How to become a painter and decorator in BC
Red Seal Certified Painter and Decorator · British Columbia
Paint and finish walls, buildings and bridges. You need an apprenticeship: paid work plus school blocks.
THE ROUTE
The route at a glance
Apprentice Registration & Safety Preparation
Secure painting employer sponsor and register with SkilledTradesBC
Painter and Decorator Apprenticeship (Levels 1–3)
Complete 3 levels of technical training at FTIBC in Surrey
Commercial Spray & Specialized Wall Coverings
Master spray equipment, wood staining, and commercial wall coverings
5,400 Workplace Hours Logged
Log 5,400 verified on-the-job hours in SkilledTradesBC portal
Red Seal Certificate of Qualification
Pass Red Seal exam and earn Certificate of Qualification
Apprentice Registration & Safety Preparation
Secure painting employer sponsor and register with SkilledTradesBC
Painter and Decorator Apprenticeship (Levels 1–3)
Complete 3 levels of technical training at FTIBC in Surrey
Commercial Spray & Specialized Wall Coverings
Master spray equipment, wood staining, and commercial wall coverings
5,400 Workplace Hours Logged
Log 5,400 verified on-the-job hours in SkilledTradesBC portal
Red Seal Certificate of Qualification
Pass Red Seal exam and earn Certificate of Qualification
This is the overview. For the courses to take, the entry rules, the exams and the schools, open the full route.
See the full route, step by step →THE JOB
What the job is like
Pay and outlook from WorkBC.
Work takes place in residential homes, high-rise condo buildings, industrial plant interiors, and elevated bridges, as well as working on ladders, swing stages, aerial boom lifts, and enclosed spray finishing booths.
Be mindful of exposure to paint fumes, solvents, and spray mists requiring organic vapor respirators and follow all required safety procedures.
Supervise painting crews on high-rise multi-family and commercial developments, managing budgets and client sign-offs.
Inspect protective coatings on marine vessels, bridges, pipelines, and industrial chemical containment tanks.
JOBS
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Live postings on the big job boards, searched for this job in British Columbia.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Common questions
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