Becoming an apprentice in B.C. to learn a trade: find an employer first, earn while you learn, and get certified step by step (plus what the "$6 billion to $8 billion" in the news is about)

1. First, understand what an apprenticeship is

What an apprentice is. SkilledTradesBC describes an apprenticeship as learning from a tradesperson on the job plus going to class, and when you finish, you get a trade certificate. In B.C., the organization that manages apprentice registration, exams and certificates is SkilledTradesBC. It is an agency of the Government of B.C.

How the time is split. SkilledTradesBC says most apprentices take about four years on average to finish; about 80% of that time is spent at the workplace, working under the guidance of a certified tradesperson, and about 20% is spent in class at a training provider approved by SkilledTradesBC. The federal government says most apprentices take 3 to 5 years. Everyone's pace is different; it depends on whether your work is continuous, whether you can get into classes and whether you pass your exams.

Apprentices are paid. SkilledTradesBC says the employer is the person or company that hires the apprentice to do the work and pays the apprentice's wages. The federal government's slogan for this is "earn while you learn". How much you are paid and how raises work should be discussed clearly with the employer when you meet them (section 4).

Three certificates: do not mix up their names. SkilledTradesBC issues three kinds of trade credentials:

What the Red Seal is. According to the Red Seal website, the Red Seal is a seal placed on the trade certificate from your province, showing that you passed the national Red Seal exam and meet the national standard for the trade. It makes it easier for you to work in other provinces. Not every trade has a Red Seal; there are currently 54 Red Seal trades across Canada.

What the Red Seal is not. The Red Seal website states that a Red Seal endorsement only shows that you passed the Red Seal exam; it does not mean the province has authorized you to work in the trade. Also note: the Red Seal is not a business licence, not a work permit, and certainly not immigration status. SkilledTradesBC also points out that some regulated trades may require a separate licence, and you need to ask the body that regulates that trade: for example, electricians, gas fitters, plumbers and boiler workers come under Technical Safety BC, and crane operation comes under WorkSafeBC.

A "sponsor" is not an immigration sponsor. The word sponsor comes up often below. Here it means a sponsor for apprenticeship training: the person or organization responsible for arranging your training and reporting your hours, and, after you pass your certification exam, recommending to SkilledTradesBC that you be certified. It has nothing to do with sponsorship in immigration, and SkilledTradesBC does not deal with visas or immigration.

2. The "$6 billion to $8 billion" and "100,000 people" in the news: what they mean

Many people only start thinking about learning a trade after seeing news that the government is spending billions to train tradespeople. Let us get these numbers right first.

What the money is called. The federal plan is called Team Canada Strong. Its goal is to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal tradespeople before the 2030–31 fiscal year. The money comes from the federal government and is spread over five years, starting in the 2026–27 fiscal year (April 2026 to March 2027).

$6 billion and $8 billion were said at two different times:

So "from $6 billion to $8 billion" simply means that $6 billion was announced first in the spring, and another $2 billion for the provinces was added in the summer, for a total of $8 billion. Older news online that only says $6 billion has a real source, but it is no longer the latest figure.

What this money is not:

• "100,000 people" is the top of a target. The original wording is 80,000 to 100,000; it is not the number of people already trained.
• It is not 100,000 immigration spots. The plan is described as giving young Canadians a direct, paid path into the trades; the original texts in which the economic update, the Prime Minister's Office and ESDC describe this plan say nothing about immigration spots.
• It is not money shared out equally to individuals. The money goes to places such as paid placements for youth, incentives for employers, training centres run by schools and unions, reform of the Red Seal exam system, and apprentice grants and bonuses. For example, on October 15 the federal government announced more than $430 million over five years for the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP), which funds union training centres; this is for organizations that run training to apply for, not for individuals.
• "Getting certified in half the time" is a goal, not a rule that has already changed. The economic update's actual wording is that the goal is to shorten the path to certification by 50%. As of November 4, the hours and weeks of training written on SkilledTradesBC's trade pages are still as shown in the table in section 3.

Why the government is spending this money. The economic update says that in 2024 more than 100,000 new apprentices registered across Canada, but only about 34,000 completed; and that by 2033 Canada will still need more than 1.4 million new tradespeople. The difficulties it lists include: not enough seats in popular programs; employers are not always willing to give first-year apprentices a chance; there are so many government programs and supports that figuring them out takes a lot of time; and many apprentices cannot cover their living costs while they are in class. That is why much of the new money goes to topping up income during class and helping employers hire beginners (sections 8 and 13).

3. Choose a trade first: where to look and how to read the requirements

Narrow it down to one or two specific trades first. "I want to do renovations" is too general. You need to pick a specific trade, such as Carpenter, Construction Electrician, Plumber or Welder. If you do not know what to choose, the SkilledTradesBC website has a quiz (Find Your Trade quiz): answer a few questions and it suggests several trades for you.

Look for three things on the trade page. On SkilledTradesBC's "Find Your Trade" page, search for the trade name and go to that trade's page:

1. Near the top, the page shows the total hours of work-based training, how many weeks of technical training, whether it is a Red Seal trade, and whether it is a compulsory trade (section 11).
2. In the middle of the page there is a Program Profile. SkilledTradesBC says the profile sets out the paths to certification, the conditions you must meet before registering and the graduation requirements, so be sure to read it carefully.
3. The page also has a Program Outline and a Record Book (a book where you record what you have learned); near the bottom of the page are the declaration forms for people with experience (section 10).

