Mining tickets: Common Core, and what actually gets you hired

Every figure and module name below is sourced -- see the Sources section, checked 2026-09-07. Where a training provider didn't publish a number, this page says so rather than guessing one.

What is underground Common Core (Program #770010)?

This is the entry-level underground safety-training standard most Ontario hard-rock mines expect before considering you for underground work around Sudbury, Timmins, or Red Lake. It's set by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act's Mines and Mining Plants regulation, and structured as four mandatory Common Core modules plus up to 75 Specialty Modules, with specialty modules taken only as your specific job requires. Ontario's own Mining Health, Safety and Prevention Review report describes the four mandatory modules as covering induction procedures, inspection procedures, rock scaling, and lockout/tagout procedures.

Per NORCAT's own program description, the full program runs about 5 weeks total: 2 days of classroom theory, followed by an in-depth, supervised, workplace-based practical session. Graduates are registered with the MLITSD under Program #770010. It's delivered by Ministry-recognized trainers, including Workplace Safety North (WSN) and NORCAT.

Why there's no individual price listed here: because the practical portion has to happen in an actual workplace and be signed off by a qualified in-house trainer, this program generally isn't something you complete independently and bring to an interview -- it's typically arranged and covered by the employer once you're hired, similar to site-specific orientation. Confirm directly with NORCAT, WSN, or the specific employer for current arrangements.

Is Surface Miner Common Core the same as the underground version?

Surface, pit, and quarry work uses a separate Common Core, also MLITSD-overseen but structured very differently. One training provider we checked (SafetyGuysTraining.com, 2026-09-07) lists it as a 16-hour, 2-day, instructor-led course covering three units: working safely in the municipal pit and quarry environment, locking out and tagging mobile or portable equipment and stored energy, and operating hand tools. That provider's listed price was roughly $2,450 per session, a group rate for 1-10 participants, with possible travel charges on top -- a corporate booking rate, not confirmed as a universal or individual price. Get a current quote from a provider before budgeting around it.

Moving into a supervisor role: a different Common Core again

If you move into a first-line supervisor role, there's a further, separate Common Core for that -- Program #770121 for underground hard rock, #770131 for underground soft rock, and a generic #770141 version. Workplace Safety North's own program pages list the hard-rock supervisor modules as U6100 (Follow Safety Programs), U6101 (Prepare for Emergencies), U6102 (Follow Health and Hygiene Procedures/Guidelines), U6103 (Practice Effective Communication), and U6104 (Manage Work Area Activities), delivered over several days. This is a separate certification from the entry-level miner Common Core above, not an upgrade of it.

What about First Aid?

Standard (increasingly called Intermediate) First Aid with CPR/AED Level C is expected across the industry alongside Common Core, not instead of it. Based on Ontario training providers we checked, it typically runs as a 2-day course costing roughly $95-130 depending on the provider, and is valid for 3 years. It's delivered by WSIB-recognized trainers, commonly ones affiliated with the Canadian Red Cross. Confirm current pricing and scheduling directly with a specific provider.

Do I need Common Core outside Ontario?

Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories each set their own underground mining safety-training requirements. They overlap with Ontario's Common Core in general content, but we could not confirm they're interchangeable with it. If you're applying to a mine in Val-d'Or, Thompson, or a Yellowknife-area operation, confirm directly with the employer or the relevant provincial mining association whether your Ontario tickets will be accepted, or whether site-specific retraining is required.

Sources

• Ontario -- Final Report, Mining Health, Safety and Prevention Review: Training, Skills and Labour Supply — accessed 2026-09-07. Source for the four Common Core modules under Program #770010 and the Common Core/Specialty Module structure.
• NORCAT -- Common Core Training — accessed 2026-09-07. Source for Program #770010's ~5-week structure (2 days theory + workplace-based practical) and MLITSD registration.
• Workplace Safety North -- Common Core for Underground Hard Rock First Line Supervisors (Program #770121) — accessed 2026-09-07. Source for supervisor-level modules U6100-U6104.
• Workplace Safety North -- Mandatory Skills Training — accessed 2026-09-07.
• SafetyGuysTraining.com -- Surface Miner Common Core (Ontario) — accessed 2026-09-07. Source for the surface program's 3 units, 16-hour/2-day duration, and $2,450/session group price.
• First Aid cost/validity range compiled from Ontario training-provider pages checked 2026-09-07, including Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics.