Career Map: Tool-and-Die Maker
© Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2007
This career map may be used or reproduced by any third party for non-commercial, not-for-profit purposes, provided that no fee, payment, or royalty of any kind shall be charged for any further use of the fact sheet by any person. Any proposed commercial or for-profit use or reproduction of this fact sheet requires a written licence from the Queen’s Printer for Ontario.
Tool-and-Die Makers design, make, modify, and repair dies, forms, cutting tools, gauges, jigs, and fixtures for the stamping industry. They make, modify, and repair custom-made, prototype or specialized tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and gauges that require precise detailing. This work involves the operation of metal cutting machines, and requires an individual who can work with complex assembly and designs.
Certification Requirements in Ontario
Certification to work in a trade in Ontario is called a Certificate of Qualification. This is often referred to as the C of Q. Trade certification for Tool-and-Die Makers in Ontario is available through Labour Market and Training Division Apprenticeship offices of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The governing legislation for this trade is the Apprenticeship and Certification Act (1998).
Certification for this trade in Ontario is voluntary. This means that Tool-and-Die Makers can work without being certified. Although certification is not required, it is recommended. Most Tool-and-Die Makers working in Ontario are certified, and most employers ask for the C of Q and for the C of A (Certificate of Apprenticeship). Certified Tool-and-Die Makers have better employment and earn higher wages.
To become a certified Tool-and-Die Maker in Ontario you must do one of the following:
- Complete a four-year apprenticeship. Apprenticeship includes on-the-job training (about 90% of the apprenticeship) and some in-school training (about 10% of the apprenticeship). Apprenticeship is a training agreement between a person who wants to learn a skilled trade and an employer who needs a skilled worker and is willing to train an apprentice. An apprentice earns wages while working and learning the skills necessary to become a qualified tradesperson or journeyperson. Apprentices receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship when they complete their training. Employers often request this certificate as proof of training and experience.
or
- complete four years work experience as a Tool-and-Die Maker
or
- prove equivalent training and on-the-job work experience
When you have done this, you must also:
- apply for the Certificate of Qualification
- pay the required fees
- write and pass the Certificate of Qualification exam
Competencies Required to Practise Your Trade in Ontario
Before you can receive government certification you must complete training that covers the competencies listed in the Apprenticeship Training Standards – Tool-and-Die Maker. This document lists in detail all of the skills and work tasks that Tool-and-Die Makers must be able to demonstrate in order to be eligible to write the Certificate of Qualification Exam. (In Ontario, an employer who sponsors an apprenticeship would sign off on each of the competencies on the following list during an apprenticeship.)
According to the Apprenticeship Training Standards – Tool-and-Die Maker, applicants for certification as Tool-and-Die Makers must be able to do the following:
- Protect self and others
- Plan and prepare for machining job
- Perform work-in-progress dimensional and surface verification
- Perform bench work
- Perform sawing
- Perform drilling using drill press/machine
- Perform machine grinding
- Perform lathe work
- Perform milling
- Perform numerically controlled (NC) / computerized numerically controlled (CNC) / electrical discharge (EDM) machining
- Devise and detail a plan for the tool-building process
- Fabricate dies, tools, jigs, and fixtures
- Fabricate a prototype
- Perform die development
As an internationally trained Tool-and-Die Maker, you must be able to prove that you have these skills before you can write the Certificate of Qualification Exam.
Language Requirements
When you apply for certification as a Tool-and-Die Maker you are not required to pass an English language test, but to become certified, you must write a technical multiple-choice exam, which requires knowledge and understanding of English terms for this trade. The job requires excellent language skills. As a Tool-and-Die Maker you must be able to communicate with others, work well in a team, and be able to read and interpret complex drawings and specifications of tools dies, prototypes or models, technical literature, and safety regulations.
Application Process
There is no automatic certification for internationally trained tradespeople in any trade in Ontario, but there is an assessment process that evaluates the training and experience of tradespeople trained in other countries. The length of time that it will take you to become certified will depend on how closely your training and experience matches the training standards for your trade in Ontario. To become certified as a Tool-and-Die Maker can take as little as two weeks, if you are immediately eligible to write the certification exam, or as long as four years if you complete a full apprenticeship.
Before You Emigrate To Canada
The Apprenticeship Training Standards – Tool-and-Die Maker is a useful reference for internationally trained Tool-and-Die Makers who are unfamiliar with the terminology used and the skills required in Ontario. You can get a copy of this booklet from an Apprenticeship Office in Ontario. There is a list of these offices at the end of this fact sheet.