Two example trades (SkilledTradesBC trade pages, November 4, 2026):

This table only shows how much the requirements differ from trade to trade. Not everyone finishes in exactly four years: a break in work, not getting into a class or failing an exam will all slow you down; earlier experience can count toward part of it and make things a bit faster.

Which trades B.C. is short of. The federal skilled trades page lists Red Seal trades where B.C. is relatively short of workers; the examples it gives are Carpenter, Hairstylist, Industrial Mechanic (Millwright), Painter and Decorator, and Welder. This is only a reference; what matters is the job postings in your own city.

Where to take classes in Victoria. Technical training can only be taken at a training provider approved by SkilledTradesBC. On the list of approved providers, Victoria has Camosun College; also on Vancouver Island, the list includes North Island College and Vancouver Island University (VIU). To see which schools offer your trade, you can search on two websites, Trades Training BC or EducationPlannerBC. SkilledTradesBC also points out that your trade may be offered close to home, or you may need to go elsewhere and stay for a few weeks each year to attend classes.

4. Finding an employer and a sponsor: three roles, where to look, and what to ask when you meet

Every apprentice has an employer and also a sponsor. SkilledTradesBC says that in most cases these two are the same company.

Someone you know who can do the work cannot necessarily supervise an apprentice officially. An experienced tradesperson who does not have a trade certificate can apply to SkilledTradesBC for Supervision and Sign Off Authority. SkilledTradesBC recommends calling customer service to apply the first time you register an apprentice. In addition, compulsory trades (section 11) have a rule on numbers: one certified tradesperson can supervise at most two apprentices.

Where to look.

• Job websites: WorkBC's job search page and the federal Job Bank. When you search, use the trade's English name plus apprentice, for example "carpenter apprentice" or "first-year apprentice electrician".
• Unions and industry associations: Among the ways SkilledTradesBC tells employers to recruit apprentices, the first is to go through industry associations and unions, so you can also contact them directly from your side.
• STEP (Skilled Trades Employment Program): Run by the BC Construction Association, it connects people looking for apprenticeship positions in construction with employers, and offers job search coaching, short safety training and job placement. It mainly serves groups that have a harder time finding work, and its service area includes Vancouver Island.
• Women: The BC Centre for Women in the Trades (BCCWITT), run by the BC Federation of Labour, serves the whole province and recruits women and non-binary people into trades training. Phone: 604-812-1966.
• Employment services for newcomers: SkilledTradesBC says newcomers who are legally able to work in Canada can get help finding work from newcomer agencies. In Victoria, the agencies listed by the Government of B.C.'s B.C. Newcomer Services Program (BC NSP) include the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA, 250-388-4728) and the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS, 250-361-9433); this program serves people with a valid work permit, study permit holders whose schools do not provide these services, new citizens and others. Permanent residents can use the IRCC page for finding newcomer services to find free agencies nearby.

If you see helper or labourer jobs, ask first. These jobs can get you into the industry, but the job title by itself does not make every hour automatically count as apprenticeship hours. For hours to count, the work must be within the scope of the trade, supervised by a certified tradesperson, and reported by your sponsor. At the interview, ask directly: can this position be turned into a registered apprenticeship in this trade? Who will register me?

At the interview, it is best to ask about these six things and write down the answers:

1. Is the company willing to be my sponsor? If not, which sponsor does it work with?
2. When will I be registered with SkilledTradesBC?
3. Who will supervise me? Do they have a trade certificate, or Supervision and Sign Off Authority?
4. What is the hourly wage? About how many hours a week? How is pay handled? Under what circumstances do I get a raise?
5. Who will report my hours? How often?
6. When it is time for technical training, how do I take leave from work? How do I come back after the class?

You could ask:

If they say "work for a few years first and worry about the certificate later," pin down a specific date for the registration. Government programs do not guarantee that any company will hire you; whether you are hired and what you are paid depend on the actual job.

Benefits you can mention to the employer. SkilledTradesBC's employer page says that employers who hire a registered apprentice in a Red Seal trade can claim the federal Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit, 10% of the apprentice's wages, up to $2,000 per apprentice per year, for the first 24 months after registration; the employer claims it from the CRA when filing taxes. For non-Red Seal trades, B.C. has a separate credit of 20% of the apprentice's wages, up to $4,000 per apprentice per year (counted once for the first 12 months after registration and once for the second 12 months). The federal government also has a new incentive of up to $10,000 for small and medium-sized businesses that hire a first-year apprentice in a Red Seal trade, which is not yet open for applications (section 13). This is money the employer applies for itself; it is not paid to you.

Related: apprentices are workers too. For wages, overtime and what to do about unpaid wages, see Guide No. 13, Rights at work.

5. Once you have a sponsor: registering as an apprentice online

In B.C., you register as an apprentice in SkilledTradesBC's online account system, the SkilledTradesBC Portal. Both you and your sponsor need a Portal account: one side fills in the registration and the other side confirms it.

One way: fill it in yourself on the Portal (Portal help article "Register My Apprenticeship", updated December 2025):

1. First, ask your sponsor for their SkilledTradesBC sponsor ID. You could ask: "Could you give me your SkilledTradesBC sponsor ID so I can register my apprenticeship on the Portal?"
2. Open the Portal registration page and create an account.
3. After you log in, click "Registrations" in the left-hand menu, then click "+ New Registration".
4. Choose the trade and program you want to register for.
5. For "Out of Province experience" (whether you have experience from another province), choose yes or no.
6. Enter the sponsor ID. Leave out any 0 at the front: for example, enter 012345 as 12345. The system checks whether the ID is correct.
7. Read and check the box for the Apprentice Attestation, then submit.
8. After you submit, the registration appears under "Pending Registrations" and is sent to your sponsor for review at the same time. Once SkilledTradesBC approves it, it appears under "Processed Online Registration".

