Skilled Trades

Certification

Skilled Trades Certification is now in effect, requiring tradespeople working in 7 electrical and mechanical trades to be registered apprentices or certified journeypersons.
Learn about the next steps and supports available
tradeworker

Why Skilled Trades Certification?

With more than 83,000 job openings expected in the next decade, there has never been a better time to join the skilled trades. While British Columbia has a strong and effective trades training system that offers multiple pathways for individuals to achieve certification, it has not had compulsory trades for two decades. Skilled Trades Certification looks to standardize the training apprentices receive and works to level the playing field, helping to attract a diverse workforce.

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Skilled Trades Certification 

Trades

These trades were chosen because they are in high demand, contain relatively low numbers of uncertified workers, and are regulated by other regulators for safety and workmanship. This allows for the least disruption to workers and employers as we transition to a Skilled Trades Certification system over the coming years. 

As part of SkilledTradesBC’s broadened responsibility for trades training and set out in the Skilled Trades BC Act, Skilled Trades Certification has been implemented for the following trades: 

Employers, Experienced Workers, Level Challengers

pipefitter woman standing by table
Level Challengers

If you have between 1-4 years of experience in your trade, you can become a Level Challenger, putting you on the fast track to become a certified journeyperson.
man on ladder
Experienced Workers

If you have over 5 years of work experience in your trade, you can apply to either become a Trade Qualifier or an Uncertified Experienced Worker.
Two female tradespeople sitting at the back of a truck with supplies.
Employers

Learn how Skilled Trades Certification can be good for your business and what your responsibilities are as an employer.

Contact an

Advisor

Our team is here to support and provide guidance. Reach out to a Certification Advisor directly.

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Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

There will be no impact to registered apprentices and certified journeypeople.  

However, unregistered workers who are currently in one of the Skilled Trades Certification trades will have to be either registered as an apprentice with an employer sponsor, a certified journeyperson, or have applied to become a Trade Quailifer or Uncertified Experienced Worker. 

Click here to find out what actions you need to take. 

You will need to ensure that your workers are either a registered apprentice, a certified journeyperson or registered as a Trade Qualifier or Uncertified Experienced Worker with SkilledTradesBC. You are also responsible for ensuring adequate on-the-job learning and supervision by maintaining a maximum ratio of 2:1 apprentices to journeyperson. We’ve added a new Employer Workforce Submission on our Portal to help with recording all of this information.

More information on Skilled Trades Certification, the pathways to certification and your role as an Employer can be found on this page.

Our Advisors are here to help understand your unique situation and support you on the pathway to meeting the requirements.  Contact us by filling out this form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

If an apprentice wants to attain certification in a skilled trade, they are required to register with a sponsor to receive on-the-job training done by certified journeypersons. A supervision ratio is a limit on the number of apprentices a journeyperson can train at a time.

For electrical and mechanical Skilled Trades Certification trades, the supervision ratio of apprentice to journeyperson is 2:1 (two to one).

A 2:1 apprentice to journeyperson supervision ratio helps ensure that apprentices are able to get the right level of training and experience they need to become qualified workers, who in turn are able to support businesses and the needs of British Columbians.

Learn more about supervision ratios on our employer page. If you have any further questions about meeting the supervision ratio or how it might affect you, please sign in to the Portal to complete the Employer Workforce Submission and a Skilled Trades Certification Advisor will reach out to support.

SkilledTradesBC has introduced a new Employer Workforce Submission on our customer portal for all employers of workers in Skilled Trades Certification trades to provide information about their workforce. 

The information gathered will be used to identify workers and employers in Skilled Trades Certification trades, help us understand more about their existing workforce and provide assistance to those who may need our support in meeting the new requirements. 

For example, if an employer employs unregistered workers, our Skilled Trades Certification Advisor team will reach out to help get these workers registered and on the path to certification. 

Up-to-date information on Skilled Trades Certification trades in our province will also help us advance and enhance B.C.’s valuable certification system. 

