• Who can apply?

• How do I apply?

• How do I complete an Employer Declaration of Work Experience Form?

• How do I complete a Statutory Declaration of Work Experience Form?

• How do I submit my application package?

Applying to Challenge Certification

If you have significant work experience in a trade but have never been certified in Canada, you may apply to challenge the certification as a Trade Qualifier. Your application must document your work experience in the trade you wish to challenge, and you must pay a $120 application fee.

If SkilledTradesBC approves your challenge application, you must then complete the requirements to challenge certification in your trade, which can include a practical assessment and/or writing a B.C. Certification of Qualification or Interprovincial Red Seal exam. You must write and pass this exam within 24 months of approval, or you will have to reapply and submit a new application fee. Successful completion of these requirements will result in certification in your trade. 

If you hold a Certificate of Qualification in this trade from a different Canadian jurisdiction and wish to challenge the Red Seal exam, or if you are a holder of a Canadian Military Trade Certification with proof of a military ranking at QL5 or higher, DO NOT complete the challenge application. Instead, contact SkilledTradesBC Customer Service for instructions. For additional information visit Holders of a Certificate of Qualification or Canadian Military Certification.

Non-Skilled Trades Certification trades applying for a Supervision and Sign-Off Authority Number

If you have significant work experience in a trade but have never been certified in Canada, and you wish to register with SkilledTradesBC as a sponsor for a B.C. apprentice, you may apply for a Supervision and Sign-Off Authority number. This number allows you to supervise apprentices and Sign-Off on the Recommendation for Certification that is required for most trades. Your application must document your work experience in the trade. There is no fee for this application, and you are not required to write a certification exam or complete a practical assessment. If SkilledTradesBC approves your application, you will receive a Supervision and Sign-Off Authority number, but this is not equivalent to holding certification in the trade. 

For more information on Supervision and Sign-Off Authority, please contact Customer Service. 

Skilled Trades Certification trades applying for a Temporary Authorization as an Uncertified Experienced Worker 

If you plan to get off the tools in the next few years and want to continue working until then, you can apply for a Temporary Authorization as an Uncertified Experienced Worker if you are working in one of the Skilled Trades Certification trades.

Your application must document your work experience in the trade. Before applying, ensure you have at least 36,000 hours of work experience (20+ years) and have experience performing at least 70% of the job tasks listed in the Employer/ Statutory Declaration form of your trade. References included on the Employer/Statutory Declaration forms will be contacted via phone by SkilledTradesBC to verify your work experience. References that cannot be contacted can result in your application being denied. Visit the program page of your trade for more details. 

If SkilledTradesBC approves your application, you will receive a one-time Temporary Authorization, allowing you to continue working for a maximum of five years from the date the trade was implemented under Skilled Trades Certification. 

There is no fee for this application, and you are not required to write a certification exam or complete a practical assessment. 

What do I do to apply?

Please read these instructions carefully before completing your application. All the information you submit must be in English. 

Begin your application by signing up for the SkilledTradesBC Portal. You will be prompted to fill out an online application form and download and fill out PDF declaration forms, and submit them through the Portal.

All applicants must:

• Complete:

  • One completed online application form (Personal information of applicant and trade work experience summary) 

  • One or more completed declaration forms (Employer Declaration of Work Experience and/or Statutory Declaration of Work Experience)

• Pay a $120 application fee (for Challenge Certification only)

• Provide reference(s) that can confirm you have the minimum required number of hours of hands-on work experience in the trade performing the required job tasks, as indicated on the Employer and Statutory Declaration of Work Experience forms for each trade.
  Note: Do not include time spent performing managerial, administrative, or supervisory duties, volunteer work, teaching/instructing, or attending training courses. 

• Submit your completed application to SkilledTradesBC through the Portal

• Be able to write your exam(s) in B.C. 

Where do I find the forms?