The other way: your sponsor fills it in for you on the Portal. SkilledTradesBC says that when a sponsor completes the registration form, they usually receive the registration confirmation within 10 business days. If you filled it in first, your sponsor gets a notice and must review and approve it within 30 days.

Do not mix up three stages. "Created an account," "submitted a registration" and "received a registration confirmation" are three different things. After you receive the confirmation, log in to the Portal and check that the trade and the sponsor are correct. Keep a copy of the confirmation.

Check the prerequisites before registering. SkilledTradesBC says that to be an apprentice you need three things: an employer or sponsor willing to sponsor and register you; meeting the prerequisites for registering in the trade; and registering with SkilledTradesBC. The prerequisites are in the trade's Program Profile.

6. How your hours are recorded and checked, and what to do if you change employers

Only your sponsor can report hours. SkilledTradesBC states that work-based training hours can only be reported by the sponsor on the Portal; apprentices cannot report them themselves. SkilledTradesBC recommends that sponsors report every 3 to 6 months. One hour worked at the workplace counts as one hour of work-based training.

What you need to do: log in often. Log in to the Portal every few months and check whether the hours you worked have been reported. Do not wait until it is time for your exam to find out that a large chunk is missing.

Keep your own record too. Note down briefly what work you did each day, how many hours, and who supervised you; keep your pay stubs, contract, course marks and important texts and emails with your boss. SkilledTradesBC's help article says sponsors do not have to submit proof when they report hours, but they are responsible for keeping records and making sure the hours are accurate. If things do not match, your own records can be used to compare with your sponsor and an apprenticeship advisor.

Which hours count and which do not (SkilledTradesBC employer page and the Portal hours FAQ):

• The hours must be worked under the direct supervision of a certified tradesperson or a tradesperson approved by SkilledTradesBC.
• Hours you worked for a previous employer that nobody has reported yet can be reported for you by your current sponsor; if the work was only partly related to this trade, only the related part is reported. Hours already reported by a previous employer cannot be reported a second time.
• Hours worked outside Canada cannot be reported as work-based training hours. To have experience from outside Canada recognized, the only way is through a level challenge exam or a certification challenge exam (section 10).

One more reminder: having pay stubs does not mean all those hours will be recognized; it also depends on whether the work was the kind described above, supervised and within the scope of the trade.

If things do not match, go to your sponsor first. List the dates, the work you did and the hours, and ask your sponsor to check and report the missing hours. If the sponsor reported something wrong, they can void that entry in the Portal and report it again. If it still cannot be sorted out, contact a SkilledTradesBC Apprenticeship Advisor (section 14). You could start like this:

SkilledTradesBC sends transcripts on its own. In the following situations, SkilledTradesBC sends the latest apprenticeship transcript to both you and your sponsor: you finish the technical training for a level; you write a level challenge exam; you or your sponsor report a change of sponsor; or there has been no activity on your record for 12 months in a row. When you receive one, check it.

If you change employers, make sure your record carries over first.

1. Before you change, ask your previous sponsor whether there are any hours not yet reported, and ask them to report them.
2. Once your new employer agrees to be your sponsor, click "+Change Sponsor" under "Registrations" in the Portal, choose your program, enter the new sponsor ID and submit. The new sponsor receives a notice and must approve it within 30 days. When it is done, both you and the sponsor receive a notice.
3. If your previous workplace does not cooperate, has stopped work, or you are not learning what you should be learning in the trade, tell an apprenticeship advisor promptly.

Losing your job does not end your apprenticeship registration right away. After you lose your sponsor, SkilledTradesBC keeps your apprenticeship registration for 18 months. Use this time to find a new sponsor as quickly as you can.

7. Technical training: how to register and when to go

Work does not replace class. Technical training (in-class technical training) teaches the theory of the trade and must be taken at a training provider approved by SkilledTradesBC. Many trades are divided into levels (Level 1, Level 2, and so on), with a block of classes for each level and a level exam in class.

Being registered as an apprentice does not mean the school has saved you a seat. You have to register for classes with the school yourself. SkilledTradesBC reminds apprentices again and again: the earlier you register the better, because classes fill up quickly.

When to take Level 1. SkilledTradesBC says Level 1 technical training is usually scheduled one year after you register as an apprentice; people who have already worked in the trade for a while can go a bit earlier. After that, it recommends going once a year, alternating theory and hands-on work.

Before you register, ask the school these things:

• When does the next Level 1 class (or the level you need) start? Are there still seats?
• What conditions must I meet before the class starts? (Some schools require English test results, such as IELTS or CELPIP. SkilledTradesBC itself does not require English test results to register apprentices or write exams, but schools can.)
• How much are tuition, books and tools?
• Where are the classes held? Will I need to stay out of town?

You could ask the school:

Prepare your English and math early. SkilledTradesBC not requiring English test results does not mean the work does not need English: on site you have to understand safety instructions and read drawings and technical specifications. You can start with the trade you chose: learn a few common English words each day, and practise measuring, working out ratios, converting units and reading drawings. If you do not understand a safety instruction on site, ask the person right then to say it again and show you, and only start once you understand. SkilledTradesBC's exam study support page has videos, websites, review courses and other resources that are also useful before exams.

