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Concrete Finisher |
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Select Alternate Year - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009
There have been no changes to this trade in the year of 2007.
Concrete finishers place and finish concrete floors, driveways, sidewalks, curbs, bridge decks and other concrete structures.
Concrete finishers apply architectural, exposed, patterned or stamped, broomed and smooth finishes on concrete surfaces. They are skilled at repairing, waterproofing and restoring concrete surfaces. They have the knowledge to properly use dry pack grouting and epoxy materials, and understand how to cure concrete perfectly.
In general, concrete finishers:
Although machines are used to trowel large areas such as warehouses and arena floors, hand trowelling is still required for hard to reach spots in corners, edges, and around pipes. The surface may be:
Concrete finishers work both outdoors and indoors, at tasks that are fast-paced and strenuous. Travel may be required to get to construction sites.
Outdoor work can be affected by adverse weather conditions. There is less work available in the winter, and summer hours are often longer than the standard 40-hour week. Overtime is sometimes required because concrete finishers cannot leave a project in the middle and return to it the next day.
There is some risk of injury from working on uneven footing and from other construction-site hazards, and the work involves considerable bending, stooping and kneeling.
The work is most rewarding for those who take pride in seeing the results of their work, and enjoy physical exercise and working with their hands.
To be successful in their trade, concrete finishers need:
Most concrete finishers are employed by general contractors involved in building highways, bridges and large buildings, and by contractors who do only concrete work. A few concrete finishers are self-employed, contracting their services for smaller projects such as patios, sidewalks and driveways. Employment prospects for concrete finishers vary with the seasons and with economic conditions.
Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $21.40 to $26.67 an hour plus benefits.
Experienced concrete finishers may specialize in a particular type of work, advance to supervisory positions or become contract estimators.
To work as a Concrete Finisher in Alberta, a person must:
Concrete finishers learn their skills by registering with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in apprenticeship training and, upon successful completion, are awarded the Alberta Journeyman Certificate.
A concrete finisher who holds a valid trade certificate from Alberta or from another Canadian province or territory may apply to write the Interprovincial Exam and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal under the Interprovincial Standards Program. The Red Seal is recognized throughout most of Canada.
A concrete finisher who holds a certificate that was issued by another recognized apprenticeship authority in Canada (province, territory or federal jurisdiction) may apply for an Alberta Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.
Concrete finishers who:
may be eligible to apply for trade certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, or a credential that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate are eligible to receive a Blue Seal business credential after completing the necessary requirements.
The term of apprenticeship for a concrete finisher is 3 years (three 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1200 hours of on-the-job training and 4 weeks of technical training in the first and second years, and 1200 hours of on-the-job training in the third year.
To learn the skills required of a concrete finisher in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
- during on-the-job training, apprentice concrete finishers earn at least 65 percent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 75 percent in the second, and 85 percent in the third year.
- select an educational institution that offers training for Concrete Finisher apprentices, and a time to attend training (see Technical Training Locations and Schedule)
- determine requirements for enrolling at the selected institution, and forward completed enrollment form to the selected institution (see Enrollment Instructions)
Apprentices may attempt the Interprovincial Exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal. (see Exam Counselling Sheets)
When apprentices attend technical training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies.
Grants, scholarships and other financial assistance may be available. For more information see Financial Assistance or contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
To qualify for a Red Seal, a person must:
- an Alberta trade certificate or completion of apprenticeship certificate, OR
- a journeyperson or completion of apprenticeship certificate issued by another Canadian province or territory
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized credential, a person must:
A person who has a recognized certificate, as described above, does not require an Alberta Equivalency document to work in the trade in Alberta. However, some employers may require an Alberta Equivalency document as proof that the certificate is equivalent to the requirements of the trade in Alberta.
To qualify for a Qualification Certificate based on Canadian credentials, a person must:
To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, a person must:
Time spent on supervisory or foreman duties, counter work, heading the tool crib, or on a training course is NOT counted as ‘hands-on’ work experience.
This application fee covers the verification and assessment of the applicant's work experience hours/months as well as one attempt at the Qualification Certificate theory examination. The Qualification Certificate practical examination requires a separate fee as identified on the application noted above.