You will need proof of your training and experience. Collect documents that prove your skill level as a Tool-and-Die Maker. Include letters from employers or unions, diplomas, and other documents that describe your training and the work tasks you have performed. These documents must also show where and how long you have worked as a Tool-and-Die Maker. It is important to include as much information as possible about your years of experience and your duties at work because the evaluation of your skills will be based on your on-the-job experience.
When You Arrive in Ontario
The Labour Market and Training Division Apprenticeship offices process all applications for trade certification in Ontario. When you arrive in Ontario contact the apprenticeship office in your area and make an appointment to see a training consultant. There is a list of addresses and telephone numbers at the end of this fact sheet.
If you haven’t already requested a copy of the Apprenticeship Standards – Tool-and-Die Maker, you can get one from the Apprenticeship Office.
View a map of the steps you need to take to become certified - PDF format. 
Step 1. Meeting A Training Consultant
The training consultant will ask you for documentation that describes your past work experience and training. Take as many of these documents as possible to this first meeting:
- dated letters written on company letterhead from the companies (or unions, if applicable) for whom you worked, stating:
- your job title
- the exact start and finish dates of your employment in the trade
- the number of hours you worked
- a detailed description of the skills your demonstrated on the job, and a complete description of your job duties
- your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- trade certificates, diplomas, or licenses
- official school transcripts from your training
- a detailed list of the subjects covered in each course and the length of each course
If these documents are in a language other than English or French, bring a translation that is signed by a registered translator, a notary public, or a lawyer.
The training consultant will use these documents to compare your work experience to the requirements for certification as a Tool & Die Maker in Ontario.
Step 2. Assessment Of Your Previous Training and Experience
The training consultant will assess your documents and compare your training and experience to the training and experience that is required in Ontario.
If your documented experience is equivalent to what an apprentice in Ontario would be required to complete, you will be eligible to write the Certificate of Qualification Exam. You will then complete an Application for the Certificate of Qualification.
If your documented experience is not equivalent to Ontario’s training requirements, you may have to get more training and work experience.
Training and work experience, if required
You can get training and experience in your trade through an apprenticeship. An apprentice earns wages while learning the skills necessary to become a journeyperson (certified tradesperson). To get a position as an apprentice you must apply directly to employers. You can find employers by looking in the Yellow Pages (the telephone directory for businesses), or local newspapers. Employers sometimes place job ads at government employment agencies. Employers want a well-written resume that tells them how you will benefit their business and the trade.
Once you find an employer who is willing to sponsor your apprenticeship, you and the employer enter into an apprenticeship agreement. You must register the apprenticeship agreement with an apprenticeship office.
Because a Certificate of Qualification is not mandatory for Tool-and-Die Makers in Ontario, you are not required to complete an apprenticeship. The benefits of completing an apprenticeship are that you earn while you learn, you can receive financial assistance with your school training, if needed, and you will receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship, which some employers ask for. Also, well trained and certified Tool-and-Die Makers receive higher wages.
Attestation of Competencies
In addition to providing documentation above, you will be asked to complete and sign an Attestation of Competencies. This document is an oath that you make, stating that you have all the competencies required for the trade. This Attestation of Competencies will be considered as proof that you are able to do the work of a Tool-and-Die Maker. A false attestation is a serious criminal offence.
Step 3. Application for the Certificate of Qualification
When you have met the requirements for certification, you will complete an Application for the Certificate of Qualification.
Step 4. Exam Preparation
The Certificate of Qualification Exam includes both in-school and on-the-job and in-school training, but it focuses on the skills (emphasis on Die Building) that Tool-and-Die Makers need to succeed in the workplace. Because of this, many workers who don’t have work experience in Ontario find the exam difficult. If you received your training in another country and it has been recognized as equivalent to Ontario’s standards, you can prepare for the exam by reviewing the Apprenticeship Training Standards–Tool-and-Die Makers. This booklet describes the skills that apprentices gain while working in Ontario. Make sure that you understand all of the competencies described in this document, but don’t forget that the exam will test your ability to perform each task as well as your understanding of the theory. You can also study textbooks used in Tool-and-Die making training courses. One recommended text is Die Design Fundamentals, Second Edition by J.R. Paquin and R.E. Crowley, published by Industrial Press, ISBN 0-8311-1172-0. This and other textbooks are available at most community college bookstores and libraries, local libraries, and may also be available at other bookstores in your community. Your training consultant can give you more information about textbooks for your trade.
Some community training centres (community colleges, union training centres, and private trade schools) offer pre-exam or exam preparation courses. These courses will help you review the theory for your trade and give you some practice in writing the exam. Courses can cost from $100.00 to $600.00 depending on the length and content of the course. Information on exam preparation courses is available at apprenticeship offices, in community college calendars (available at a public library, on community college Websites or get your own calendar by calling the college). Your training consultant can give you more information about courses for your trade.