Agree with your boss on when you will be away. SkilledTradesBC says that apprentices being able to attend class depends on support from their employer, usually by letting the apprentice leave work for the training period. Talk with your boss early about when it is best for you to be away.

Income during those weeks in class. During training you generally leave work to attend class. For money during this time, there are options such as EI, WorkBC apprentice financial support and apprentice loans (section 8); talk through in advance what the employer will do.

8. Money while you are in class: EI, WorkBC support, apprentice loans and tax credits

Governments investing billions does not mean learning a trade is free from start to finish. Tuition, books, tools, protective equipment, transportation, accommodation out of town, and fees for exams and rewrites: ask first who pays for each. Below are the options that can be used now, as of November 4, 2026.

1. Employment Insurance (EI): income while you are in class

Who can get it. Service Canada says apprentices whose province arranges for them to attend full-time technical training may be able to receive EI regular benefits while in class. Whether you qualify depends first on your hours: Service Canada states that you generally need 420 to 700 hours of insurable employment in the past 52 weeks (the exact number depends on the unemployment rate where you live). If you have only just started working and do not have enough hours, call WorkBC Apprentice Services early to ask what other support there is (see item 2 below). How much you get is calculated under the EI rules.

Get a 16-digit code first. When you apply for EI, you need to show that the province arranged for you to attend training. Once you are approved for full-time technical training, the province or school gives you a 16-digit reference code. Entering this code in your application helps avoid delays. Each block of training is arranged separately, and each block gets a new code.

In B.C., you get this code through WorkBC Apprentice Services (see item 2 below).

Things to remember (Service Canada's EI page for apprentices):

• You can apply online as early as 7 days before your last day of work.
• Before EI starts paying, there is one week with no payment, called the waiting period. For the same apprenticeship program, this one week only applies once; it is not deducted again for later blocks of training.
• If you take leave to attend class, your EI ends on the last day of the course.
• If you did not get a code, or you are already receiving EI and are about to go to class, contact Service Canada as soon as possible to get the code added. The EI line is 1-800-206-7218 (toll-free within Canada and the United States; select 0 to reach an officer), and the TTY line is 1-800-529-3742; officers are available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the official site does not say which time zone this is.

2. WorkBC Apprentice Services: support on top of EI

The Government of B.C. helps apprentices in class through WorkBC Apprentice Services. It may cover: basic living costs (food, housing, utilities); extra child care costs because of training; daily transportation to and from school; travel at the start and end of training out of town; temporary accommodation out of town; and extra disability-related costs because of training. Whether you are approved and how much you get depend on your situation.

How to apply:

1. Apply in WorkBC's "Online Employment Services" system, logging in with the BC Services Card app or a Basic BCeID.
2. You can apply as early as 4 weeks before your class starts; the earlier the better. SkilledTradesBC's page also says that people who do not meet the usual eligibility requirements must meet with WorkBC Apprentice Services at least 4 weeks before the class starts to see whether they can apply; these people cannot apply once the class has started.
3. After you submit, you receive an email notice; then log in to the system to get your EI code (check your spam folder).
4. Take the code to Service Canada and apply for EI. SkilledTradesBC reminds apprentices to apply for EI as soon as they stop working, or during their last week of work, even if they have not yet received their Record of Employment (ROE); otherwise they will not be able to get WorkBC's training support.
5. After the class starts, WorkBC Apprentice Services confirms with the school that you are attending, and then tells you that your application is being processed. WorkBC Apprentice Services contacts you again about whether you are approved and how much you get.

Who can apply online. Apprentices with an employer sponsor, or sponsored by a union or an Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) program; or apprentices who are unemployed but whose apprenticeship registration is still active.

How to contact them: Phone 1-844-428-4730; email info-apprenticeservices@workbc.ca; Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Sundays and statutory holidays.

When you call, you could say:

3. Canada Apprentice Loan: borrowed money that must be repaid

• How much: Up to $4,000 interest-free for each period of technical training, for up to 5 periods. It can be used to pay tuition, buy tools and equipment, cover living costs and make up for wages lost while in class.
• When to repay: You do not make payments and no interest builds up until you finish or leave your apprenticeship program. As long as you keep confirming that you are still registered in a Red Seal trade, you can go up to 6 years (312 weeks) without repaying.
• Who can borrow (you must meet all four): a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person; registered as an apprentice in a Red Seal trade designated by the province where you are registered; registered for full-time (block release) technical training; and, for your first application, passing a credit check.
• Who cannot borrow: high school students; apprentices registered in Quebec; anyone who has already received a Canada Student Loan for the same period of training; and anyone who has already borrowed for 5 periods or has already used up the 6-year repayment-free period.
• How to apply: Apply on the Canada Apprentice Loan Service Centre website; you first need to sign in to My Service Canada Account (MSCA).

4. B.C. training tax credit for apprentices: claim it once you reach certain stages

The Government of B.C. gives apprentices registered with SkilledTradesBC a refundable tax credit (training tax credit). Refundable means that if anything is left after it reduces the tax you owe, the rest is paid out to you as well.

