Sign-Off Authority

Who applies for Sign-Off Authority?

Someone who:

    • has industry experience.
    • may or may not have formal education.
    • wants to be a sponsor for an Apprentice.
    • is not interested in taking the exam required for challenging the certification.
    • is not ready to take the exam within a few months of challenge application approval but does not want to delay becoming a sponsor.

Those who are approved for Sign-Off Authority have one year to elevate their application to a certification challenge and take the exam. If you wish to take this step contact the ITA within one year of Sign-Off approval to arrange an exam.

This 1 year limit does not affect sponsoring apprentices with sign-off authority; only elevating your application status to challenge the certification. After one year if someone with sign-off authority wishes to challenge the exam they must submit a new and complete challenge application.

What does Sign-Off Authority mean?

Sign-Off Authority gives you the authorization to sign off on an apprentice’s hours worked and to accept or decline an apprentice’s ‘Recommendation for Certification’. This does not designate you as a Certified Tradesperson.

What are the requirements to receive Sign-Off Authority?

The requirements to receive Sign-Off Authority are different for each trade. Each requires

      • a minimum number of hours of related work experience, and
      • evidence that you have worked in the full scope of the trade.

What is the scope of trade?

The “scope of trade” is different for each trade. Scope of trade means the range of experience in Job Task Performance factors for the trade. Review the “Employer Declaration” or “Statutory Declaration for the trade you wish to apply for Sign-off Authority.

What is the hours requirement for each trade?

  • Arborist Technician: 2,400 work based hours, performing at least 70% of the job tasks listed in the Job Task Performance list.
  • Climbing Arborist 2,700 work based hours, performing at least 70% of the job tasks listed in the Job Task Performance list.
  • Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist: 7,920 work based hours, performing at least 70% of the job tasks listed in the Job Task Performance list.
    • Contact ITA Customer Service for any assistance

How is Sign-Off Authority different from Challenging the trade certification exam?

Applying for Sign-Off Authority and Challenging a trade certification exam is a similar process and use the same forms. The differences are

    • You do not take the exam(s).
    • You do not pay a fee.
    • You do not receive a Certificate of Qualification for the trade.
    • You do not qualify for the Completion Tax Credit for your personal income tax filing. However, up to $2000 in tax credits can be claimed for the business, for each level of the apprentice’s work experience wages.

The following table outlines the differences between Sign-Off Authority and Challenging the Certification.

Challenge the Certification Sign-off Authority
Must provide evidence of a minimum number of hours of work experience in at least 70% of the job tasks related to the trade
Must fill out and submit challenge certification/recognize prior experience application
Must fill out and submit employer and/or statutory declaration form(s)
Must pay $120 exam fee  
Must take the trade CofQ exam  
Once approved can sponsor an apprentice
Can supervise, record apprentice’s workplace experience hours, and sign-off when apprentices are ready to be certified

Can claim up to $2000 in tax credits for the business for each level of the apprentice’s work experience wages

Can claim the Provincial Completion Tax Credit for personal income tax filing

 
Acquire credential of CofQ (certified journey person) for the trade

 

Often the deciding factor is taking the exam. To help individuals who would like to receive the full certification and personal tax credit, HortEducation.ca has provided resources to prepare for exams in all horticulture trades. Visit our Challenge A Trade Certification Exam page to find study resources for each trade.

HortEducation.ca runs exam preparation workshops for the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist IP Exam and has created an exam preparation booklet including a practice exam, available in the store. The booklet and workshop provide refresher material and examples of the style of questions to expect. We announce dates of upcoming workshops on our Facebook page and website News and Events Calendar. The booklet is included in the workshop fee or if you do not want to wait you can purchase the booklet from our online store.

Steps to apply for the Arborist Technician Sign-Off Authority

    1. You must submit the ‘Application – Certificate Challenge’ and an ‘Employer Declaration’ and/or a ‘Statutory Declaration’.

Statutory Declaration is for reporting on hours that are self employed. If some or all of your hours are through an employer/s, one Employment Declaration is required for each employer you worked for in the arborist technician trade.  More information about these forms can be found in the “application instructions”.

2. Provide supporting documentation of a minimum of 2,400 proven work based hours.

3. There is no fee to apply.

4. Send completed application forms to ITA, with all supporting documents.

Steps to apply for the Climbing Arborist Sign-Off Authority

    1. You must submit the ‘Application – Certificate Challenge’ and an ‘Employer Declaration’ and/or a ‘Statutory Declaration’.
    2. Provide supporting documentation of a minimum of 2,700 proven work based hours.
    3. There is no fee to apply.
    4. Send completed application forms to ITA, with all supporting documents.

Steps to apply for the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist Sign-Off Authority

    1. You must submit the ‘Application – Certificate Challenge’, and an ‘Employer Declaration’ and/or a ‘Statutory Declaration’
    2. Provide supporting documentation of a minimum of 9,720 proven work based hours
    3. Completion of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s national Landscape Horticulture Certification Program’s Certified Landscape Horticulturist Technician designation qualifies as 1,000 work based hours credit towards the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist CofQ. Note* This was previously Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) in Ornamental Maintenance plus one other module. If you obtained this designation before the change you can still use this as credit towards your hours requirement. challenge exam
    4. There is no fee to apply.
    5. Send completed application forms to ITA, with all supporting documents