• Go to the Find Your Trade page

• Search for and select your trade

• On the trade’s program page, scroll down to the “Challenge the Trade” section to locate:

  • Online Application Form (Submitted via SkilledTradesBC Portal)

  • Employer Declaration Form (Document of relevant work experience) 

  • Statutory Declaration Form (Attestation for self-employment/work experience when employer cannot be contacted)

How do I sign up for the SkilledTradesBC Portal?

Signing up for the Portal is free and serves as an effective way to submit your application and track its progress. To start your application as a Trade Qualifier or Uncertified Experienced Worker, click here.

What are the requirements for my trade?

The first page of each Employer or Statutory Declaration of Work Experience form indicates the minimum number of hours of work experience and percentage of job task experience you must have to apply for certification challenge or Supervision and Sign-Off Authority in your trade. 

The same forms also indicate whether any prerequisite credentials or certificates are required.

Some trades require trade qualifiers to undergo a practical assessment as well as writing an exam. The Program Profile for your trade will indicate if a practical assessment is required. It is available on the same webpage as the Employer and Statutory Declaration of Work Experience forms for your trade. 

What happens next?

SkilledTradesBC will receive and assess your application. Once your work experience has been verified with your direct supervisor(s) and/or references, we will notify you of the results by e-mail. This usually takes about 6 weeks, but more time may be needed if your references cannot be reached, or if some of your work experience is from outside Canada. 

Challenge Certification applicants only: Once approved to challenge, you will need to contact our Customer Service to request an exam date and location.

Additional Questions

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about completing and submitting your package.

An Employer Declaration of Work Experience form is confirmation of your hands-on work experience in the trade from your current or previous employer. By completing this form, your direct supervisor verifies the hours you worked performing the trade, declares that they have seen you perform specific job tasks required for your trade, and certifies the information provided is accurate.

An Employer Declaration of Work Experience form must be completed for each employer listed in your completed Application form. For example, if you list two employers on your application form, you must submit two Employer Declaration forms—one completed by each employer.

Applicant Name

Enter the legal name used in your Application form. Your name on all declaration forms must match the name used on the application form. Enter your name, as well as the supervisor’s name, in the footer of all subsequent pages of the declaration form. 

The applicant and supervisor’s name are required on every page of the Employer Declaration so that its owner can be identified if a page becomes separated from the complete application package. 

Employment Information of Applicant

Enter the business information of the organization for which you worked. If the organization no longer exists, enter the information of the organization when it was still in business. Enter the dates you worked for this organization, the hours of work experience gained, and your job title during this period. Ensure that the hours recorded are for hands-on trade experience. Do not include time spent performing managerial, administrative, or supervisory duties, volunteer work, teaching/instructing, or attending training courses.

Your total work experience is calculated by adding the number of hours in this field on each Employer and/or Statutory Declaration form submitted with your application. The number of hours entered must be specific. Entries such as “more than one thousand” or “lots” are not acceptable.

Supervisor Contact Information

Enter the current contact information for your direct supervisor when you worked for this organization. SkilledTradesBC will contact this individual to verify your work experience. If your direct supervisor cannot be reached by SkilledTradesBC, your experience from this organization will not be considered for your challenge application. If your direct supervisor is unavailable or unwilling to be contacted, you may declare your experience on a Statutory Declaration of Work Experience form.

Supervisor Declaration of Job Task Performance of Applicant

This section lists job tasks that a journeyperson in the trade must be able to do. Supervisors completing this form must check ’yes’ or ’no’ in the “Declaration Response” column to indicate whether they have personally seen the applicant perform the job tasks listed. 

Your completed form(s) must show that you have experience performing a minimum percentage of the job tasks required for your trade. The minimum percentage required is shown at the top of the declaration form for each trade. Your total percentage will be determined based on the combined responses on all declaration forms submitted with your application.

Confirmation of Prerequisite Credentials or Certificates

This section does not apply to all trades. Some trades require applicants to prove they have achieved additional credentials or certificates before they are allowed to challenge the certification. If this is the case for your trade, this section will list the certification(s) required. 

Note: Do not submit paperwork for training or certification earned outside Canada as it will not be reviewed.