• Who can claim it: you lived in B.C. on December 31 of the tax year; you are registered with SkilledTradesBC as an apprentice in an eligible program; and you are not attending a public high school, home school or private school.
• The levels here are the tax credit's own levels. Each trade is assessed in one of three ways: reaching a certain number of work hours, finishing a certain level of technical training, or graduating. Levels 1 and 2 of Red Seal trades do not have the basic credit.
• How much for Red Seal trades: if you complete the level 3 requirements, you can claim $2,000; if you complete the level 4 requirements, you can claim $2,500. For example, for Construction Electrician, the province's example says that finishing level 3 technical training counts as level 3, and graduating with a Certificate of Qualification counts as level 4. For non-Red Seal trades, levels 1 and 2 are $1,000 each. Indigenous people (registered under the Indian Act) and people who qualify for the federal disability tax credit get an additional amount. For which step each level of each trade corresponds to, see the province's table of trades.
• People who certify through a challenge based on experience can also claim it: the province states that if you get a Certificate of Qualification through a challenge exam, you can claim the credit for the graduation level for that year.
• How to claim: when you file your personal income tax return, fill in the B.C. training tax credit form T1014 and file it with your T1 return. You may need to provide a copy of your SkilledTradesBC transcript or certificate.
• Until when: the province states that this credit ends on December 31, 2028.

5. A few federal tax deductions and credits

The federal apprentice page lists several; you claim each one yourself under the CRA's conditions:

• Tradesperson's tools deduction: you can deduct part of the cost of eligible tools bought for your job.
• Labour Mobility Deduction: apprentices or tradespeople in construction who temporarily move away for work can deduct their transportation, meals and accommodation costs, up to $4,000 a year.
• Tuition tax credit: eligible tuition fees, and fees for certain licensing exams. SkilledTradesBC says that trade certification exam fees can be included in the tuition tax credit, but the certificate must be one that allows you to work in the trade in Canada.

6. Old grants have ended; do not follow old posts online

The federal government's former Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) and Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) ended on March 31, 2025, and no longer accept applications. The amounts and ways to apply written in old posts online no longer apply. For the new supports, see section 13.

9. Certification: level exams, certification exams and the Red Seal

There are two kinds of exams.

• Level exams: in many trades, each level of technical training has a level exam (Standard Level Exam).
• Certification exam: after you finish all levels of technical training, you write one certification exam covering everything learned during the apprenticeship. The Red Seal website says that in Red Seal trades, most provinces use the national Red Seal exam as the final certification exam. Instructors spend time helping everyone review.

The pass mark is 70%. You need 70% or higher on the certification exam to pass.

How many times you can write and whether it costs anything (apprenticeship path, SkilledTradesBC exam rewrites page, November 4, 2026):

There must be at least 30 days between each rewrite and the previous attempt. If you miss a booked exam or cancel within 30 days before it, you have to pay a rescheduling fee (the amount is not given on the web page; not verified for this guide).

Exam fees are only paid in the Portal. SkilledTradesBC states that starting April 13, 2026, exam fees and replacement certificate fees must all be paid in the SkilledTradesBC Portal, and the payment forms previously on the website are no longer used. If someone asks you to transfer money to them so they can pay the exam fee for you, do not pay; log in to the Portal yourself and check.

Where to write. SkilledTradesBC holds exams regularly in locations across the province (the exam schedule and locations page lists 15 exam locations, while the rewrites page says 13), and Victoria is one of them (up to 24 people per session). If you cannot make those times, you can arrange to write at one of 60 Service BC offices across the province. Book exams in the Portal.

If English is not your first language, you can ask for help. SkilledTradesBC states that you can apply for:

• A translator or interpreter: they must be at least 19 years old, must not know the trade, and cannot help with the same exam a second time within 90 days; if you use an interpreter, you get one extra hour.
• A translation dictionary: only a word-for-word translation dictionary, with no definitions or example sentences; you bring your own, and the invigilator checks it before and after the exam; no extra time.
• The French version of the Red Seal exam.

For any of these accommodations, SkilledTradesBC must receive your request 30 days before the exam.

After you pass, your sponsor still has to recommend you. Once your work-based training, technical training and certification exam are all complete, SkilledTradesBC asks your sponsor and the tradesperson who supervised you to submit a Recommendation for Certification, confirming that your skills have reached the level of a certified tradesperson. Once it is received, SkilledTradesBC sends the certificate to your sponsor, who signs it and gives it to you, and you are officially certified. A sponsor who does not recommend you must give the reasons, along with a training plan to fix the gaps and the date of the next recommendation.

So a supervisor saying out loud that you are ready, finishing school, or simply passing one exam does not mean you are certified.

The bonus after certification. Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons who completed their apprenticeship as registered apprentices and were certified in a Red Seal trade on or after April 1, 2025 can apply for the federal $5,000 Red Seal Completion Bonus; applications open November 16, 2026. For the conditions, deadlines and documents to prepare, see Guide No. 28, Red Seal Completion Bonus.

10. No employer yet, or you already have experience: three starting points

1. Never used the tools and cannot find a sponsor for now: take a foundation program first

SkilledTradesBC states that taking a Foundation Program does not require you to have a sponsor first. Classes are held in classrooms and school shops and teach the basic knowledge and skills needed to start in the trade; after finishing one it is easier to find a sponsor, and many can also count toward apprenticeship credit. These programs used to be called ELTT (Entry Level Trades Training).

An example (from SkilledTradesBC's own text): after finishing the Piping foundation program, when you later register as an apprentice plumber, steamfitter/pipefitter or sprinkler system installer, you can get credit for Level 1 technical training plus 375 hours of work-based training.

Whether there is a foundation program and how much credit it gives is set out in your trade's Program Profile. Register at a training provider approved by SkilledTradesBC.

