How to Become a Painter and Decorator in British Columbia
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Painter and decorator is a voluntary trade in British Columbia. You can work in the trade without a certificate.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Painter and Decorator”
From skilledtradesbc.ca/find-your-trade, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 7 steps, listed one-time fees $120
- Licensed in another province: 4 steps, listed one-time fees $120
- Trained outside Canada: 3 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 7 done
- Listed one-time fees: $120
- 6 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 26.3 to 26.8 months (only 2 of 7 steps state a time)
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You review the declaration form on your trade page 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/challenge-certification-exam -
You create an account on the SkilledTradesBC Portal and select the option to challenge a certification exam to start your application.
Source
“Create an account on the SkilledTradesBC Portal”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam -
You complete and submit your application through the Portal, including an Employer or Statutory Declaration for each period of work experience, with all documents in English.
Source
“Complete and submit your application by following the prompts on the Portal.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam -
You pay the application fee through the Portal when submitting your application and declaration forms.
- Application fee: $120
Source
“Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration form(s).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam
Source
“Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration form(s).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam - Application fee: $120
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SkilledTradesBC reviews your application package, verifies your work experience with your employers and references, and decides whether you can challenge the certification exam.
Time: 10 to 12 weeksTime source
“The typical processing time is approximately 10 to 12 weeks, or longer if you have work experience outside of Canada.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-examSource
“SkilledTradesBC will review your application package, verify your work experience with the employer(s)/references you provide and determine whether you have the necessary experience to challenge the certification exam.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam -
Once approved, you schedule and pass your certification exam, and any practical assessment, within 24 months of approval.
Time: 24 monthsTime source
“Once approved, you must schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessment, if applicable, within 24 months of approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-examSource
“Once approved, you must schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessment, if applicable, within 24 months of approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam -
After passing the exam, you obtain your certification.
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $120
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $120 | 100% |
| One-time total | $120 | 100% |
6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 4 done
- Listed one-time fees: $120
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
If you hold a certificate from another Canadian jurisdiction, you may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement.
Source
“If you hold a Certificate in a skilled trade outside of B.C. from another provincial apprenticeship authority or Canadian jurisdiction, you may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders -
You submit an Exam Application and a photocopy of your Certificate of Qualification to Customer Service.
Source
“Please submit the following documents to Customer Service:”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders -
You pay the out-of-province assessment fee with your application.
- Out-of-province assessment fee: $120
Source
“$120 out-of-province assessment fee. You can pay online, by mail or with a cheque (payable to SkilledTradesBC) with your application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Source
“$120 out-of-province assessment fee. You can pay online, by mail or with a cheque (payable to SkilledTradesBC) with your application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders - Out-of-province assessment fee: $120
-
You apply to write the Red Seal exam to obtain the Red Seal Endorsement.
Source
“you may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement by applying to write the Red Seal exam”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $120
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | $120 | 100% |
| One-time total | $120 | 100% |
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 1.8 to 2.3 months (only 1 of 3 steps state a time)
-
Source
“Visit the Find Your Trade page to search for your trade.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa... -
If you have work experience in the trade but have never been certified in Canada, you may challenge the certification exam as a Trade Qualifier to become certified without an apprenticeship.
Source
“If you have work experience in the trade but have never been certified in Canada, you may be eligible to challenge the certification exam as a Trade Qualifier to become certified without going through an apprenticeship program.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/painter-decorator -
Your Trade Qualifier application is reviewed and processed.
Time: 8 to 10 weeksTime source
“Currently, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for an application to get reviewed and processed.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa...Source
“Currently, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for an application to get reviewed and processed.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa...
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.
Requirements
Experience
You must have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade.
Source
“You have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam
Other
Your references will be contacted by phone to verify your work experience, and a denied application can result if they cannot be contacted.
Source
“Your references will be contacted by phone to verify your work experience. If references cannot be contacted, it will result in a denied application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-examYou must be able to schedule and pass your certification exam and any practical assessments within 24 months of your application approval.
Source
“You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-examAll documents submitted with your application must be in English.
Already licensed in another province?
Extra steps
Source
“If you hold a Certificate in a skilled trade outside of B.C. from another provincial apprenticeship authority or Canadian jurisdiction, you may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Apply for Red Seal Endorsement
Source
“If you hold a Certificate in a skilled trade outside of B.C. from another provincial apprenticeship authority or Canadian jurisdiction, you may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holdersWrite the Red Seal exam
Source
“you may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement by applying to write the Red Seal exam”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exams
-
certification exam
Source
“You have a maximum of four attempts to achieve the required 70 per cent passing score on your certification exam.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam -
practical assessment
Source
“Some trades may also require a practical assessment in addition to the certification exam.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam -
Red Seal exam
Source
“you may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement by applying to write the Red Seal exam”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exemptions: IELTS or CELPIP 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/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa...
Canadian experience
Applicants with work experience outside of Canada may face longer processing times for their Trade Qualifier application. Source
“The typical processing time is approximately 10 to 12 weeks, or longer if you have work experience outside of Canada.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $21.00 | $28.00 | $35.00 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $20.00 | $28.00 | $40.99 | — |
Painters and decorators in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Voluntary certification
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Voluntary certification
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Certification required
- New Brunswick Voluntary certification
- Nova Scotia Voluntary certification
- Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
- Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
- Yukon Voluntary certification
- Northwest Territories Voluntary certification
- Nunavut Voluntary certification
Sources checked
- Find Your Trade | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/find-your-trade · fetched October 9, 2026
- Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 9, 2026
- Canadian and Military Certificate Holders | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders · fetched October 9, 2026
- Newcomers and International Tradespersons | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Painter and Decorator | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/painter-decorator · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a painter and decorator 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, Red Seal exam.
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