Pathways to Certification for Experienced Workers
If you have experience working in your trade but haven’t completed an apprenticeship program, you still have the opportunity to get certified. There are two ways to have your skills recognized:
Challenge a Level Exam
If you have between one to four years of practical experience in your trade, you may be eligible to challenge level exams to demonstrate your skills and knowledge and enter the apprenticeship program at the appropriate level.
Challenge a Certification Exam
If you have over five years of practical experience in your trade, you may be eligible to challenge the certification exam as a Trade Qualifier and become certified without going through an apprenticeship program.
Skilled Trades Certification (Compulsory) Trades
If your trade is one of the designated Skilled Trades Certification (compulsory) trades, a different process applies.
Questions?
See our Frequently Asked Questions or Contact Us.
Challenge a
Level Exam
If you have more limited experience working in a trade, you may be eligible to challenge a level exam, and, if successful, receive credit for a level of technical training.
Write a
Certification Exam
If you have extensive experience working in a trade, you may be eligible to write the certification exam and, if successful, receive certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
A practical assessment is not a requirement for all trades. You can check if this is a requirement by visiting the trade profile page, or reviewing the email sent to you from SkilledTradesBC upon approval of your application. This email contains details on how to schedule your practical assessment.
If you have extensive experience in your trade, you may be eligible to challenge the certification or Red Seal exam. Challenging a certification or Red Seal exam is a different process than challenging a level exam. Learn more.
For a list of study resources that may help you prepare for the exam, please visit our Exam and Study Support page.
No, there is no fee to challenge a level exam or to rewrite the exam.
You can write your exam at one of our regular sessions or at a Service BC office. For a list of locations please view our Exam Schedule.
You can apply to write any SkilledTradesBC exam with a translation dictionary. See our Exam Accommodations page for details.
For information on how to prepare and where to find study resources for your exam please visit see our Exam and Study Support page.
If you fail your exam, you may be allowed to rewrite. If you have failed all permitted rewrite attempts, you must enroll in technical training. See our Results and Rewrites page.