Before paying tuition, ask the school at least four things:

1. Is this program recognized by SkilledTradesBC?
2. After finishing it, which level of technical training and how many hours can it count for?
3. What does it cost in total? How do refunds work if I stop partway?
4. Do you help students find work?

A school saying it helps with employment and an employer actually giving you a job offer are two different things. Do not pay to learn again what can already be officially credited.

If your child is still in high school. SkilledTradesBC has trades programs for high school students, such as Youth Train in Trades (taking classes for a trade while still in high school) and Youth Work in Trades (getting on-the-job training and a wage while still in high school). Ask your child's school whether it offers them.

2. Worked in the trade for 1 to 4 years: write a level challenge exam and start at a middle level

If you already have some real experience but not enough to go straight to certification, you can write a level challenge exam (Level Exam). If you pass, you start your apprenticeship directly at the matching level, with credit for that level's technical training and hours.

• Minimum hours: challenging Level 1 needs 1,800 hours (about 1 year); Level 2, 3,600 hours (about 2 to 3 years); Level 3, 5,400 hours (about 3 to 5 years). You must challenge the levels in order, one at a time.
• Register as an apprentice first, then apply: fill in the level challenge application form, which must be signed by your sponsor or employer to confirm your experience. Starting August 1, 2026, you must use the new "Level Challenge Exam" application form (the old "Level Placement Exam" form was accepted only until July 31); download the latest one from the level challenge page. For level challenges in non-compulsory trades, only the sponsor's signature is accepted; a certified tradesperson's signature is no longer accepted.
• Free of charge. Processing usually takes about 30 business days.
• You can write it at most twice, and you need 70%.
• Not every trade has a level challenge exam; check the Program Profile.

3. Worked in the trade for 5 years or more: certify directly based on experience (Trade Qualifier)

People with a lot of experience in the trade can apply to be a "Trade Qualifier" and write the certification exam directly without going through an apprenticeship program. This path requires your experience to be reviewed; it is not a shortcut for people without experience to skip apprenticeship training.

What to prepare:

• Find the declaration forms near the bottom of the trade page, and see how many hours the trade requires, what share each kind of work must make up, and whether you need another certificate first.
• For each period of work experience, submit a declaration form: the one filled in by the employer is the Employer Declaration; if you were your own boss, or you cannot reach your direct supervisor, you fill in a Statutory Declaration yourself.
• All documents must be in English.
• SkilledTradesBC phones your references to verify your experience, and also phones the company to confirm that the reference worked there. If your references cannot be reached, your application will be refused.

How to apply: In the Portal, choose "challenge a certification exam" to start the application, submit your declaration forms, and pay the $120 application fee in the Portal.

How long it takes: The certification challenge page says it usually takes about 10 to 12 weeks, longer for experience outside Canada; the newcomers FAQ page says 8 to 10 weeks. The two pages say different things, so plan for the longer one.

Once approved: you must book and pass the exam within 24 months; some trades also have a practical exam. You can write it at most four times, and you need 70%. Fees: $120 for the 1st attempt (this is the application fee), free for the 2nd, and $100 each for the 3rd and 4th. Once you pass, the certificate is mailed to the address you registered with SkilledTradesBC, so make sure that address is correct and change it promptly if it changes. Starting August 1, 2026, people who do not pass after all four attempts are no longer placed directly into the final level of the apprenticeship: in compulsory trades (section 11), they must register as an apprentice to keep working in the trade; in other trades, they may register as an apprentice and then take technical training or write level challenge exams.

What about experience from outside Canada? The Portal's guidance states that hours worked outside Canada cannot be reported as apprenticeship hours; to have experience from outside Canada recognized, the only way is to write a level challenge exam or a certification challenge exam. Certificates and years of experience from outside Canada do not automatically turn into a B.C. certificate or a Red Seal. SkilledTradesBC suggests checking what your trade is called in B.C. on the Find Your Trade page, then looking at the Record Book and the "Challenge" part of the trade page.

Put together a list of your experience. Write it out employer by employer: start and end month and year, the true total hours, the tasks you did, the equipment you used, and your reference and their contact details. The proof must be verifiable. Just saying "I have done this for ten years," or showing a few photos of your work, does not show whether you did the whole scope of the trade.

If you certify based on experience, note the bonus conditions. The federal Red Seal Completion Bonus requires that you completed an apprenticeship program as a registered apprentice; based on the conditions written on the official site, people who certify directly based on experience are very likely not eligible. See Guide No. 28, Red Seal Completion Bonus. However, the B.C. training tax credit for apprentices states that people who get a Certificate of Qualification through a challenge exam can also claim it (section 8). Do not describe your experience, employment or hours as something they were not in order to get money.

4. Already certified in another province, or were an apprentice in another province

• Certificates of Qualification from other provinces: SkilledTradesBC recognizes Certificates of Qualification issued by other provinces and territories in Canada, so you do not need to write the exam again. SkilledTradesBC says holders of a certificate from another province or territory may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement: you submit an Exam Application and a photocopy of your Certificate of Qualification, and pay a $120 out-of-province assessment fee. But some regulated trades may need a separate licence in B.C.: for electricians, gas fitters, plumbers and boiler workers, ask Technical Safety BC; for crane operation, ask WorkSafeBC (section 1).
• Apprentices registered in another province: if you move to B.C., you may be able to transfer the hours and training from the other province. Register in the Portal together with your B.C. sponsor, and enter a B.C. mailing address.
• If you got a B.C. Certificate of Qualification back when the trade was not yet a Red Seal trade: you can apply to write the Red Seal exam, and the first two attempts are free.

