Licensing guide · Manitoba

How to Become a Painter and Decorator in Manitoba

Last checked 8 sources checkedNOC 73112

Do you need certification?

Certification is voluntary

Painter and decorator is a voluntary trade in Manitoba. You can work in the trade without a certificate.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Voluntary designated trades means tradespeople are not required to be an apprentice or journeyperson to work in the trade.”

From gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/employers/hiring-apprentices.html, checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

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

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $989
  • 4 steps without a listed fee

  1. Apprenticeship Manitoba emails you the Apprenticeship Agreement, which you sign and your employer also signs.

    Source
    “Sign the Apprenticeship Agreement - Apprenticeship Manitoba sends an email to you with the Apprenticeship Agreement”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...

  2. You submit education records, documentation of related work or educational experience, and the signed Apprenticeship Agreement to Apprenticeship Manitoba.

    Source
    “Provide documentation and register your Apprenticeship Agreement with Apprenticeship Manitoba”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...

  3. You work on the job for about 80 per cent of your apprenticeship, learning from a certified journeyperson.

    Source
    “You will spend about 80 per cent of your apprenticeship working on the job.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

  4. Once you have completed the required on-the-job hours, you can register for technical training delivered by a recognized technical training provider.

    Source
    “Once you have completed the required number of on-the-job hours, you can register for technical training delivered by a recognized technical training provider.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

  5. After completing all levels and apprenticeship requirements, you must pass the certification (final) exam to earn a Certificate of Qualification.

    Source
    “Once you’ve completed all levels and apprenticeship requirements for your program, you must pass the certification (final) exam.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $989

One-time fees listed for Trained in Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Other $989 100%
One-time total $989 100%

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

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Listed time: 1.4 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)

  1. You review the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website to determine if you are eligible to write the qualification exam.

    Source
    “Determine if you have the work experience, training, knowledge and skills required to be eligible to write the qualification exam by reviewing the work experience form for your trade on the”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  2. If you meet all requirements, you submit your trades qualification application with your completed work experience form, employer letters and copies of previous trades certification to Apprenticeship Manitoba.

    Source
    “Submit to Apprenticeship Manitoba your trades qualification application (along with your completed work experience form, employer letter(s) and copies of previous trades certification) only if you meet all requirements to write the qualification exam in your trade.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  3. You wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba, whose application review typically takes about six weeks; approval means you are eligible to write the exam.

    Time: 6 weeks
    Time source
    “Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks).”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations
    Source
    “Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks). Approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  4. As a trade qualifier you challenge the certification exam for your trade to earn your Certificate of Qualification.

    Source
    “Trade qualifiers challenge the certification exam for their trade to earn their Certificate of Qualification.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

Listed fees for this route

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

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

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 5 steps without a listed fee
  • Listed time: 1.4 months (only 1 of 5 steps state a time)

  1. If you are on a work permit, you must provide the approved Authorization Letter from the Government of Canada to Apprenticeship Manitoba before you can register for technical training.

    Source
    “You are required to provide the approved Authorization Letter from the Government of Canada to Apprenticeship Manitoba before you will be able to register for technical training while on a work-permit.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/newcomers.html

  2. You review the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website to determine if you are eligible to write the qualification exam.

    Source
    “Determine if you have the work experience, training, knowledge and skills required to be eligible to write the qualification exam by reviewing the work experience form for your trade on the”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  3. If you meet all requirements, you submit your trades qualification application with your completed work experience form, employer letters and copies of previous trades certification to Apprenticeship Manitoba.

    Source
    “Submit to Apprenticeship Manitoba your trades qualification application (along with your completed work experience form, employer letter(s) and copies of previous trades certification) only if you meet all requirements to write the qualification exam in your trade.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  4. You wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba, whose application review typically takes about six weeks; approval means you are eligible to write the exam.

    Time: 6 weeks
    Time source
    “Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks).”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations
    Source
    “Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks). Approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  5. As a trade qualifier you challenge the certification exam for your trade to earn your Certificate of Qualification.

    Source
    “Trade qualifiers challenge the certification exam for their trade to earn their Certificate of Qualification.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

Listed fees for this route

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

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

Official page for this route

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

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Experience

Residency

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

If you have received Red Seal certification for any trade, it will continue to be recognized in Manitoba, while non-Red Seal certification in a compulsory trade is assessed case by case.

Source
“If you have received Red Seal certification for any trade (voluntary or compulsory certification), it will continue to be recognized in Manitoba. If you received certification that is not Red Seal in a compulsory certification trade, this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier....

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 73112, Painters and decorators (except interior decorators). Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Manitoba and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Manitoba $17.00 $24.00 $30.00 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $20.00 $28.00 $40.99 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Manitoba

Wages in every province and territory

Painters and decorators in other provinces and territories

Regulated in all 12 other jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare painter and decorator licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/employers/hiring-apprentices.html · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/manage-your-apprent... · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier.... · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. Regulated Occupations | Manitoba Immigration immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations · fetched October 10, 2026
  7. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/newcomers.html · fetched October 10, 2026
  8. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/painter-and-... · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a painter and decorator in Manitoba?

No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in Manitoba. Certification is managed by Apprenticeship Manitoba.

Which exams are required?

certification (final) exam, Red Seal exam, Level Placement Exam.

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