Top 10 Trades

Career Profiles Regionally

Steel Fabricators

Job Titles: metal fabricator, plater, platework fitter, shipfitter, shipfitter apprentice, steel fabricator, structural steel fitter, structural metal and platework fabricators

What’s It Like?

Steel fabricators build, assemble and repair products made of steel or other metals for use in a wide variety of manufacturing and construction industries. They are familiar with the properties of metal and know how to operate specialized metalworking machines.

Steel Fabricators work for: sheet metal fabrication shops; welding shops; manufacturers of structural steel, boilers and heavy machinery; companies that build transportation equipment; companies that erect the metal components used to construct buildings, bridges and towers; shipbuilding companies; welding, ironwork and sheet metal work contractors.

In the central Vancouver Island region, steel fabricators often work in small manufacturing firms such as boat builders, container manufacturers and aquaculture equipment manufacturers. They also work for commercial and industrial construction companies.

Steel fabricator, listed as metal fabricator, is a nationally designated trade under the Inter-provincial Red Seal Program.

Steel Fabricators may:

assemble reinforcing frameworks
unload and organize steel beams
fabricate platework and beams
fit steel beams
create ornamental ironwork
assemble steel beam structures

Money & Benefits

Wages

Designation	Hourly Rate
Entry Level	$15.00 - $22.00
Experienced (+5 years)	$22.00 - $30.00
Management (Senior)	$30.00 - $35.00

Benefits

Benefits are unique to each company.
Larger businesses and government have employee benefit packages including health care.

Why We're Betting on This

There are an estimated 100 steel fabricators working in the central Vancouver Island region as of 2006 (BC Stats)
The projected growth rate for steel fabricators is 12.5% from 2006-2011 (BC Stats)
According to T3’s current labour market research there is a high demand for steel fabricators in the central Vancouver Island region
Steel fabricators report a high level of job satisfaction, year-round employment, and excellent wages, benefits and working conditions
There is a high proportion of workers over 55 who will retire in the next few years

Interested? Where to Start

There are three ways you can work as a steel fabricator. You can hire yourself and work as a self-employed contractor, you can demonstrate to an employer that you are a competent steel fabricator, or you can register as an apprentice to become a certified journeyperson.

Becoming a structural steel worker can be difficult without formal training. Employers face liability issues and tend to prefer workers who have been through a formal apprenticeship program. Hiring is done through union halls or through direct contact with potential employers.

Apprentice steel fabricators may be chosen from the ranks of a company's current employees, such as construction labourers. With experience, steel fabricators and fitters can advance to supervisory positions or start their own business.

Educational Requirements

The steel fabricator apprenticeship requires a total of 6,400 hours on the job and 600 hours in school over four years. The educational training takes place in four five-week periods. There are three ways to enter into apprenticeship:

1. Direct Entry to the job

Through direct entry you find a job with an employer who is willing to participate in the apprenticeship program. Both you and the employer must register in the program. See the Industry Training Authority website to find out more and download registration forms. Go to www.itabc.ca.

2. Entry-level Trades Training at a college or institute

You can take Entry-Level Trades Training (ELTT) at a post-secondary institution in B.C. This will provide a good foundation in steel fabrication skills and help you make industry contacts. A grade 12 education is preferred but a grade 10 level in English (or English language proficiency), math and science may be all that is required. Completion of ELTT may give you credit towards your apprenticeship training.

3. Secondary School Apprenticeship

You can also enter a Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA) program that will allow you to graduate from high school and learn steel fabrication skills at the same time.

Licensing and qualifications
At the end of training, passing the inter-provincial exam will give you the BC Certificate of Apprenticeship, BC Certificate of Qualification and the Inter-provincial Standard Endorsement. An Inter-provincial Standard Endorsement (Red Seal) allows you to work in any province or territory without having to write any further exams.

Educational Institutions

Entry-level training programs in steel fabrication generally range from four to ten months.

BCIT

www.bcit.ca/study/programs/4450appr
Entry-level certificates related to steel fabrication are offered by British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Education Planner

www.educationplanner.bc.ca
For complete information on these programs, including start dates, admission requirements and cost, go to Education Planner and do a Program Search under subject heading "Sheet Metal Work."

Success Stories

Interviewed & Documented

PROOF of the abundance of Jobs in the Steel Fabricators Industry