Alberta is Providing $4M to Expand Training Opportunities for Skilled Trades Workers

June 15, 2026

In collaboration with the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC), this investment will support skilled trades workers preparing for certification and Red Seal exams through an advanced learning platform, which personalizes training as you go. The platform checks what learners already know and focuses on what they still need. It adjusts the learning path so they can progress faster without missing any required content.

This two-year pilot program helps address workforce shortages by speeding up credentialing, strengthening Alberta’s skilled trades workforce and allowing workers to upgrade their skills while remaining employed, avoiding lost income and ensuring training aligns with industry needs.

The pilot will support at least 200 workers in high-demand trades that are critical to Alberta’s economy and major industrial projects, including welding, steamfitter-pipefitting, instrumentation and ironworking. Training will be delivered using established eligibility criteria under Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training’s Trades Qualifier Program and will maintain existing skilled trade certification standards.

CLAC is Canada’s largest independent, multi-sector union. It represents approximately 24,000 workers in Alberta, primarily in heavy industrial construction and maintenance. CLAC will partner with Built To Learn, a Canadian training provider, to deliver the adaptive learning platform as part of the pilot.

This pilot can help inform future efforts to expand access to trades certification preparation across Alberta. Helping workers earn their credentials sooner supports employers, strengthens job sites and builds the skilled workforce Alberta needs.

Quick facts

• The one-time grant runs from March 27, 2026 to March 27, 2028.
• The pilot is not a new test or certification process and does not change existing certification or Red Seal standards.
• Participation is open to individuals who are registered and meet the criteria of the Trades Qualifier Program.

Apprenticeship and Industry Training Trades Qualifier Program

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