Employers will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Apprentices’ full names, SkilledTradesBC IDs, Trade 
  • Journeypersons’ full names, email addresses, Certificate Numbers, province they were certified in, Trade (remember to include yourself, if appropriate)
  • Trade Qualifiers and Uncertified Experienced Workers’ Full names, SkilledTradesBC IDs, Temporary Authorization numbers, Trade 
  • If you are not the sponsor of your employees, please have the sponsor name, email address and phone number ready

Scope of work refers to general activities, tasks or functions carried out by workers in their respective trade. It is linked and driven by the definition in each trade profile established for our apprenticeship programs, which is consistent with the National Red Seal Occupational Standard definition.

Details of the scope of work of Skilled Trades Certification trades can be found here. 

A Temporary Authorization issued by SkilledTradesBC authorizes an uncertified worker to continue to work in a Skilled Trades Certification trade for a certain period of time. 

Once you submit an application as a Trade Qualifier or Uncertified Experienced Worker and receive approval, you will automatically be issued a Temporary Authorization. 

Our goal is to support employers and individuals in meeting these new requirements. Signing up for the SkilledTradesBC Portal and starting your application to become a Trade Qualifier or Uncertified Experienced Worker.

For more information on Temporary Authorizations, visit this page.

Skilled Trades Certification is now in effect for electrical and mechanical trades. Workers in these trades need to be registered as an apprentice or a certified journeyperson and employers need to ensure adequate on-the-job learning and supervision by maintaining the 2:1 apprentice to journeyperson ratio. 

We recognize that workers and employers have many unique circumstances and our goal is to support you to become certified and meet the requirements, if you haven’t yet. Please complete this contact form to get in touch with an Advisor. We’re here to help! 

If you are an uncertified worker or employer in one of the Skilled Trades Certification trades and unable to or not sure if you meet the requirements, our team of Advisors is here to guide you. Our goal is to understand your unique situation and find solutions together that will allow help you meet the requirements. Please complete this contact form and our team will provide assistance to your need.

We understand that everyone has a unique situation, and our team is here to support you on how to meet these new requirements.

The first step is to log in or sign up for our customer portal, where you can create your organizational profile and provide information about your workforce. The information you share will allow us to provide you with more tailored support, including helping you ensure any unregistered workers get on the pathway to certification.

Yes. Effective January 1, 2025, the Gasfitter – Class B program will become a Red Seal trade in B.C. With the Gasfitter – Class A program also designated as a Red Seal trade in 2023, this transition now provides workers in both trades a pathway to certification with SkilledTradesBC that is nationally recognized and in alignment with the other Skilled Trades Certification trades.

In both cases, you will be issued a Temporary Authorization that allows you to continue working for a certain period of time. Visit the Experienced Workers page for more information.

If you have any questions or require support with getting certified, please complete this Contact Form and our Advisors will get in touch with you.

If you already have a Certificate of Qualification issued by jurisdictional authorities in other Canadian provinces or territories or an Interprovincial Red Seal in Skilled Trades Certification trades, you have met the requirements of Skilled Trades Certification.

No, there is no impact to participants in training programs recognized by SkilledTradesBC that has a work experience component. This includes foundation program or Indigenous community-based programs with co-op or on the job placements, youth trades programs and trades related diplomas and certification programs. They may continue to work as they are exempt from the requirements. 

They are also not counted as part of the supervision ratio for employers. 

B.C.’s Skilled Trades Act is intended to apply equally to all persons within British Columbia, including those working in federally regulated industries or workplaces. This ensures that all relevant employers and tradespeople are held to the same high standard of training and supervision across the province. The Act mandates that all individuals working in B.C. in a designated Skilled Trades Certification trade must be:

  • A certified journeyperson
  • A registered apprentice, working under the supervision of a certified journeyperson or a SkilledTradesBC designated Uncertified Experienced Worker
  • A SkilledTradesBC designated Trade Qualifier or Uncertified Experienced Worker

 For more information, please connect with the stcinquiry [at] skilledtradesbc.ca (Skilled Trades Certification) team.