a-hoisting-engineer-mobile-crane-operator-1/) |
| 11 | [Hoisting Engineer - Mobile Crane Operator 2 certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/339c-hoisting-engineer-mobile-crane-operator-2/) |
| 12 | [Hoisting Engineer - Tower Crane Operator certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/339b-hoisting-engineer-tower-crane-operator/) |
| 13 | Motorcycle Technician |
| 14 | [Plumber certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/306a-plumber/) |
| 15 | [Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/313a-refrigeration-and-air-conditioning-systems-mechanic/) |
| 16 | [Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/313d-residential-air-conditioning-systems-mechanic/) |
| 17 | [Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/308r-residential-low-rise-sheet-metal-installer/) |
| 18 | [Sheet Metal Worker certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/308a-sheet-metal-worker/) |
| 19 | [Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/427a-sprinkler-and-fire-protection-installer/) |
| 20 | [Steamfitter certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/307a-steamfitter/) |
| 21 | Transmission Technician |
| 22 | Truck and Coach Technician |
| 23 | Truck-Trailer Service Technician |

Last verified August 19, 2026 against O. Reg. 876/21 as consolidated on e-Laws (consolidation period beginning January 1, 2022, no amendments). Trades without a linked record are outside the construction and industrial sectors this registry covers first.

## Hiring in a compulsory trade?

Whether each worker holds a valid card is checkable on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register, but the employer side has its own paperwork: WSIB registration before construction work begins, and municipal contractor licensing in many cities. Both are indexed on our sister site, Ontario Trade Registry: [WSIB Form 1000 registration requirements](https://ontariotraderegistry.ca/compliance/wsib-form-1000/) and [contractor licensing requirements by municipality](https://ontariotraderegistry.ca/licensing/).

## Why these trades and not others?

The compulsory list is dominated by work where a mistake injures someone: electrical, gas-side refrigeration, sprinkler and fire protection, crane operation, steamfitting. Ontario recorded 18 construction and 27 industrial worker fatalities in 2024 alone. See [workplace fatalities and critical injuries by sector](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/safety/) for the Ministry of Labour counts behind that.

## Official verification sources

- Regulation[O. Reg. 876/21, Prescribed Trades and Related Matters (e-Laws)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/210876)
- Certifying body[Skilled Trades Ontario: working in the compulsory trades](https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca/about-trades/work-in-the-compulsory-trades/)

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Source: https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/compulsory/