Supervisor Signature

The direct supervisor of the applicant must personally sign and date this section. SkilledTradesBC cannot assess unsigned declarations of work experience.

A Statutory Declaration of Work Experience form is a declaration of work experience completed by you. 

This form is required when there is no direct supervisor available to attest to your work experience. This may be the case for periods when you were self-employed, or if a previous supervisor is unavailable or unwilling to complete an Employer Declaration of Work Experience form. In all cases, Statutory Declarations must be accompanied by a minimum of three references.

For periods of employment that cannot be verified with a former supervisor, you must submit a separate Statutory Declaration of Work Experience form for each employer. For example, if you listed two periods of employment for which your direct supervisors could not be contacted, you would submit two Statutory Declaration forms. 

Please note that unless your work experience was gained through self-employment, your application will not be accepted if it is only accompanied by a Statutory Declaration. If you were not self-employed, you must provide an Employer Declaration from at least one employer who can verify your work experience.

Applicant Name

Enter the legal name used in your Application form. Your name on all declaration forms must match the name used on the application form. Enter your name in the footer of all subsequent pages of the declaration form. Your name is required on every page of the Statutory Declaration so that its owner can be identified if a page becomes separated from the complete application package. 

Self-Employment or Employment Information 

Enter the business information of your own business, or the organization for which you worked. If the organization no longer exists, enter the information of the organization when it was still in business. Enter the dates you worked for this organization, the hours of work experience gained, and your job title during this period. Ensure that the hours recorded are for hands-on trade experience. Do not include time spent performing managerial, administrative, or supervisory duties, volunteer work, teaching/instructing, or attending training courses.

Your total work experience is calculated by adding the number of hours in this field on each Employer and/or Statutory Declaration form submitted with your application. The number of hours entered must be specific. Entries such as “more than one thousand” or “lots” are not acceptable.

Reason for Statutory Declaration

You must indicate your reason for submitting a Statutory Declaration of Work Experience form instead of an Employer Declaration of Work Experience form. Unless you were self-employed, you must also describe the steps you have taken to try to obtain an Employer Declaration of Work Experience form. If sufficient evidence of the steps taken is not provided, your application may not be approved.

Statutory Declaration of Job Task Performance

This section lists job tasks that a journeyperson in the trade must be able to do. Check ’yes’ or ’no’ in the “Declaration Response” column to indicate whether you performed the job tasks listed during the period of employment indicated in Section B of this form.  Your completed form(s) must show that you have experience performing a minimum percentage of the job tasks required for your trade. The minimum percentage required is shown at the top of the declaration form for each trade. Your total percentage will be determined based on the combined responses on all declaration forms submitted with your application.

Applicant Signature

You must sign and date this section. SkilledTradesBC cannot assess unsigned declarations of work experience.

References

A minimum of three references must accompany each Statutory Declaration of Work Experience form. Enter names and current contact information for individuals who can verify your self-declared work experience for the period of employment that you have indicated in Section B of this form. References may include suppliers, former employees, contractors, or regular, long-term clients. SkilledTradesBC will contact each reference to verify your work experience. Note that SkilledTradesBC must be able to verify not only the hours you have worked, but also the job tasks you have performed. If your work experience cannot be verified with the references provided, your application will not be approved.

Submit your application through the SkilledTradesBC Portal.

All applicants must:

• Complete:

  • Online application form (Personal information of applicant and trade work experience summary) 

  • One or more completed declaration forms (Employer Declaration of Work Experience and/or Statutory Declaration of Work Experience)

• Pay a $120 application fee (for Challenge Certification only)

• Provide reference(s) that can confirm you have the minimum required number of hours of hands-on work experience in the trade performing the required job tasks, as indicated on the Employer and Statutory Declaration of Work Experience forms for each trade.
  Note: Do not include time spent performing managerial, administrative, or supervisory duties, volunteer work, teaching/instructing, or attending training courses. 

• Submit your completed application to SkilledTradesBC through the Portal.