Government of New Brunswick
  • Description
  • Fees
  • Contacts
  • Overview

    Apprenticeship training is not available for this occupation

    Eligibility

    An individual desiring certification as a journeyperson in New Brunswick in the Blaster occupation is required to meet the following criteria:

    Category 1 must be the holder of a category 2 certificate of qualification and has performed fifteen hundred hours of work in blasting operations after obtaining the category 2 certificate of qualification.

    Category 2 must be the holder of a category 3 certificate of qualification and has performed fifteen hundred hours of work in blasting operations after obtaining the category 3 certificate of qualification; and
    successfully pass the examination for the category 2 certificate of qualification.

    Category 3 has performed at least one thousand hours of supervised work in blasting operations; and
    successfully pass the examination for the category 3 certificate of qualification.

    Category M has performed at least one thousand hours of supervised work in blasting operations in a smelter operation; and
    successfully pass the examination for the category M certificate of qualification.

    Successful candidates will receive a New Brunswick Certificate of Qualification.


    Description

    Fully qualified persons of journeyperson status in the Blaster occupation are fully familiar with the materials, tools, principles and skills required in the Blaster occupation.

    Specific tasks encompassed in the Blaster occupation include:
    - the drilling in preparation for blasting operations;
    - the mixing of blasting agents on-site and the assembling, placing and detonating of charges of explosives to loosen or break earth, rock, stumps and ice or to demolish structures and otherwise prepare all blasting operations on the surface or under water;
    - the examining of the mass, composition, structure and location of the material to be blasted;
    - the estimating of the amount and type of explosive to be used; and
    - the making and maintaining of blast and inventory records.

    The categories of certification for the Blaster occupation and their limitations are as follows:

    Category 1 authorized to supervise and perform surface and underwater blasting operations with no limitations;

    Category 2 authorized to supervise and perform surface and underwater blasting operations: if under the supervision of the holder of a Category 1 certificate of qualification or under the control of a professional blasting engineer, with no limitations; if unsupervised, limited to a scale distance of 60 (imperial) and 22.7 (metric);

    Category 3 authorized to supervise and perform surface and underwater blasting operations with the following limitations: if supervised, to the limitations of the certificate of qualification of the supervisor; if unsupervised, limited to a maximum of 250 kg (550 lbs) of explosive per shot and to scale a distance of 60 (imperial) and 22.7 (metric);

    Category M authorized to supervise and perform blasting operations in a smelter operation and is limited to a maximum of 10 kg (22 lbs) of explosive per shot.

    The examination for a category 2, category 3 or category M certificate of qualification in the Blaster occupation shall consist of a written phase and a practical phase.

    Persons of journeyperson status may be employed with mining operations, road construction companies or utilities.

    Changes To Fees

    This document provides the rationale supporting changes to fees, associated revenue information, and the legal authority:
    2012-PETL-01-ApprenticeshipFees.pdf


    Fees

    Unless otherwise specified, Fees exclude the harmonized sales tax (HST).

    Fee DescriptionRate in $Effective Date
    YYYY-MM-DD
    Certificate of Qualification Examination2012-07-31
      Examination250.002012-07-31
      Re-examination85.002012-07-31
    Certificate of Qualification based on "out-of-province journeyperson status"150.002012-07-31
    Replacement of Certification Documents15.002012-07-31
    Tuition Fees - Technical Training weekly rate60.002012-07-31
    Certificate of Qualification Challenger Assessment Fee100.002012-07-31
    Prior Learning Assessment100.002012-07-31
    Replacement of Photo Identification Card20.002012-07-31
    Assessment of Foreign Credentials100.002012-07-31
    Contact Information Email Location
    Campbellton
    Edmundston
    Fredericton
    Miramichi
    Moncton
    Fredericton
    Bathurst
    Saint John
    Woodstock