At a glance

Licence status
Voluntary certification See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC

Your roadmap

Trained in Canada

  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  1. You must have an employer or sponsor who is willing to sponsor and register you as an apprentice.

    Source
    “have an employer/or sponsor who is willing to sponsor and register you as an apprentice”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
  2. You must meet any required registration prerequisites for your trade.

    Source
    “meet any required registration prerequisites for your trade”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
  3. You register with SkilledTradesBC to become an apprentice.

    Source
    “register with SkilledTradesBC”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with SkilledTradesBC

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Licensed in another province

  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  1. You register with a sponsor in British Columbia to begin the process.

    Source
    “you'll need to register with a sponsor in B.C.”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/apprentice-mobility
  2. You provide a B.C. mailing address on your registration application through the SkilledTradesBC Portal.

    Source
    “provide a B.C. mailing address on your registration application through the SkilledTradesBC Portal”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/apprentice-mobility

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with SkilledTradesBC

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Trained outside Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $120
  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Listed time: 25.8 to 26.3 months (only 2 of 5 steps state a time)
  1. You search for your trade and review the Employer Declaration or Statutory Declaration form to find the required hours of work experience, percentage of job task experience and any prerequisite credentials.

    Source
    “Review the Employer Declaration or Statutory Declaration form (near the bottom of your trade page), where you can find the hours of work experience, percentage of job task experience and any prerequisite credentials required.”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
  2. Once you have confirmed your eligibility, you create a SkilledTradesBC Portal account by selecting the option to challenge a certification exam.

    Source
    “create a SkilledTradesBC Portal account by selecting the option to challenge a certification exam to start your application”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
  3. You pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration forms.

    Source
    “Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration form(s).”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
  4. You are notified of your application result after it is reviewed and processed.

    Time: 8 to 10 weeks
    Time source
    “Currently, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for an application to get reviewed and processed.”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
    Source
    “Currently, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for an application to get reviewed and processed.”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
  5. After approval, you schedule and pass your certification exam and any practical assessments within 24 months.

    Time: 24 months
    Time source
    “You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
    Source
    “You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $120

One-time fees listed for Trained outside Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $120 100%
One-time total $120 100%

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Experience

Other

Already licensed in another province?

Not stated

The pages state that apprentices registered in another province may receive credits towards their apprenticeship in B.C. by registering with a sponsor and providing a B.C. mailing address, but do not state whether certification can be obtained without retaking an entry-to-practice exam or assessment.

Source
“If you are registered in another province, you may be eligible to receive credits towards your apprenticeship in B.C.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/apprentice-mobility

  1. Register with a sponsor

    Source
    “you'll need to register with a sponsor in B.C. and provide a B.C. mailing address on your registration application through the SkilledTradesBC Portal”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/apprentice-mobility

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC

Exams

Language tests

No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC

Exemptions: IELTS/CELPIP English language exam results are not required to become a skilled trade apprentice or to write an exam with SkilledTradesBC.

Source
“No, this is not required to become a skilled trade apprentice or to write an exam with us.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC

Demand and pay

Job Bank wages and outlook in British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $22.00 $30.00 $39.20 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $17.00 $26.00 $43.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Floorcovering installers in other provinces and territories

Compare floorcovering installer licensing across Canada

Sources checked

  1. Find Your Trade | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/find-your-trade · fetched October 9, 2026
  2. Newcomers and International Tradespersons | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Apprentice Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/apprentice-mobility · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Floorcovering Installer | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/floorcovering-installer · fetched October 9, 2026
  5. Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. Canadian and Military Certificate Holders | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders · fetched October 9, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a floorcovering installer in British Columbia?

No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in British Columbia. Certification is managed by SkilledTradesBC.

Which exams are required?

Certification exam, Practical assessment, Level exam, Red Seal exam.

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