Some community settlement agencies in Ontario may also offer special training courses for internationally trained general machinists. Contact the Ontario Council for Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) at the address shown at the end of this fact sheet. OCASI can provide information about settlement agencies in your community. You can also visit www.settlement.org for information online.
Step 5. Certification of Qualification Exam
The Apprenticeship Office must approve your credentials before you can write the Certificate of Qualification Exam. You will only be able to write the exam after you have either completed an apprenticeship, or shown/attested that you have the competencies required for this trade. The exam is offered at Labour Market and Training Division Apprenticeship offices year round, by appointment. Make an appointment to write the exam either through your training consultant, or by calling the office.
Description of the Exam
The Certificate of Qualification Exam is a written exam with multiple-choice questions. The Tool-and-Die maker exam contains about 135 multiple-choice questions on workplace procedures and tasks (emphasis on Die Builder). You are allowed three hours to complete the exam. Dictionaries, pencils, erasers, and paper (calculators) are available in the exam room. If you bring your own dictionary you will be asked to submit it to the proctor for inspection. If you have any special needs (extra time, translator, etc.) you must make arrangements with the examining apprenticeship office before the day of the exam.
Readers/Translators
If you have difficulty with English you can get help from a reader (a translator). Readers can be anyone whose English skills are strong; they may be relatives, friends or interpreters from your community. The apprenticeship Office must approve each reader, and readers must sign a statement that they don’t have any training or experience in the trade. Apprenticeship Offices have lists of approved readers in your community if you need help finding one.
Approved readers can translate the parts of the exam that you don’t understand, but they are not allowed to help you answer the questions. The exam is highly technical, so make sure that you choose someone who knows English well, but who does not have knowledge of Tool-and-Die making. You may need more time to write the exam if you use the help of a reader, so make arrangements with the apprenticeship office before the day of your exam.
Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Certificate of Qualification Exam is 70%.
Rewriting Failed Exams
Your exam results will be mailed to you. The results sheet will detail the score as a percentage for each section of the exam, so if you fail you will know which areas you still need to improve. You can rewrite the exam after fifteen days.
If you fail the exam twice, you will be required to either take a refresher course to upgrade your training or get more work experience before you can try the exam again. There is a $100.00 fee every time you write the exam.
Step 6. Certificate of Qualification
If you pass the exam, your Certificate of Qualification will be mailed to you. You can get copies of the certificate from the apprenticeship office. The fee for an official copy is $60.00. Tool-and-Die Makers receive a lifetime certificate and renewal is not required. Some trades in Ontario are Red Seal trades. Red Seal trades have similar standards across Canada, so certification is transferable.
Tool-and-Die Maker is a Red Seal trade. Y ou will receive a Red Seal on your certificate that will allow you to work in other Canadian provinces and territories that accept the Red Seal.
Fees and Costs
(in Canadian Dollars)| Application for the Certificate of Qualification | no fee |
| Registration of an apprenticeship, if required | $40 |
| Certificate of Qualification examination | $100 |
| Rewriting failed exams (re-examination) | $100 |
Training and Upgrading
Tool-and-Die Makers work in industries that are constantly changing, and where computer knowledge is increasingly required. Most Tool-and-Die Makers will need training and upgrading during their careers. You can improve their chances of employment and promotion by getting additional training in computer assisted design (CAD) and computer assisted manufacturing (CAM), and certificates such as First Aid and Health and Safety. Training and upgrading courses are offered by community colleges and trade schools, often as weekend or evening courses. The cost for these courses can range from $100.00 to $600.00. Contact an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology (community college), trade associations, or unions for more information. See the contacts at the end of this fact sheet and ask your training consultant for training and upgrading information.
Labour Market Information
Most Tool-and-Die Makers in Ontario work in the manufacturing sector. The major employers are motor vehicle manufacturers, machinery and equipment manufacturers, motor vehicle parts manufacturers, aircraft and parts manufacturers, hardware, tool and cutlery manufacturers, machine shop firms and companies that produce medical instruments, plastic products, and telecommunication equipment. Most jobs for Tool-and-Die Makers are found in southwestern Ontario.
Tool-and-Die Makers usually work indoors at manufacturing plants and machine shops. The average schedule is five days a week, for a total of 35-40 hours. Shift work and overtime is common. The salary for Tool-and-Die Makers varies according to the workplace and local labour market conditions. The average salary ranges between C$21,000 annually for an apprentice and a minimum of $50,000 annually for a journeyperson (certified tradesperson) excluding overtime and bonuses.
Qualified Tool-and-Die Makers are in great demand because there is a skills shortage and many employers have found it difficult to fill vacancies. For more information on labour market conditions see Ontario Job Futures at www.ontariojobfutures.net or on the Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) Website, www.hrsdc.gc.ca. In Ontario, this information is available in the Ontario Job Futures binder at public libraries or HRDC Employment Resource Centres in your community.
