How to Become a Bricklayer in British Columbia
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Bricklayer is a voluntary trade in British Columbia. You can work in the trade without a certificate.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“See matrix of all Accredited, Recognized and Designated SkilledTradesBC Trade Programs . … Bricklayer”
From skilledtradesbc.ca/find-your-trade, checked October 11, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 3 steps
- Licensed in another province: 2 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 6 steps, listed one-time fees $120
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
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Find an employer or sponsor who is willing to sponsor and register you as an apprentice.
Source
“have an employer/or sponsor who is willing to sponsor and register you as an apprentice”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons -
Meet any registration prerequisites required for your trade.
Source
“meet any required registration prerequisites for your trade”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons -
Register with SkilledTradesBC to become an apprentice.
Source
“register with SkilledTradesBC”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with SkilledTradesBC
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
-
Hold a full Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in another Canadian province or territory and be in good standing.
Source
“Mutual recognition only applies if you have your full certification or license.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility -
Meet the provincial or territorial Occupational Health and Safety requirements for your trade, which may include short courses or minor training specific to the jurisdiction.
Source
“You must meet provincial or territorial Occupational Health and Safety requirements for your trade, which may require you to complete short courses or minor training specific to the jurisdiction.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with SkilledTradesBC
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 6 done
- Listed one-time fees: $120
- 5 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 25.8 to 26.3 months (only 2 of 6 steps state a time)
-
Search for your trade and review the Employer Declaration or Statutory Declaration form to confirm the required hours of work experience, job task experience and prerequisite credentials.
Source
“Review the Employer Declaration or Statutory Declaration form (near the bottom of your trade page), where you can find the hours of work experience, percentage of job task experience and any prerequisite credentials required.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Create a SkilledTradesBC Portal account by selecting the option to challenge a certification exam.
Source
“Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, create a SkilledTradesBC Portal account by selecting the option to challenge a certification exam to start your application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Complete and submit your application through the Portal along with an Employer or Statutory Declaration for each period of work experience, with all documents in English.
Source
“For each period of work experience listed on your application, you must submit an Employer or Statutory Declaration (near the bottom of your trade page).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal when submitting your application and declaration forms.
- Application fee: $120
Source
“Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration form(s).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Source
“Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration form(s).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam - Application fee: $120
-
Wait for your application to be reviewed and processed, which currently takes 8 to 10 weeks.
Time: 8 to 10 weeksTime source
“Currently, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for an application to get reviewed and processed.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersonsSource
“Currently, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for an application to get reviewed and processed.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons -
Schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.
Time: 24 monthsTime source
“You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-examSource
“You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $120
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $120 | 100% |
| One-time total | $120 | 100% |
5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
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.
- Practical assessment fee: $500 (set by the assessment agency, approximately)
Source
“Please note that there is a fee attached to the practical assessment which is set by the assessment agency and will be approximately $500.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/bricklayer
Requirements
Experience
You must have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade to challenge the certification exam.
Source
“You have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Other
Your references will be contacted by phone to verify your work experience, and the application will be denied if they cannot be contacted.
Source
“Your references will be contacted by phone to verify your work experience. If references cannot be contacted, it will result in a denied application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-examTo be employed as an apprentice, you must be legally authorized to work in Canada.
Source
“To be employed as an apprentice, you must be legally authorized to work in Canada.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersonsTo become an apprentice you must have an employer or sponsor who is willing to sponsor and register you as an apprentice.
Source
“have an employer/or sponsor who is willing to sponsor and register you as an apprentice”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
SkilledTradesBC recognizes a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in another Canadian province or territory, and you will not have to re-certify or get a re-issued certificate. Source
“If you hold a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, SkilledTradesBC will recognize it. You will not have to re-certify or get a re-issued certificate.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exams
-
Certification exam
Source
“You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Practical assessment
Source
“In addition to the written examinations, candidates are required to undertake a practical assessment at each level.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/bricklayer -
Harmonized Level 1 Standardized Level Exam
-
Harmonized Level 2 Standardized Level Exam
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exemptions: IELTS or CELPIP English language exam results are not required to become a skilled trade apprentice or to write an exam with SkilledTradesBC. Source
“No, this is not required to become a skilled trade apprentice or to write an exam with us.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $27.50 | $38.00 | $50.00 | Very limited (1 of 5) |
| Canada | $25.78 | $40.00 | $48.78 | — |
Bricklayers in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Voluntary certification
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Voluntary certification
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Certification required
- New Brunswick Certification required
- Nova Scotia Certification required
- Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
- Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
- Yukon Voluntary certification
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Find Your Trade | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/find-your-trade · fetched October 9, 2026
- Newcomers and International Tradespersons | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons · fetched October 10, 2026
- Labour Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility · fetched October 11, 2026
- Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 11, 2026
- Bricklayer | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/bricklayer · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a bricklayer in British Columbia?
No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in British Columbia. Certification is managed by SkilledTradesBC.
Which exams are required?
Certification exam, Practical assessment, Harmonized Level 1 Standardized Level Exam, Harmonized Level 2 Standardized Level Exam.
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