How to Become an Electric Motor Systems Technician in British Columbia
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Electric motor systems technician is a voluntary trade in British Columbia. You can work in the trade without a certificate.
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- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Work in Voluntary trades may legally be performed with or without certification or apprenticeship training | Not applicable | V | Not applicable | V | Not applicable | V | Not applicable | Not applicable | V | V | V | Not applicable | V”
From ellischart.ca/eng/trades/elect-motor-sys-tech/ellis-chart.shtml, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps, listed one-time fees $120
- Licensed in another province: 1 step
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Skilled Trades BC
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- Listed one-time fees: $120
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
Search for your trade using Find Your Trade and review the Employer Declaration or Statutory Declaration form to find the required hours of work experience, percentage of job task experience and any prerequisite credentials.
Source
“Search for your trade using Find Your Trade. 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 to start your application.
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 -
Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration form(s).
- 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
-
Get notified of your application result.
Source
“Get notified of your application result”
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% |
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 1 done
- 1 step without a listed fee
-
Hold a Certificate of Qualification issued by a trade board in Canada, which SkilledTradesBC will recognize.
Source
“If you hold a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, SkilledTradesBC will recognize it.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/labour-mobility
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Skilled Trades BC
1 step 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.
- Out-of-province assessment fee: $120
Source
“$120 out-of-province assessment fee. You can pay online, by mail or with a cheque (payable to SkilledTradesBC) with your application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Requirements
Experience
Trade qualifiers in B.C. must demonstrate a minimum of 9000 hours of eligible work experience in the trade to challenge the certification examination.
Source
“Required Hours for Trade Qualifier ... candidates must also demonstrate experience that covers the trade’s practices | Not applicable | 10800 | Not applicable | 10800 | Not applicable | 8000 | Not applicable | Not applicable | 9360 | 9000 | 10800 | Not applicable | 9000”
ellischart.ca/eng/trades/elect-motor-sys-tech/ellis-chart.shtml
Other
Applicants must have extensive experience in their trade to be eligible to challenge the certification exam as a Trade Qualifier.
Source
“If you have extensive 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.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
If you hold a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, SkilledTradesBC will recognize it 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/labour-mobility
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Skilled Trades BC
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Skilled Trades BC
Exams
-
Certification exam
Source
“you may be eligible to challenge the certification exam as a Trade Qualifier and become certified without going through an apprenticeship program”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Red Seal exam
Source
“you may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement by applying to write the Red Seal exam”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Skilled Trades BC
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Skilled Trades BC
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Skilled Trades BC
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $30.53 | $41.38 | $53.68 | Limited (2 of 5) |
| Canada | $24.00 | $31.00 | $43.00 | — |
Electric motor systems technicians in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Voluntary certification
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Manitoba Certification required
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Voluntary certification
- Nova Scotia Voluntary certification
- Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
- Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
- Yukon Voluntary certification
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Voluntary certification
Compare electric motor systems technician licensing across Canada
Sources checked
- Electric Motor System Technician – Ellis Chart ellischart.ca/eng/trades/elect-motor-sys-tech/ellis-chart.shtml · fetched October 10, 2026
- Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 10, 2026
- Labour Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/labour-mobility · fetched October 10, 2026
- Canadian and Military Certificate Holders | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as an electric motor systems technician in British Columbia?
No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in British Columbia. Certification is managed by Skilled Trades BC.
Which exams are required?
Certification exam, Red Seal exam.
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