OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Red Seal Bricklayer Examination — Information & Free Practice

100 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

Start free practice →

Exam Review

About Red Seal Bricklayer Examination

Red Seal Bricklayer Examination · CA

Key exam facts

Provider
Red Seal Program under the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA); administered by provincial and territorial apprenticeship and certification authorities.
Format
Written knowledge examination; multiple-choice, four options and one correct answer per question; each question worth one mark.
Exam questions
Total questions: 125.
Time limit
4 hours.
Passing score
70%.
Exam fee
Varies by province and territory. The provincial or territorial office provides the applicable cost when registering; there is no single national amount stated on the official registration page.

Topics covered

  • Performs common occupational skills (12%)

    • Performs safety-related functions
    • Maintains safe work environment
    • Uses personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety equipment
    • Uses and maintains tools and equipment
    • Maintains tools and equipment
    • Uses rigging, hoisting and lifting equipment
    • Uses access equipment
    • Uses scaffolding
    • Erects scaffolding
    • Dismantles scaffolding
    • Maintains scaffolding
    • Organizes work
    • Uses drawings and specifications
    • Plans daily tasks and activities
    • Prepares jobsite and materials
    • Protects surrounding areas
    • Uses communication and mentoring techniques
    • Uses communication techniques
    • Uses mentoring techniques

  • Performs general masonry practices (19%)

    • Performs substrate preparation
    • Prepares vertical substrates and foundations
    • Applies parging
    • Installs anchoring/tie systems
    • Installs membrane and flashing
    • Installs insulation
    • Performs fundamental masonry tasks
    • Lays out wall and coursing
    • Finishes joints
    • Cleans new masonry surfaces
    • Seals masonry surfaces
    • Uses mortars, grouts and adhesives
    • Mixes mortar, concrete, grout and adhesives
    • Uses mortars
    • Uses concrete and grout
    • Uses adhesives

  • Builds masonry systems (22%)

    • Builds masonry walls
    • Builds non-load-bearing walls
    • Builds load-bearing walls
    • Builds horizontal masonry surfaces
    • Prepares horizontal substrate
    • Lays masonry units on horizontal surfaces
    • Builds and installs prefabricated masonry
    • Builds prefabricated masonry
    • Erects prefabricated masonry
    • Installs surface-bonded masonry units
    • Prepares substrate for surface-bonded masonry units
    • Applies surface-bonded masonry units

  • Builds natural stone systems (10%)

    • Builds natural stone walls
    • Prepares natural stone
    • Lays natural stone
    • Damp cures walls
    • Performs mechanically-fastened natural stone cladding procedures
    • Prepares substrate for cladding
    • Prepares natural stone for cladding
    • Installs natural stone cladding

  • Builds chimneys and fireplaces (10%)

    • Builds chimneys
    • Builds foundation supports for chimneys
    • Lays masonry units to build chimneys
    • Installs flue lining
    • Installs related flashings
    • Installs caps
    • Builds fireplaces
    • Builds foundation for hearth, firebox, backup material and veneer
    • Builds hearth, firebox and backup
    • Installs damper
    • Builds smoke chamber
    • Prepares existing fireplace for insert
    • Faces fireplaces and inserts

  • Installs refractories and corrosion resistant materials (9%)

    • Installs and maintains refractories
    • Prepares for installation of refractories and accessories
    • Prepares mortar for refractories
    • Removes existing refractories
    • Installs refractories
    • Repairs refractories
    • Installs and maintains corrosion resistant materials
    • Prepares for installation of corrosion resistant materials and accessories
    • Prepares mortar for corrosion resistant materials
    • Removes existing corrosion resistant materials
    • Installs corrosion resistant materials
    • Repairs corrosion resistant materials

  • Performs restoration (11%)

    • Rebuilds masonry work
    • Disassembles unit masonry
    • Prepares restoration work area
    • Reinstalls masonry and accessories
    • Repairs and cleans existing masonry work
    • Removes deteriorated masonry units
    • Repoints joints
    • Repairs masonry units
    • Reinstalls masonry units and accessories
    • Cleans existing masonry surfaces

  • Performs additional masonry (7%)

    • Installs glass blocks
    • Prepares work area for installation of glass blocks
    • Lays glass blocks
    • Installs ornamental and sculpted masonry
    • Prepares for installation of ornamental and sculpted masonry units
    • Installs ornamental and sculpted masonry units
    • Builds arches
    • Prepares location for installation of arch
    • Builds template
    • Places template
    • Installs arch masonry units
    • Removes template

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

What is the exam format?

Written knowledge examination; multiple-choice, four options and one correct answer per question; each question worth one mark.

How many questions are on the exam?

Total questions: 125.

How long is the exam?

4 hours.

What is the passing score?

70%.

How much does the exam cost?

Varies by province and territory. The provincial or territorial office provides the applicable cost when registering; there is no single national amount stated on the official registration page.

Official sources and references

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.