Licensing guide · Alberta

How to Become a Painter and Decorator in Alberta

Last checked 3 sources checkedNOC 73112

Do you need certification?

Certification is voluntary

Painter and decorator is a voluntary trade in Alberta. You can work in the trade without a certificate.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“3-Period Apprenticeship Program Optional Certification”

From tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/004, checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Voluntary certification See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 2 steps without a listed fee

  1. Before enrolling in classroom instruction you must meet the entrance requirements, such as specific high school courses, a GED or CAEC, or an entrance exam.

    Source
    “Entrance requirements: - English 10-2 and Math 10-3 - or GED/CAEC - or Entrance Exam”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/004

  2. You complete three periods, each with 1300 hours of work experience and 8 weeks of classroom instruction, with a theory exam required in each period.

    Source
    “- 3 periods (levels) - All periods: - 1300 hours work experience per period - 8 weeks classroom instruction per period - Theory exam required”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/004

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 1 step without a listed fee

  1. You submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.

    Source
    “1. Submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/004

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 1 step without a listed fee

  1. You submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.

    Source
    “1. Submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/004

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • To enroll in classroom instruction you must have passed English 10-2 and Math 10-3, or a GED/CAEC, or pass an entrance exam.

    Source
    “Entrance requirements: - English 10-2 and Math 10-3 - or GED/CAEC - or Entrance Exam”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/004

Already licensed in another province?

Extra steps

Tradespeople from other provinces can qualify through the Recognized Credentials Program by submitting a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta and passing a theory exam.

Source
“Recognized Credentials Program 1. Submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta. 2. Pass a theory exam.”
tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/004

  1. Submit recognized trade certificate

    Source
    “1. Submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/004

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 73112, Painters and decorators (except interior decorators). Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Alberta and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Alberta $20.00 $26.00 $34.82 Limited (2 of 5)
Canada $20.00 $28.00 $40.99 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Alberta

Wages in every province and territory

Painters and decorators in other provinces and territories

Regulated in all 12 other jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare painter and decorator licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Tradesecrets - Painter and Decorator tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/004 · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Tradesecrets - Entrance Exams tradesecrets.alberta.ca/apprentice-services/prepare-for-an-exam/ent... · fetched October 9, 2026
  3. Tradesecrets - Types of Exams tradesecrets.alberta.ca/apprentice-services/prepare-for-an-exam/typ... · fetched October 9, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a painter and decorator in Alberta?

No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in Alberta. Certification is managed by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

Which exams are required?

Entrance Exam, Theory exam, Red Seal exam.

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