11. Compulsory trades: you cannot do the work without registering

These trades have a requirement from your first day. B.C. calls this Skilled Trades Certification, that is, compulsory trades. Anyone working in the following 7 trades must be an apprentice registered with SkilledTradesBC, a registered Trade Qualifier, or a certified tradesperson:

• Construction Electrician
• Industrial Electrician
• Powerline Technician
• Steamfitter/Pipefitter
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
• Gasfitter Class A and Class B
• Sheet Metal Worker

Cranes are being added too. For mobile crane operators and tower crane operators, compulsory certification takes effect on July 5, 2027. Not all cranes are included: SkilledTradesBC lists several types that are not affected (for example, hydraulic mobile cranes of 80 tonnes or less, and boom trucks); see SkilledTradesBC's explanation for details.

Which path to take, based on your experience (SkilledTradesBC Skilled Trades Certification page):

Employers have responsibilities too. Employers must make sure their workers meet the requirements above and keep records of their qualifications; one certified tradesperson can supervise at most two apprentices; and employers must also file an Employer Workforce Submission in the Portal.

People in foundation programs and youth programs are not affected. SkilledTradesBC states that students in SkilledTradesBC-recognized training programs that include a work placement (such as foundation programs and youth apprenticeship programs) are not restricted by this rule during their placement, and are not counted in the tradesperson-to-apprentice ratio.

Check the rules in force every time you start in a trade or move to another province. Do not apply experience from another province to B.C.'s rules. If you are unsure, fill in the contact form for the Skilled Trades Certification advisors (section 14).

12. Work permits, study permits, permanent residents and protected persons: can you be an apprentice?

SkilledTradesBC's rule is simple:

• To work as an apprentice, you must be legally entitled to work in Canada;
• To attend technical training as an apprentice, you must be legally entitled to study in Canada, and also meet the school's requirements.

SkilledTradesBC states that it does not deal with immigration or visas, and cannot see anyone's immigration or work permit information. Whether you are working legally is the responsibility of you and your employer; if you have questions, ask Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). A sponsor being willing to train you will not make SkilledTradesBC issue you a work permit.

By status:

Whether study permit holders can work as apprentices depends on the work conditions written on their study permit; IRCC rules dealing specifically with study permit holders working as apprentices were not verified for this guide, so if in doubt, ask IRCC. The conditions written for the B.C. training tax credit for apprentices are living in B.C. and being registered with SkilledTradesBC; no status requirement is written (section 8).

Some construction apprentices can take technical training without a study permit

IRCC has a temporary public policy: since February 26, 2025, apprentices in certain construction trades can apply to take the courses their apprenticeship requires without getting a study permit. This policy is open until February 26, 2027.

You must meet all three (both when you apply and when a decision is made):

1. You have a valid work permit;
2. You have a job in an eligible construction occupation;
3. Your apprenticeship agreement is registered with the provincial apprenticeship authority (in B.C., that is SkilledTradesBC).

Examples of eligible occupations (by National Occupational Classification (NOC) code): construction electricians 72200, industrial electricians 72201, plumbers 72300, carpenters 72310, cabinetmakers 72311, bricklayers 72320, welders 72106, sheet metal workers 72102, heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics 72402, heavy-duty equipment mechanics 72401, painters and decorators 73112, roofers 73110, concrete finishers 73100, floor covering installers 73113, and others. See the IRCC page for the full list.

How to apply:

1. Prepare electronic copies of three documents: your valid work permit, proof that you have a job in an eligible occupation, and proof of your apprenticeship agreement registered with the province.
2. Open IRCC's web form and choose "Update or ask about your application", then "Add a document to your application".
3. For the application number, enter the number of your current valid work permit; for "What did you apply for?" choose Temporary Residence; for "What application did you submit?" choose Work Permit; and enter the client number (UCI) on your work permit.
4. For "Did we ask you to add the document(s) to your application?" choose "Yes".
5. In the explanation box, be sure to write "Apprenticeship 25-27" and describe what each attachment is, then upload the files and submit.
6. If you cannot use the web form, call the IRCC Client Support Centre at 1-888-242-2100, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, and give them the code "Apprenticeship 25-27". IRCC says not using the web form will be slower.

Once approved: IRCC sends you an authorization letter, which you show to your school. The authorization lasts until your work permit expires or this policy ends, whichever comes first. If you need to work less during class, you have to discuss changing your contract with your employer yourself; IRCC does not deal with employment contracts. If you are not approved, IRCC tells you in writing, and if you still want to take the course you need to apply for a study permit.

This policy does not apply automatically to all trades or all work permit holders. Before you register for a class, check on the IRCC pages whether you can use it.

Being allowed to work as an apprentice, being able to get support, and being able to immigrate later are three different things

Whether you can legally be an apprentice, whether you can apply for a particular support, and whether you later qualify for an immigration program are three different questions, handled by different organizations. SkilledTradesBC says that for using trades experience to apply to the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), you should look at WelcomeBC or IRCC; SkilledTradesBC does not give advice on this.

If a recruiter or a training organization promises "a guaranteed job, a guaranteed Red Seal, a guaranteed work permit or guaranteed immigration," ask them for specific proof you can verify. If you really want someone to help you with immigration matters, only use someone licensed: you can check a licensed immigration consultant's licence in the online register of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), and you can check in the Law Society of British Columbia's Lawyer Directory whether a lawyer is licensed and allowed to practise. For how to check and what to watch out for, see the related guide below.

