How to Become a Welder in British Columbia
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Welder 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
“Certification Type Red Seal”
From skilledtradesbc.ca/welder, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
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- Licensed in another province: 0 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 7 steps, listed one-time fees $120
- 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.
Licensed in another province
Steps not listed by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Trained outside Canada
0 of 7 done
- Listed one-time fees: $120
- 6 steps without a listed fee
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Search for the 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 -
Create an account on the SkilledTradesBC Portal by selecting the option to challenge a certification exam to start the application.
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 -
Complete and submit the application through the Portal, including an Employer or Statutory Declaration for each period of work experience listed.
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 -
Pay the application fee through the Portal and submit the 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/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Source
“Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration form(s).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam - Application fee: $120
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Wait to be notified of the outcome of the application review.
Source
“Get notified of your application result”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Pass the written examination with a score of 70% or higher before applying to complete the practical examination.
Source
“Trade qualifiers challenging the Welder certification must successfully pass the written examination (Welder Interprovincial Red Seal) with a score of 70% or higher before applying to complete the practical examination.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/welder -
Apply to complete and pass the practical examination to achieve Welder certification in British Columbia.
Source
“The Welder Challenge Pathway requires written and practical examinations to achieve Welder certification in British Columbia.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/welder
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.
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.
- 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
Requirements
Experience
Applicants 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
Other
References will be contacted by phone to verify work experience, and if they cannot be contacted the application will be denied.
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/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-examApplicants must be able to schedule and pass the certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of 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/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-examAll documents submitted with the application must be in English.
Source
“All documents submitted must be in English.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-examApplicants must be legally authorized to work in Canada to be employed as an apprentice.
Source
“To be employed as an apprentice, you must be legally authorized to work in Canada.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa...Trade qualifiers challenging the Welder certification must pass the written examination with a score of 70% or higher before applying to complete the practical examination.
Source
“Trade qualifiers challenging the Welder certification must successfully pass the written examination (Welder Interprovincial Red Seal) with a score of 70% or higher before applying to complete the practical examination.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/welder
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
SkilledTradesBC recognizes Certificates of Qualification from other Canadian provinces and territories, so holders do 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/labour-mobility
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exams
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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 -
Welder Interprovincial Red Seal (written examination)
Source
“Trade qualifiers challenging the Welder certification must successfully pass the written examination (Welder Interprovincial Red Seal) with a score of 70% or higher before applying to complete the practical examination.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/welderWhich provinces ask for the Welder Interprovincial Red Seal (written examination)
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Level exam
Source
“If you have some practical experience but do not yet qualify for the certification exam, you may be eligible to challenge a level exam to enter the program at the appropriate level.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/welder
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exemptions: IELTS/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 in the trade who have never been certified in Canada 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/welder
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $23.25 | $35.00 | $51.87 | Limited (2 of 5) |
| Canada | $22.00 | $30.00 | $47.00 | — |
Welders in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Certification required
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Voluntary certification
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Certification required
- New Brunswick Certification required
- 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
- Welder | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/welder · fetched October 10, 2026
- Labour Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility · fetched October 10, 2026
- Newcomers and International Tradespersons | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 10, 2026
- Canadian and Military Certificate Holders | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders · fetched October 9, 2026
- Labour Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/labour-mobility · fetched October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a welder 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, Welder Interprovincial Red Seal (written examination), Level exam.
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