WCB-Alberta coverage and clearance letters for contractors

Almost every Alberta construction or service tender asks for proof of workers' compensation coverage, and the usual proof is a WCB-Alberta clearance letter. It's the Alberta version of the WorkSafeBC clearance letter BC buyers ask for, and it protects the buyer more than it protects you.

Why do buyers ask for a clearance letter?

Because they can be on the hook for your premiums. WCB-Alberta warns that if you hire a contractor whose account has a balance owing, you can become responsible for the outstanding premiums. A clearance relieves the principal, the party hiring and paying the contractor, of liability for that contractor's premiums.

So a public buyer will usually ask for a clearance with your bid or before the contract starts, and may ask again before paying you. The Government of Alberta's supplier page lists Workers' Compensation Board coverage among the certifications some opportunities require.

What does the letter show?

WCB-Alberta says a clearance letter identifies who is covered, the industry of coverage, and whether the account is in good standing. The industry matters: if your account is set up for one kind of work and you bid another, ask WCB-Alberta whether your coverage fits before you bid.

How do I get one?

1. Have a WCB-Alberta account. You need one to get a clearance for yourself or your company.
2. Request the clearance through myWCB, on the desktop site or the employer mobile app.
3. Send it to the buyer with your bid, or when they ask.

Clearance letters are free. Anyone hiring you can also request one about you directly, without an account of their own.

What if I hire subcontractors?

Then you're the principal, and the same risk applies to you. WCB-Alberta recommends getting a clearance before work starts, during the contract, and before final payment. You can also sign up for automatic clearance notifications, a daily email listing any of your subcontractors whose status could affect your liability.

A contractor who passes WCB-Alberta's business test and has their own account isn't your worker. One without an account, or who isn't eligible for one, may leave you providing coverage and paying premiums for them. Check before they start, not after.

I'm based in BC. Do I need WCB-Alberta?

Ask both boards before you send anyone. WCB-Alberta says its coverage doesn't replace the requirements of the jurisdiction where work happens, and tells employers to contact the board in each province they work in. In practice, Alberta buyers ask for a WCB-Alberta clearance, so a crew from BC planning regular Alberta work should expect to set up an Alberta account and to keep its WorkSafeBC account for BC work.

Where to go next

The safety certificate many Alberta buyers also ask for is covered in COR and SECOR in Alberta, and the full list of papers is in paperwork for Alberta public contracts.