Related: for what to do in your first three months in Canada, see Guide No. 2, First 90 days; for how to check a licence before you hire an immigration representative, and the new penalties, see Guide No. 59, Immigration consultants and the new penalties.

13. New federal supports: which can be used now and which have not opened yet

A plan being announced, applications opening, you personally being approved and the money reaching your account are four different things. When you work out your household budget, count your confirmed wages and your own money first; keep any support that has not been approved yet as a separate item, and do not count it in advance.

(Compiled from federal websites on November 4, 2026)

"15 to 30" is only a condition of the youth program. "Ages 15 to 30" is a condition of just one program, the youth paid placements. The conditions for becoming an apprentice written on SkilledTradesBC's website do not mention an upper age limit. Adults changing careers should look at the requirements of the trade and the school; when applying for each kind of support, check its age, status and training conditions separately.

Your status affects what you can get. The Red Seal Completion Bonus and the Canada Apprentice Loan are only for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons (section 12).

14. Stuck? Who to contact and what to say

First explain four things clearly, so the other side can help you: which province you are in, which trade you are learning, what your situation is now (not registered yet / which level of apprentice / Trade Qualifier), and which step you are stuck on.

If you find someone breaking the compulsory certification rules. SkilledTradesBC has a reporting form (compliance inquiry form) on its contact page.

A few English sentences you can use as they are:

To ask an employer:

To ask for the sponsor ID:

To reach an apprenticeship advisor:

To ask a school:

To ask WorkBC:

15. Five things you can do this week

1. Choose a trade: write down the two trades you most want to learn and their official English names, open their SkilledTradesBC trade pages and look at the Program Profile: how many hours, how many levels of classes, whether there are prerequisites, and whether it is a compulsory trade.
2. Look at job postings: on WorkBC and Job Bank, find three to five job postings in the Victoria area, mark the experience, certificates, transportation and shifts they ask for, and whether they say "sponsor" or "apprentice", then decide whether to take a foundation program first.
3. Ask employers: prepare a one-page résumé that clearly states your legal eligibility to work, when you can start, how you will get to work and which tools you have used; do not write "skilled" for things you cannot do. Ask companies, unions and STEP directly: do you hire first-year apprentices? Who would supervise? When would I be registered?
4. Ask schools: confirm the classes you need, the start dates, the costs, how much credit you can get, and the admission requirements. Tell your boss how many weeks you will need to be away.
5. Make a folder: keep your job offer and training arrangements, your apprenticeship registration confirmation, your daily hours records, pay stubs and course marks; mark on your calendar the next day to log in to the Portal and check your hours.

Finding a workplace that is willing to train you first is a path that works. If you connect each step, from being hired, registering, being supervised and logging hours to going to class and writing exams, you can go step by step from working under someone's guidance to a trade that is officially recognized.

Related guides

• → No. 28 · Red Seal Completion Bonus
  The federal $5,000 bonus after you finish your apprenticeship and get certified in a Red Seal trade: who qualifies (all four conditions, section 3), your last day to apply, what to prepare, how to find your certification date and apprentice number in B.C., how to apply from November 16, whether you have to report it on your tax return, and who to call with questions (section 9).
• → No. 13 · Rights at work
  Working in B.C.: the pay floor in 2026, why overtime is counted by the day first and then by the week, how to raise unpaid wages and what you need and the time limits, common situations such as probation, tips and being let go (section 6), and why workplace injuries and unsafe work follow a different path.
• → No. 2 · First 90 days
  What to do in your first three months in Canada, in order: in the first week, basics such as your SIN, MSP health coverage and a bank account; in the first month, driving and daily life; and within three months, benefits and online accounts.
• → No. 59 · Immigration consultants and the new penalties
  Check the licence before anyone helps you with immigration: who can charge you for help, where to check consultants and lawyers (section 2), which claims should make you wary right away (section 3), the new penalties from October 2026, and free, legitimate help (section 7).

Main official links in this guide

These are all 94 official web addresses used in this guide, sorted into six groups by organization; the end of each section also lists the ones for that section. The pages of SkilledTradesBC, the Government of Canada (the Department of Finance, the Prime Minister's Office, Employment and Social Development Canada and Service Canada), the Red Seal website, IRCC, the Government of B.C., WorkBC and WelcomeBC, as well as STEP and the CICC register, 92 addresses in all, were tried on November 4, 2026: 90 of them could be opened, and their content was checked against the original (a few directory pages and sign-in pages were only confirmed to open). On November 5, 2026, we also read Service Canada's EI contact page, the Canada Apprentice Loan Service Centre's contact page and SkilledTradesBC's page for Canadian and military certificate holders, and added the EI and apprentice loan phone numbers; the loan centre's contact page and the Law Society of British Columbia's Lawyer Directory are the two addresses added this time, and the Lawyer Directory address was also opened and checked on November 4, 2026. The two SkilledTradesBC pages for the Skilled Trades Certification advisors' contact form and the compliance inquiry form blocked our automated access this time, so we did not read the forms themselves; their addresses are copied from what SkilledTradesBC's web pages say. The Program Profiles on each trade page and the 2026 exam schedule are PDF files that were not opened this time, so this guide does not give each trade's requirements before registering or the amount of the rescheduling fee.

SkilledTradesBC

Government of Canada: Team Canada Strong and funding for apprentices

Red Seal website

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Government of B.C., WorkBC and WelcomeBC

Other