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/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa...
  2. You must meet any required registration prerequisites for your trade.

    Source
    “meet any required registration prerequisites for your trade”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa...
  3. You register with SkilledTradesBC to become an apprentice.

    Source
    “register with SkilledTradesBC”
    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.

Licensed in another province

Steps not listed by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC

Trained outside Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $120
  • 5 steps without a listed fee
  • Listed time: 25.8 to 26.3 months (only 2 of 6 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, job task percentages and 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 eligibility is confirmed, you create a SkilledTradesBC Portal account selecting the option to challenge a certification exam.

    Source
    “Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, 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 complete and submit your application through the Portal along with an Employer or Statutory Declaration for each period of work experience, with all documents in English.

    Source
    “For each period of work experience listed on your application, you must submit an Employer or Statutory Declaration (near the bottom of your trade page).”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
  4. You pay the $120 application fee through the Portal when submitting 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
  5. SkilledTradesBC notifies you of the result of your application.

    Time: 8 to 10 weeks
    Time 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
    “Get notified of your application result”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
  6. After approval, you must 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%

5 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

  • 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/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
  • To challenge a level exam you must meet minimum work-based training hour requirements of 1,800 hours for Level 1, 3,600 hours for Level 2 and 5,400 hours for Level 3.

    Source
    “You will need to meet the following minimum work-based training hour requirements to be eligible to challenge each level exam: - Level 1: 1,800 hours (approximately 1 year) - Level 2*: 3,600 hours (approximately 2-3 years) - Level 3*: 5,400 hours (approximately 3-5 years)”
    skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-level-exam

Other

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

SkilledTradesBC recognizes a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, and you will not have to re-certify or get a re-issued certificate.

Source
“If you hold a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, SkilledTradesBC will recognize it. You will not have to re-certify or get a re-issued certificate.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-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 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...

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Applicants with Canadian military trade certification at QL5 or higher can apply to become a Trade Qualifier through the Portal with no assessment fee.

Source
“If you can show proof of a Canadian Military Trade Certification, with proof of a Military ranking at QL5 or higher, you can provide this information while applying to become a Trade Qualifier through the Portal.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders

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 $24.00 $35.00 $46.15 Limited (2 of 5)
Canada $21.00 $29.00 $43.30 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Piledrivers and bridgeworkers in other provinces and territories

  • Alberta Not confirmed yet
  • Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
  • Manitoba Not confirmed yet
  • Ontario Not confirmed yet
  • Quebec Not confirmed yet
  • New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
  • Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
  • Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
  • Yukon Not confirmed yet
  • Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
  • Nunavut Not confirmed yet

Compare piledriver and bridgeworker 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/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa... · fetched October 11, 2026
  3. Labour Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility · fetched October 11, 2026
  4. Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 11, 2026
  5. Challenge a Level Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-level-exam · fetched October 11, 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 piledriver and bridgeworker 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, Red Seal exam.

Getting Licensed? Get Your Resume Ready Too

Nainly pairs expert resume assessment with a done-for-you career marketing campaign, so your profile keeps reaching decision-makers while you work through the licensing steps.

Schedule a Call

Free consultation. No commitment.