How to Become a Geotechnical/ Environmental Driller in British Columbia
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Geotechnical/ environmental driller 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
“Please note that this program is only available for those wishing to challenge certification. There is no apprenticeship pathway at this time.”
From skilledtradesbc.ca/geotechnical-environmental-driller, checked October 11, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
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- Trained in Canada: 6 steps, listed one-time fees $120
- Licensed in another province: 1 step, listed one-time fees $120
- Trained outside Canada: 2 steps
- 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 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)
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Search for the trade and review the Employer Declaration or Statutory Declaration form to confirm the required hours of work experience, job task percentages and any 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 -
Once eligibility is confirmed, create a SkilledTradesBC Portal account selecting the option to challenge a certification exam to start the 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 -
Complete and submit the application through the Portal along with an Employer or Statutory Declaration for each period of work experience, ensuring all documents are in English.
Source
“Complete and submit your application by following the prompts on the Portal. Follow this step-by-step guide for detailed instructions on what to expect during the application process. All documents submitted must be in English.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit the 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
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Wait to be notified of the result of the application review.
Time: 8 to 10 weeksTime source
“Currently, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for an application to get reviewed and processed.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa...Source
“Get notified of your application result”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
After approval, schedule and pass the certification exam, and any practical assessments if applicable, within 24 months of the 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.
Licensed in another province
0 of 1 done
- Listed one-time fees: $120
-
Submit an Exam Application, a photocopy of the Certificate of Qualification, and the $120 out-of-province assessment fee to Customer Service.
- 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
Source
“Please submit the following documents to Customer Service: - Exam Application - A photocopy of your Certificate of Qualification - $120 out-of-province assessment fee.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders - Out-of-province assessment fee: $120
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $120
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | $120 | 100% |
| One-time total | $120 | 100% |
Trained outside Canada
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
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Use the Find Your Trade page to search for the trade, and use the Record Books and Challenge a Trade section to determine what is required to become certified.
Source
“Visit the Find Your Trade page to search for your trade. The Record Books and the Challenge a Trade section on each trade page may help you determine what is required to become certified in that trade.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons -
Apply to challenge the certification as a Trade Qualifier through the challenge process.
Source
“Experienced tradespersons who want to get certified in B.C. (also known as Trade Qualifiers)”
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
2 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.
- Certification exam fee (1st attempt, challenge pathway): $120
Source
“1st Attempt | Meet the requirements to challenge the certification exam | Apply to challenge a certification exam and once approved, schedule your exam through the Portal | $120”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/exam-rewrites - Certification exam rewrite fee (3rd attempt): $100 (when scoring below 70% on the 2nd attempt)
Source
“3rd Attempt | Score below 70% on 2nd attempt | Contact your Apprenticeship Advisor for guidance and approval before scheduling a rewrite exam | $100”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/exam-rewrites - Certification exam rewrite fee (4th attempt): $100 (when scoring below 70% on the 3rd attempt)
Source
“4th Attempt | Score below 70% on 3rd attempt | Submit proof of upgrading before scheduling a rewrite exam | $100”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/exam-rewrites
Requirements
Experience
Applicants must have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade.
Source
“You have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Other
References will be contacted by phone to verify work experience, and if they cannot be contacted the application will be denied.
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-examThe applicant's current or previous company will be called to verify that the references work or worked there.
Source
“Your current and/or previous company will be called to verify that your references work there or previously were employed there.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-examApplicants must be able to schedule and pass the certification exam and any practical assessments within 24 months of application approval.
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-examAll documents submitted with the application must be in English.
Source
“All documents submitted must be in English.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Already licensed in another province?
Extra steps
Holders of a certificate from another Canadian jurisdiction may obtain a Red Seal Endorsement by submitting an exam application, a photocopy of their Certificate of Qualification and a $120 out-of-province assessment fee. Source
“If you hold a Certificate in a skilled trade outside of B.C. from another provincial apprenticeship authority or Canadian jurisdiction, you may be eligible to obtain a Red Seal Endorsement.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Submit documents and fee
Source
“Please submit the following documents to Customer Service: - Exam Application - A photocopy of your Certificate of Qualification - $120 out-of-province assessment fee.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
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
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exemptions: IELTS/CELPIP 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
No Job Bank wage or outlook data for this occupation yet.
Geotechnicals/ environmental drillers in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Compare geotechnical/ environmental driller licensing across Canada
Sources checked
- Geotechnical/ Environmental Driller | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/geotechnical-environmental-driller · fetched October 9, 2026
- Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 11, 2026
- Newcomers and International Tradespersons | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/get-certified/newcomers-internationa... · fetched October 11, 2026
- Canadian and Military Certificate Holders | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders · fetched October 9, 2026
- Newcomers and International Tradespersons | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons · fetched October 10, 2026
- Exam Rewrites | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/exam-rewrites · fetched October 11, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a geotechnical/ environmental driller 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.
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