Trade Playbook

Masonry

No provincial trade licence required

Masonry is a non-compulsory trade with a low licensing barrier to entry — the Brick & Stone Mason (401A) certificate is voluntary — so the differentiators are skill, silica controls, and restoration/heritage credentials.

Where are you right now?

Learn it. Earn it. Own it. Pick the door that matches where you are.

Getting inBecome a masonHow people actually enter this trade: sponsors, registration, hours, and school.Open Getting certifiedFinish your ticketAlready an apprentice? The Last Mile guide: closing out hours, booking the exam, exam day.Open Comparing optionsWhat masons makePay by stage, the lanes that change the number, and the difference between a wage and a business rate.Open Going out on your ownStart a masonry businessThe step-by-step from qualified tradesperson to incorporated, insured, bid-ready owner.Open Just lookingCommon questionsLicences, costs, timelines: the questions everyone asks, answered straight.Open

Masonry at a glance

Licence to do the work
Not required — 401A Brick & Stone Mason is voluntary
Path in
Apprenticeship about 3 years, or start as a mason tender and learn up
Regulated by
Municipality (permits); silica rules under O. Reg. 490/09
Insurance baseline
$2M CGL
Union route
IUBAC Local 2

The licensing layer, explained

Brick & Stone Mason (401A) and Restoration Mason (244H) are voluntary trades. No provincial licence is required to start. You need a municipal business licence, building permits, WSIB, insurance, and silica-exposure controls. Heritage/restoration work can require conservation training.

Certifications in this trade

Insurance to expect

Scaffolding, falling-material, and silica exposure dominate the risk profile. $2M CGL minimum.

Go to the source

The official pages that govern this trade. Bookmark these, they are the final word on requirements and fees.

Keep reading

401A Brick & Stone MasonIncorporationCRA RegistrationWSIB & ProvincialTrade LicensingInsuranceSafety ComplianceOperational SetupBid Readiness

Ready to build a masonry business?

AEC Stack handles incorporation, licensing, insurance, compliance, and operations, so you can focus on the work.

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