How to Work in Canada as a Skilled Plumber

Skilled plumbers are in high demand in Canada. If you are a skilled and experienced plumber who want to work in Canada, now is the right time. The high demand of plumbers in at least 4 of Canada’s 11 provinces and territories has made the profession to be paying quite well in the country.

It is certain that plumbers between $39,000 and $65,072 per year. Experienced plumbers even earn up to $97,500 per year. The provinces with higher demand of plumbers pay higher in the country. It therefore means that your application for permanent residence in a province that needs plumbers will not only receive preferential treatment, but also attract a salary that is among the highest in plumbing profession in a whole of Canada.

Currently, Canada is inviting about 341,000 people into the country. Under economic immigration programs administered through the Express Entry system, about 195,800 highly skilled foreign workers will be invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada. These include but not limited to the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Trade Worker Program, and the Canadian Experience Class, as well as Provincial Nominee Programs and immigration pilots such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.

However, just like any other profession, there are some bureaucratic hurdles, such as checking your credentials and other verification processes, but that is nothing to worry about. This article will explain to you all you need to know about immigrating to Canada as a plumber.

Tools to go with while immigrating to Canada as a plumber

There are basic plumbing tools you must not forget while immigrating to Canada as a plumber. The essence of these tools is to enable you arrive Canada not only as a plumber but as a person who really wants to work in his profession. However, aside immigrating with those basic tools, there are other requirements which you are expected to meet. These requirements vary according to the province or territory you wish to settle in. It is also necessary that you understand the Canadian immigration system. For instance, Canadian system classifies occupation based on skill level and type of work. Plumbers in Canada have a National Occupation Classification (NOC) Code 7251. This code applies to, for instance, maintenance and general plumbers apprentices and plumbing mechanics. Qualification level of plumbers in Canada is B, and such, you can apply for any top immigration program of your choice

Criteria for plumbers who want to live and work in Canada

For you to live and work in Canada, you must:

Have completed you secondary or high school education
Have work experience, at least 1 year depending on the program and province/territory
Have your Journeyman/woman trade certification in machining, tool and die making or other related metalworking trade
Have four to five-year apprenticeship or combination of work experience and industry courses (National Occupation Classification Code 7251)
If you are to work in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, have trade certification
Though not compulsory, have trade certification if you are to work in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Though optional, have your Red Seal Endorsement. This allows for interprovincial mobility.

You are to note that all qualifications must be assessed to ensure they meet Canadian standards. This means that you will need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to count towards Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points when applying for your visa. The following organizations are authorized to assess your qualifications:

Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
World Education Services
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
International Credential Evaluation Service.

How to apply for a Canadian visa as a plumber

As a skilled plumber, there are plethora of legal ways in which you can migrate to Canada. The most proper way to ensure a successful visa application is to choose the immigration program that best fits your needs. This is usually best determined by regulated Canadian immigration consultants or RCICs who are qualified to conduct an in-depth eligibility assessment. The following ways are most befitting for a plumber:

Express Entry system
Provincial Nominee Program
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

The aforementioned are briefly explained below.

Express Entry

The Express Entry system is the most accessible Canada immigration system. It has made Canadian immigration more accessible and faster for applicants from all over the world. This system is unarguably the most popular ways to immigrate to Canada. Through Express Entry system, Canadian immigrants can be administered under three Canadian federal immigrations programs. These include the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Program. In Canada, plumbers fall under NOC Major Group 72 which covers Industrial, Electrical and Construction Trades. That is to say, as a plumber, you may be able to submit your visa application through the FSTP. Applicants under the Express Entry system are required to create their Express Entry Profiles wherein they will enter information about their age, language skills, academic qualifications, job experience, etc. With the Express Entry Profile you can participate in draws, which are usually held in every two weeks. Remember that your profile will be ranked and scored in accordance with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). If your score is equal or higher than the minimum CRS score, then you will be sent an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada.

Provincial Nominee Program

Among the best visa application systems in Canada is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This program allows foreign professionals with a full-time job offer to immigrate to Canada. Your success through this method largely depends on whether your profession is in demand in that particular province or territory. Each province or territory not only has its own PNP, but also its own specific labour demands and requirements. You must met the requirements in order to qualify for a provincial nomination (PN). Your PN is an additional 600 CRS points for you, this automatically shows that you will get an ITA for permanent residence in Canada.

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

This is another befitting immigration application programfor skilled plumbers. The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is an immigration pilot program for skilled foreign workers with a valid full-time job offer. As an experienced plumber, you may be eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residency under this program. There are 11 municipalities participating in the RNIP, including 4 in Manitoba and British Columbia, where plumbers are in high demand.

Atlantic Immigration Pilot

It is well settled that plumbers are classified as NOC Qualification Level B and are also in high demand in New Brunswick. As a result of this, if you have a valid job offer in this Atlantic province, you may be eligible to apply for your Canadian visa under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. This is a community-based and employer-specific pilot program that helps skilled workers immigrate to Canada with ease.

Now that you have known that most plumbing jobs in Canada are found in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick, we humbly advise you take a proper look at the 4 PNPs explained above and choose the most proper one that befits your mission before applying to immigrate to Canada. Below are the average plumbers salaries in the 4 PNPs:

Ontario $66,300
Manitoba $66,300
British Columbia $61,932
New Brunswick $45,884.

We believe that through this article you now know how to work in Canada as a skilled plumber.

Learn more about Canadian visa application here.