A WCB Alberta clearance letter confirms your Workers' Compensation Board account is in good standing. Municipal tenders treat it as a mandatory attachment, often required to be current as of the closing date. An expired letter is one of the most common silent disqualifiers. Get letters from WCB Alberta (wcb.ab.ca) — not from a consultant pretending to issue them.
What a WCB clearance letter is
It is an official statement that your account is registered and premiums are not in default. Buyers use it to confirm workers are covered and the municipality will not inherit WCB liability. Subcontractors on a municipal job are often required to provide their own clearance as well.
How do I get one?
Log in to WCB Alberta online services and request a clearance. Processing is typically fast when the account is current. If you are in collections, fix the account first — a letter will not print you out of arrears.
How current does it need to be?
Read the RFP. Many say 'dated within 30 days of close' or 'valid through closing date.' Do not reuse last season's PDF.
Clearance and the compliance screen
Uploading a letter for the wrong legal name, an old trade name, or a related company that is not the bidder is a fail. The bidder on the forms must match WCB, insurance, and the vendor portal.
We use a numbered company — does that matter?
Yes. The tendering entity, WCB account, insurance named insured, and bonding principal should match. Inconsistencies are a classic disqualification reason.
Is clearance the same as a PIR refund?
No. Clearance is good-standing proof for bids. Partnerships in Injury Reduction is a separate WCB premium-refund program for COR participants.