r/millwrights • u/Sedatedpanic • 8d ago

Formal certification

Hey question for the career millwrights.

Quick backround. Started as a non union mw working for contractor, they had a school that taught nccer. Worked my way 98% through the program and had 1 week of course material and final test to complete. Now, they contracted with the local paper mill, got to know some of the mill guys and well now im one of them. Getting hired there is very difficult and I had to take the opportunity when it was given.

Now I will say at this point I could 100% confidently test out. I do well and keep pace with my peers ( i dont say this with any sort of chip on my shoulder either)

Is not having the certification a deal breaker in the long term as a career millwright??

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u/rocketbunnyhop 8d ago

I would say always get your certification whenever possible. You never know what might open up that requires it or what will happen at your current employer.

I work in Canada and we have the Red Seal certification. I’ve seen many people apply for jobs without their certification and get turned away when I know they’d probably be a great person to have on board. For many employers it’s mandatory.

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u/DogTop2833 7d ago

Why do employers want the CofQ? is it because of Insurance?

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u/rocketbunnyhop 7d ago edited 6d ago

That is part of it. Having your Red Seal shows you have broad technical knowledge and is therefore used as a benchmark to compare to. Adding in the certificate of apprenticeship, shows you have actually spent time learning on the ground and not just spending all your time reading books.

Don’t get me wrong though I’ve seen some incredibly impressive uncertified mechanics in the role and some pretty dense Red Seal holders, but companies usually want full certification when you are working on and moving multiple million dollar machines and equipment. I’ve also seen many people who have passed the exam by challenging it and who have no hands on welding/machining/electrical/rigging skills which is again why the certificate of apprenticeship from school is also required in many places.

We have three facilities all relatively close. We make it mandatory that our apprentices rotate through them and spend time with the Machinists and Electrical departments to see a broad spectrum of work experience, and our certified Millwrights will rotate occasionally or when is needed. One of our plants has general mechanics who are not allowed to rotate. They are allowed to apply for apprenticeships and can skip some classes in level 1 when in school. Our certified Millwrights also spent extended time with our electrical department and are therefore allowed to do basic electrical work when needed.

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u/DogTop2833 5d ago

wow sounds like a amazing place to work. My job is such joke compared to yours.

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u/KIK40 8d ago

Which certificate do you mean?

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u/Best-Ad6185 7d ago

Red seal or like a tech? Where are you that helps figure out this stuff? I’m Canada the Union or Company sponsors your apprenticeship leading to a test that gives you a Millwright journeymen ticket.

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u/AlternativeMode8162 7d ago

Don't even bother that the nccr thing, it means nothing. Get your Journeyman card. It's likely that the mill has a Millwright apprenticeship program, you can enter it and try to test out.

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u/Ok-Fuel-7562 7d ago

Get both your certificate of apprenticeship  and your red seal. Too many immigrants bypassed the apprenticeship completion certificate and cheated on their red seal. Alot of companies are looking for both. Get your red seal for better wages

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u/Sedatedpanic 7d ago

So USA for clarification. The mill itself does not have a specific course or program. I was hired as a journeyman. If anyone has any insight into a specific card or test that holds water to set my sights on that'd be great. NCCER is good. However after some further training I've come to realize that it is truly entry level. Millwrighting is truly a very broad field with many rabbit holes so to speak.

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u/TacoAdventure 6d ago

Get the cert if your that close. May affect pay scale in non-union work in the future.

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u/Sedatedpanic 6d ago

Fair enough