New to camp and rotation work? Start here
This page is a plain-language map of what to figure out first if you're new to camp and rotation jobs in Canada: how rotations work, which tickets to get, what camp life is like, how pay works, drug testing, and camp-income taxes -- each with a link to the full guide.
Key facts
- Typical rotation
- 14/7 (12-hour shifts)
- Tickets most sites screen for first
- Standard First Aid, H2S Alive, CSO (formerly CSTS-2020)
- Drug testing
- Pre-access testing is standard across the industry
- Camp-income tax relief
- Northern Residents Deduction (CRA)
How do rotation schedules work?
Most camp jobs run on a rotation instead of a five-day week -- 14 days on, 7 off is the most common pattern, with 21/7, 10/4, and fly-in fly-out (FIFO) variations depending on the industry and site. See the oil sands rotations guide for how the shifts, travel days, and time off actually work.
What tickets or certifications should I get first?
A short list of safety tickets gates entry to almost every camp job -- regardless of industry, Standard First Aid and an H2S/safety-orientation ticket (H2S Alive and CSO, formerly CSTS-2020, in the oil sands) come up again and again. See the oil sands tickets guide for what each ticket actually costs, how long it takes, and how long it lasts, and the ice road tickets guide for the trucking-specific list (Class 1, air brakes, TDG).
What is camp life actually like?
Most rotation jobs come with camp accommodation -- a private or shared room, a cafeteria, a gym, and shared WiFi that slows down in the evening. Camps are dry, with a zero-tolerance drug policy. See the camp life guide for what to actually pack and expect, and the oil sands camps guide for the jobs-focused version.
How does the pay actually work?
Pay in camp and rotation work is almost always base wage plus overtime, and overtime is where the real variation is -- by role, site, and whether it's a shutdown or turnaround period. See the oil sands salaries guide for sourced, role-by-role figures, or the pay comparison across niches page to see how industries stack up.
What should I expect from drug and alcohol testing?
Pre-access drug and alcohol testing is standard across almost every camp and rotation employer, not just one industry. See the oil sands drug and alcohol testing guide for what actually happens and what "safety-sensitive" means -- every guide in this network has its own version of this page for its own industry.
What about taxes on camp income?
Rotation and camp work creates real tax questions -- the Northern Residents Deduction, camp-benefit rules, and how living-out allowances are treated -- that most people don't hear about until tax season. See the oil sands camp tax guide for the general framework, sourced directly to the CRA. This is not tax advice.
Pick your guide
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to get hired?
Not always -- entry-level and camp-services roles are a realistic way in with no industry experience on several guides. See your industry's jobs page (for example, the oil sands jobs guide) for the specifics.
Which ticket should I get first?
Standard First Aid and your industry's safety-orientation ticket (H2S Alive, CSO -- formerly CSTS-2020 -- or the trucking equivalent) come up before almost every other certification. See your industry's tickets page for the sourced cost and validity of each.