Which trades have to be licensed in Ontario?

Answers (1)

1. LE

   LokalMatch EditorialLokalMatch editorial

   Answered September 22, 2026

   Twenty-three of them. Ontario recognises 144 skilled trades and classifies 23 as compulsory, meaning nobody may work in them without a valid Certificate of Qualification, a Provisional Certificate of Qualification, or a Registered Training Agreement as a registered apprentice.

   The construction trades on that compulsory list include electrician (both the construction-and-maintenance and the domestic-and-rural branches), plumber, steamfitter, sheet metal worker, refrigeration and air conditioning systems mechanic, residential air conditioning systems mechanic, and sprinkler and fire protection installer. Enforcement sits with the Ministry of Labour, whose inspectors can issue compliance orders and administrative monetary penalties.

   Everything else on the list of 144 is voluntary certification, so for most trades there is simply no provincial certificate to ask for. Check the specific trade on Skilled Trades Ontario’s classification list before you assume one way or the other — and where the trade is voluntary, the things you can actually verify are insurance, a WSIB account in good standing, references and a written contract.

Answers come from pros and are reviewed by LokalMatch before they’re published. They’re general information — for regulated or safety-critical work, have a licensed professional assess your situation.

Sources

Where the facts on this page come from.

1. 1

   Compulsory trades and enforcement — Government of Ontario (accessed September 21, 2026)

2. 2

   Work in the compulsory trades — Skilled Trades Ontario (accessed September 21, 2026)

3. 3

   Trades classified as compulsory — Skilled Trades Ontario (accessed September 21, 2026)