Red Seal Tilesetter

Questions are drawn from the trade's occupational standard and span the whole scope of practice: occupational skills and work practices, surface preparation and substrate assessment, layout and measurement, installation of tile, mosaic, glass and stone, and grouting, sealing, finishing and repair. Expect coverage of ceramic, porcelain, mosaic, glass, quarry tile, terrazzo and natural stone.

The Red Seal page states that the National Standard is being used as the basis for the current Red Seal exams. It also notes that some provinces and territories still use that standard while others have replaced it or are working towards the new RSOS. Check with your provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority to see whether the RSOS has been implemented where you are writing.

Those figures are not published on the trade page used for this page, so no number is given here. The Red Seal site's Exam Information section explains how many questions there are on different topics, the question types used, and examples of each type. Consult that section and your provincial authority for the current format before you book.

The passing score and retake rules are set outside the trade page and are not stated there, so they are not quoted here. Passing marks and rewrite waiting periods can differ by province and territory. Ask your provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority for the current pass mark, rewrite policy and any fees before scheduling.

It is a trade certification exam, so it assumes broad hands-on experience rather than textbook familiarity. Difficulty comes from the breadth of materials and substrates, plus layout and substrate-preparation judgement calls. Candidates with narrow experience, for example only ceramic wall tile, should study stone, terrazzo, mosaic and waterproofing areas they rarely handle on the job.

Start with the occupational standard to map the trade's activities, then use the Self-Assessment Tool to rate your knowledge and expose weak areas. Work through the official sample questions and exam information to learn the question types. Spend remaining time on your weakest domains, and use the Ellis Chart to compare apprenticeship data across Canada.

Typical weak spots are substrate assessment and preparation, layout and setting out for large-format tile and stone, and finishing details such as grout selection and sealing. Candidates also lose marks by skipping the Self-Assessment Tool and never testing themselves on question types. Review the full trade description rather than only the tasks you perform daily.

The trade is designated Red Seal in BC, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC and SK. The trade title is Tilesetter in BC, NB, NL, NS, PE, QC and SK, and other titles used in provinces and territories are Terrazo and Tile and Marble Setter (ON). The National Occupational Classification code is 73101 and the designation year is 2001.

The Red Seal trade page points to job market information such as wages, outlooks, education and skills needed at Explore Careers on the Job Bank website. It also refers to the Ellis Chart for a full breakdown of apprenticeship data from across Canada for the Tilesetter trade. Use those sources rather than relying on older figures.