Legislation and Compliance

Act and Regulations

Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act

Are You in Compliance?

All trades are enforced, under the authority of the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act and the General Regulations, by Compliance Officers employed by the division. These officers have the status of Special Constable under the Police Act and have the authority to issue summary offence tickets to employers and/or employees who are not in compliance with the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act and General Regulations.

Examples of non-compliance include:

working in a compulsory certified trade without proper credentials
employing prohibited persons in a compulsory certified trade
failure to provide direct supervision to an apprentice
failure to maintain proper ratio and presenting fraudulent trade credentials

Compliance Officers are available to meet or speak with any individual, employer or group to provide clarification of the requirements of the Act. If you are an employer and are unsure of your compliance status, contact an officer at the Halifax office to schedule a Voluntary Compliance Audit as part of your workplace training and compliance program.

Complaint Process

Please direct complaints alleging non-compliance under the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act to the Compliance Section located in the division's Halifax office.

Any person may make a formal complaint alleging an employer, employee or worker is in non-compliance with the Act. A formal written complaint must be completed by the complainant using the prescribed Complaint Form. When this form is received, it will be reviewed and the complaint may be investigated by by a Compliance Officer.