Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)

Completion of Grade 10 or equivalent (including English 10, Mathematics 10, Science 10) is the minimum education requirement; however, completion of secondary school is preferred. Other beneficial qualifications include:

• Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program (or a combination of more than three years work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses) for certification by SkilledTradesBC

Certification is not mandatory in British Columbia, but it can offer more well-rounded training and will likely increase work opportunities. Painting and decorating apprenticeships:

• Can be started in secondary school, through entry-level training at colleges and technical institutes, or by direct entry to the workforce
• Require workers to find a sponsor employer who is willing to participate in the program

Painters and decorators are eligible for Interprovincial Standard Endorsement (Red Seal) qualification through SkilledTradesBC. This allows holders to work in any province or territory. Once individuals pass the final examination of their accredited training program, they will achieve certification and will automatically receive Red Seal qualification.

Workers with 8,100 hours of documented, directly related work experience can challenge the Interprovincial Red Seal examination. For more information, please see SkilledTradesBC's website at https://skilledtradesbc.ca.

Workers who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact SkilledTrades BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Trades training resources

Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.

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