Occupation: Bricklayer

Ontario

As a tradesperson trained in a country outside Canada, it is important for you to bring to Canada, information that will explain your knowledge and skills. In Ontario, certification as a bricklayer is voluntary although some employers may require it. If you wish to apply for certification, contact the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The Ministry will assess your qualifications and determine your eligibility to write the Certificate of Qualification examination. To obtain further information, visit www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/training/foreign.html.

In Canada bricklayers prepare and lay brick and other masonry units to construct and repair structures such as walls, partitions, patios, arches, fireplaces and chimneys. Bricklayers work with masonry materials such as brick, concrete blocks, granite stones, structural tile and pre-cast panels. They also lay or install fire brick or castable materials in commercial and industrial furnaces and incinerators, and acid tile and acid brick in pulp mills.

Document Translations

The Ministry and most employers and educational institutions in Ontario will require that your documents be available in English. One way to obtain certified translations is to contact Translations Canada at www.translationscanada.ca

Documents

Below are documents you should obtain from your home country in order to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers as well as to colleges, or universities in the event that you need to return to school.

1. Documentation or other evidence that demonstrates your knowledge, technical skills and ability to:
   • Read sketches and blueprints to calculate materials required
   • Cut and trim bricks and concrete blocks to specification using hand and power tools
   • Prepare and lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone, structural tiles and similar materials to construct or repair walls, foundations and other structures in residential, industrial and commercial construction
   • Lay bricks or other masonry units to build residential or commercial chimneys and fireplaces
   • Lay radial bricks to build masonry shells of industrial chimneys
   • Lay or install firebricks to line industrial chimneys and smokestacks
   • Line or reline furnaces, kilns, boilers and similar installations using refractory or acid resistant bricks, refractory concretes, plastic refractories, and other materials
   • Lay bricks, stone or similar materials to provide veneer facing to walls or other surfaces
   • Construct and install prefabricated masonry units
   • Lay bricks or other masonry units to build patios, garden walls and other decorative installations
   • May restore, clean or paint existing masonry structures.
2. Documentation and other evidence that demonstrate your ability to speak in English. It can be difficult to obtain employment in skilled trades in Canada without good language skills.
3. Copies of previous job descriptions and other documentation that presents details of your past work experience, particularly how long you worked in each job.
4. Copies of detailed courses descriptions of all courses you took during your cooking training.
5. Copies of program descriptions of all degree and non-degree programs of study that you graduated from at college or university.
6. Original or certified copies of degrees, diplomas, and certificates from the secondary schools, colleges and universities from which you graduated.
7. Original or certified copies of transcripts from the above secondary schools, colleges and universities.
8. Documents that describe courses or training you took through work or in the community.
9. Documents that describe community organizations that you did volunteer work with and descriptions of your volunteer duties.
10. Original letters of reference from previous employers confirming your job duties and responsibilities and the quality of your work. Some of these references should be from Canadians familiar with your work.
11. Original letters of reference from community organizations for whom you did volunteer work.
12. A resume prepared in a style consistent with Canadian business practices.
13. Samples of your work.