Sheet metal foundation certificate
Sheet Metal Worker Foundation Certificate
Facts checked 7 September 2026
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Part of the route toSheet Metal Worker·Certificate
A 20-week pre-apprenticeship program teaching sheet metal layout, custom fabrication, and ventilation duct installation.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
WorkBC training funding
Up to $7,500 tuitionIf you are out of work or underemployed, a WorkBC case manager can approve and pay for this training. Get approval before you pay.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
BC Access Grant
Up to $4,000 a yearFor low and middle income students in full-time programs under two years at public schools. Assessed when you apply through StudentAid BC.
Money for apprentices
EI, a $4,000 loan per level and a tax creditWhile you are at school for each level. The old federal grants ended in 2025.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- Mathematics 11. Requirement varies by school (Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre Society, Okanagan College). Strictest requirement: C.
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- High school graduation or mature student status
- Mathematics 12. Requirement varies by school (Okanagan College, Camosun College). Strictest requirement: C.
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC or Sheet Metal Foundation certificate
- SkilledTradesBC apprentice registration
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC and SMWTC union or contractor sponsorship
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC and employer sponsor
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC or architectural sheet metal contractor sponsorship
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Apply online via BCIT admissions or through the Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre Society (SMWTCS)
- Programs run fall and spring cohort intakes
- Submit official transcripts and attend an orientation session
Step 5 of 8
Sheet metal foundation certificate
⏱ 20 weeks- Pattern layout: parallel line, radial line, and triangulation drafting methods
- Machine fabrication: operating shears, hand brakes, roll formers, and seamers
- Air distribution: HVAC duct fabrication, transitions, elbows, and fire damper installation
- Architectural sheet metal: flashing, copper work, and standing seam roof panels
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 5 schools in BC- British Columbia Institute of Technology — 20 weeks (About $3,000 for the whole program)
- Camosun College — 30 weeks (About $3,600 for the whole program)
- Okanagan College — 8 weeks per level, 4 levels (About $1,200 per level)
- Roofing Contractors Association of BC — 6 weeks per level, 3 levels (About $1,000 per level)
- Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre Society — 20 weeks (Tuition not yet verified)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- SkilledTradesBC Level 1 Sheet Metal Worker Certificate Exam
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Sheet Metal Worker
- Explore Sheet Metal Worker wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(5 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.