Related Trades and Occupations
The occupations most closely related to the work of Tool-and-Die Makers are other tooling occupations. These include Mould Maker, Tool/Tooling Maker, Machine Tool Builder, and Pattern Maker. Other skills of the Tool-and-Die trade can be applied in the designing trades including tool design, die design, mould design, jig and fixture design, and machine tool design . Tool-and-Die Makers who want to work in the design aspects of the trade, can become designers by learning new drafting and engineering skills.
For information on these and other related occupations see Ontario Job Futures on the Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) Website, www.hrsdc.gc.ca or at www.ontariojobfutures.net. In Ontario, the Ontario Job Futures binder is available at public libraries or HRDC Employment Resource Centres in your community.
Labour Market And Training Division Apprenticeship Offices In Ontario
To order a copy of the training standard for your trade, to get more information about certification, or to make an appointment with a training consultant, contact the Labour Market and Training Division Apprenticeship office in your community.
|
Toronto District Office |
Pickering Regional Office |
Mississauga Regional Office |
|
Hamilton District Office |
Brantford Area Office |
Owen Sound Area Office |
|
St. Catharines Area Office |
Barrie Regional Office |
London Area Office |
|
Sarnia Area Office |
Waterloo Area Office |
Windsor Area Office |
|
Chatham Area Office |
Ottawa District Office |
Brockville Area Office |
| Cornwall Area Office 113 Amelia Street Cornwall, Ontario K6H 3P1 Telephone: 613-938-9702 or 1-877-668-6604 Fax: 613-938-6627 |
Kingston Area Office |
Pembroke Area Office |
|
Peterborough Area Office |
Belleville Area Office |
Sault Ste. Marie District Office |
|
North Bay Area Office |
Sudbury Area Office |
Timmins Area Office |
|
Thunder Bay Regional Office |
Kenora Area Office |
For More Information
For information on certification requirements and training in Ontario, contact:
- Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities - training hotline (no charge in Ontario): 1-800-387-5656; website: www.tcu.gov.on.ca
- the Workplace Training Branch Apprenticeship office in your community (see the addresses and fax and telephone numbers listed above)
For information on where to get help once you arrive in Ontario, contact:
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
110 Eglinton Avenue West
Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario
M4R 1A3
Telephone: 416-322-4950
Fax: 416-322-8084
E-mail: general@ocasi.org
Website: www.ocasi.org
For information on settling in Ontario, visit www.settlement.org.
For information about accessing professions and trades in Ontario, contact:
Government of Ontario
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
Global Experience Ontario (GEO)
Tel: 416-327-9694 or 1-866-670-4094
TTY: 416-327-9710 or 1-866–388-2262
Fax 416-327-9711
E-mail: geo@ontario.ca
Address:
163 Queen Street East, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M5A 1S1
Website: www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/geo/index.htm
Go back to the Information on Trades page
For More Information
For information on certification requirements and training in Ontario, contact:
- Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities - training hotline (no charge in Ontario): 1-800-387-5656; website: www.ontario.ca/employmentontario
- the Labour Market and Training Division Apprenticeship office in your community (see the addresses and fax and telephone numbers listed above)
For information about the Tool-and-Die Maker trade in Ontario, contact:
Automotive Parts Manufacturer’s Association
195 The West Mall, Suite 516
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M9C 5K1
Telephone: (416) 620-4220
Fax: (416) 620-9730
E-mail: info@apma.ca
Website: www.apma.ca
Canadian Tooling & Machining Association
140 McGovern Drive , Unit #3
Cambridge, Ontario
Canada
N3H 4R7
Telephone: (519) 653-7265
Fax: (519) 653-6764
E-mail: info@ctma.com
Internet: www.ctma.com
For information on the metalworking manufacturing industry, see the magazine:
Canadian Machinery & Metalworking
Rogers Media, Publishing
777 Bay Street , 6th Floor
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
M5W 1A7
Fax: (416) 596-5881
Website: www.canadianmetalworking.com
For information on where to get help once you arrive in Ontario, contact:
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M4R 1A3
Telephone: (416) 322-4950
Fax: (416) 322-8084
E-mail: general@ocasi.org
Website: www.settlement.org
For information about accessing professions and trades in Ontario, contact:
Government of Ontario
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
Global Experience Ontario (GEO)
Tel: 416-327-9694 or 1-866-670-4094
TTY: 416-327-9710 or 1-866–388-2262
Fax 416-327-9711
E-mail: geo@ontario.ca
Address:
163 Queen Street East, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M5A 1S1
Website: www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/geo/index.htm
Go back to the Information on Trades page
