72105 Ironworkers

What this occupation covers

Ironworkers fabricate, erect, hoist, install, repair and service structural ironwork, precast concrete, concrete reinforcing materials, curtain walls, ornamental iron and other metals used in the construction of buildings, bridges, highways, dams and other structures and equipment. They are employed by construction ironwork contractors. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 11 main duties for this code.

• Read blueprints and specifications to lay out work
• Unload and position steel units so each piece can be hoisted as needed
• Erect and install scaffolding, hoisting equipment and rigging
• Signal crane operator to position steel units according to blueprints
• Align and weld or bolt steel units in place
• Erect structural and architectural precast concrete components for buildings, bridges, towers and other structures
• Assemble and erect prefabricated metal structures
• Position and secure steel bars or metal mesh in concrete forms to reinforce concrete structures
• Install ornamental and other structural metalwork such as curtain walls, metal stairways, railings and power doors
• Examine structures and equipment for deterioration, defects or non-compliance with specifications
• May dismantle structures and equipment.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 11 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 72103 Boilermakers
• 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
• 72104 Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters

Excluded from this code

• Boilermakers (See 72103 Boilermakers)
• Ironwork supervisor (See 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations)
• Metal fitters foreman/woman (See 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations)
• Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters (See 72104 Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

apprentice ironworker · apprentice metal structure erector · bridge construction ironworker · building systems erector · curtain wall installation ironworker · generalist steel structure erector · iron structure erector · ironworker · ironworker - metal building systems erector · ironworker - ornamental · ironworker - reinforcing rebar · ironworker apprentice · ironworker generalist · journeyman/woman ironworker · journeyman/woman reinforcing ironworker · metal scaffold erector · metal structure erector · metal tank erecting ironworker · metal wall framing installer · metal wall framing ironworker · metal wall installation ironworker · ornamental ironworker · ornamental-metal worker · precast concrete erector

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a two- to three-year apprenticeship program or Over three years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in ironworking are usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification for ironworker (generalist) is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
• Trade certification for ironworker (reinforcing) is compulsory in Quebec and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
• Trade certification for ironworker (structural/ornamental) is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
• Trade certification for ironworker (metal building systems erector) is compulsory in Alberta.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified ironworkers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.