Available Intakes
Overview
Learn how to prepare and apply protective coverings to flat and sloped roof surfaces in accordance with construction plans and specifications.
Roofers will work on flat roofs (primarily commercial and industrial buildings) and sloped residential roofs.
For flat roofs, you will use a variety of substances and systems which include conventional roof systems (hot-applied asphalt), elastomeric roof membrane systems (rubber-like properties), thermoplastic roof membrane systems and modified bitumen roof membrane system (asphalt and plastic).
For sloped residential roofs, you'll work with shingles made of asphalt or fibreglass, concrete, clay, rubber, slate, wood shakes or metal. You'll apply membranes, fibreglass or felt over parts of the surface before applying shingles, nail shingles in overlapping rows, cement or nail flashing over the joints around vent pipes or chimney and cover exposed nail heads with cement to prevent rust and water leakage.
As a roofer, you may also inspect problem roofs to determine the best procedures for repairing them, estimate materials required and quote costs, repair older roofs, waterproof roofs, basements, foundations, plaza decks or parkades, install green/vegetated roof components and incorporate new future roofing technology (for example, conventional and non-conventional solar roofing technology).
Is this the right fit for me?
Roofers are skilled tradespeople who like collaborating with others, being physically active and working at heights. This line of work is most fulfilling for those who enjoy working with their hands, working outdoors and with a variety of customers.
To thrive in this career, it is important to have the following traits:
- enjoy physically demanding work
- possess good customer service skills
- have good eye-hand coordination, strength, and stamina to carry heavy materials
- be comfortable working at heights and sure-footed
- be enthusiastic about working outdoors
- ability to work effectively as part of a team
- a commitment to safe working conditions
Credentials
Upon successfully completing the required working hours and apprenticeship education periods, graduates will be awarded journeyperson status by Alberta’s Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
This is a Red Seal Endorsed trade – a recognizable standard that allows tradespeople to work across Canada
Career opportunities
As a roofer, you will be employed by roofing contractors on construction or repair jobs. You will work outside in a variety of weather conditions throughout the year. Roofers also have the security of steady employment as there is always a demand for repair work, even when construction activity slows. You will be required to work at various building heights, so you will need to be comfortable with heights.
After becoming a journeyperson, you may advance to positions such as technical marketing, inspection and supervisory roles. Some journeypersons go on to run their own businesses – we can help you build your business with our Blue Seal business certificate.
Admission requirements
To enter an apprenticeship, you must have the educational qualifications required or recommended education for the trade to which you apply.
Entrance requirements are monitored and set by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Minimum requirements
There are no minimum requirements for the roofer trade.
Recommended path
Apprentices with an Alberta High School Diploma that includes the following courses:
- English 30-2
- Math 30-3
- Physics 20 OR Chemistry 20 OR Science 20
- Related career and technology studies (CTS) courses
When do classes start?
Registration for the 2023/24 academic year opens May 17, 2023.
| Period | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 11, 2023 | Oct. 20, 2023 |
| 2 | Oct. 23, 2023 | Dec. 1, 2023 |
| 3 | Jan. 8, 2024 | Feb. 16, 2024 |
| 2 | Feb. 26, 2024 | April 5, 2024 |
| 1 | April 15, 2024 | May 24, 2024 |
How to register
Registration for apprenticeship education is run through Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Learn how you can register for your next intake.
Apprenticeship and Industry Training Client Services
1.800.248.4823
tradesecrets.alberta.ca
Suite 200 Willow Park Centre
10325 Bonaventure DR. SE
Calgary, AB
After you register
Email is the primary source of communication after you have registered for your intake. Please ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
Training
The term of apprenticeship for a roofer is four years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1420 hours of on-the-job training and six weeks of classroom instruction in each of the first three years and a minimum of 1600 hours of on-the-job training in the fourth year.
You will start by learning workplace safety. You will then learn low slope roofing, steep slope roofing as well as basic math, blueprint reading and orthographic drawings.
You will learn slow slope roofing, roofing failure, re-roofing, steep slope roofing as well as intermediate trade bath and blueprints.
You will learn steep slope roofing, metal flashing, alternate systems, trade science, equipment maintenance as well as material calculations and roofing standards.
Apprenticeship education performance
To be successful in apprenticeship education, an apprentice must pass each section of the course and pass the AIT exam. The passing grade for each section in the course is a 65%. A passing mark on each provincial exam and the interprovincial qualification (or Red Seal Exam) is 70%.
Costs 2022/23
Tuition and fees*
| Period | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $720 | $231 | $54 | $1,005 |
| 2 | $720 | $231 | $54 | $1,005 |
| 3 | $720 | $231 | $54 | $1,005 |
SAIT fees
Campus recreation fee: $49
Lab and material fee: $82
Student support fee: $50
Student technology fee: $50
Books and supplies*
- Books or modules along with other items for class average out to $600 per period.
- It is recommended that you do not purchase books or modules ahead of time as they might be outdated by the time you attend classes and they cannot be returned to the bookstore.
- Personal Protective Equipment will be required for the program, which may be an additional cost to apprentices.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees*
| Period | Number of weeks | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
| 2 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
| 3 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
Fees breakdown
| SAIT fees | Cost per period |
|---|---|
| Lab and materials fee | $90 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 |
| Campus recreation fee | $51.50 |
| Total | $247 |
Saitsa fee per week: $9
Learn more about what your fees are for
Books and supplies*
- Books or modules along with other items for class average out to $600 per period.
- It is recommended that you do not purchase books or modules ahead of time as they might be outdated by the time you attend classes and they cannot be returned to the bookstore.
- Personal Protective Equipment will be required for the program, which may be an additional cost to apprentices.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
