Plumber (447A)
Plan, install, test and service plumbing fixtures and systems — water, hydronic, DWV, steam, fire protection, and specialized systems.
A Red Seal endorsement is a seal on your provincial or territorial trade certificate. It shows you have the knowledge and skills to practice your trade across Canada — earned by passing the interprovincial Red Seal exam.
What this trade covers
Plumbers plan, install, test and service plumbing fixtures and systems such as water, hydronic, drain, waste and vent (DWV), low pressure steam, residential fire, chemical and irrigation. They also install specialized systems such as medical gas, process piping, compressed air, water conditioners, fuel piping, sewage and water treatment, and storage and flow equipment.
NOC code
72300
Red Seal since
1958
Available in
AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT
Also known as: Pipe Fitter (Plumber) in Quebec
Exam format
- • 125 multiple-choice questions
- • 4-hour time limit
- • 70% required to pass
- • Closed-book
- • Closed-book — mathematical formulas and acronyms are provided at the exam sitting
- • Questions align with the Red Seal Occupational Standard (RSOS) for Plumber
- • Not common core topics (e.g. low-pressure steam, potable water fire protection) are excluded from the national exam
Question types
Every question has one correct answer and three incorrect options — not trick questions, but distractors are not always obvious.
- Knowledge and recall15–25%
- Procedural and application60–70%
- Critical thinking10–20%
Exam blueprint (RSOS)
Questions are distributed across major work activities defined in the Red Seal Occupational Standard — the same breakdown used on the official exam.
Performs common occupational skills
Prepares and assembles tube, tubing and pipe
Installs, tests and services sewers, sewage treatment systems and drainage, waste and vent (DWV) systems
Installs, tests and services water service and distribution
Installs, tests and services fixtures, appliances and water treatment systems
Installs, tests and services low-pressure steam and hydronic systems
Installs, tests and services specialized systems
Sample question
Knowledge & recallAccording to the National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC-2020), what is the minimum slope required for a 100 mm diameter drainage pipe when installed for proper drainage?
- A. 4% slope
- B. 1% slope
- C. 3% slope
- D. 2% slope
Explanation: The minimum slope required for a 100 mm diameter drainage pipe is 2%, according to the NPC-2020. This slope ensures that waste flows efficiently without causing blockages. Proper slope is critical for maintaining effective drainage in DWV systems.
Official Red Seal resources
Source material from the Red Seal Program — administered by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA).
- Red Seal Occupational Standard →
Complete description of trade activities — the basis for exam questions
- Exam information & self-assessment →
Question breakdown, types, formulas, and acronyms used on the exam
- Official sample questions →
Practice questions published by the Red Seal Program
- How to register →
Steps to register for your Red Seal examination