How to Become a Tilesetter in British Columbia
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Tilesetter 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
“Tilesetter Tilesetter”
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
-
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 -
You must meet any required registration prerequisites for your trade.
Source
“meet any required registration prerequisites for your trade”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons -
You must 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
-
To begin the process of receiving credits towards your apprenticeship in B.C., you need to register with a sponsor in B.C.
Source
“To begin this process, you’ll need to register with a sponsor in B.C. and provide a B.C. mailing address on your registration application through the SkilledTradesBC Portal.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/apprentice-mobility -
You must provide a B.C. mailing address on your registration application through the SkilledTradesBC Portal.
Source
“you’ll need to register with a sponsor in B.C. and provide a B.C. mailing address on your registration application through the SkilledTradesBC Portal”
skilledtradesbc.ca/apprentice-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)
-
Before applying, you should search for 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
“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 you have confirmed your eligibility, you 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 -
You complete and submit your application through the Portal, and for each period of work experience listed you must submit an Employer or Statutory Declaration, 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 -
You pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit 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
-
After submitting, you are notified of your application result.
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
“Get notified of your application result”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Once your application is approved, you must schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months.
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.
- 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
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 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-examYour current or previous company will be called to verify that your 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-examYou must be able to schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your 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 your application must be in English.
Source
“All documents submitted must be in English.”
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-tradespersons
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/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 assessments
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 -
Level 1 Standardized Level Exam
-
Level 2 Standardized Level Exam
-
Red Seal exam
Source
“There is no fee to challenge the Red Seal exam for the first and second attempts.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exemptions: IELTS/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
Applicants with work experience in the trade who have never been certified in Canada may be eligible to challenge the certification exam as a Trade Qualifier without going through an apprenticeship program. Source
“If you have work experience in the trade but have never been certified in Canada, you may be eligible to challenge the certification exam as a Trade Qualifier to become certified without going through an apprenticeship program.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/tilesetter
Supervised practice
Not required
For Skilled Trades Certification trades, the supervision ratio of apprentices to journeypersons is 2:1, a maximum of two apprentices to every one journeyperson. Source
“The supervision ratio of apprentices to journeypersons for Skilled Trades Certification trades is 2:1 (a maximum of two apprentices to every one journeyperson).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/stc-employers
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $21.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 | Limited (2 of 5) |
| Canada | $24.04 | $34.76 | $44.00 | — |
Tilesetters in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Voluntary certification
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Certification required
- New Brunswick Voluntary certification
- Nova Scotia Voluntary certification
- Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
- Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- 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
- Apprentice Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/apprentice-mobility · fetched October 10, 2026
- Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 11, 2026
- Canadian and Military Certificate Holders | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders · fetched October 9, 2026
- Tilesetter | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/tilesetter · fetched October 9, 2026
- Employers and Skilled Trades Certification | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/stc-employers · fetched October 9, 2026
- Labour Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility · fetched October 11, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a tilesetter 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 assessments, Level 1 Standardized Level Exam, Level 2 Standardized Level Exam, Red Seal exam.
Getting Licensed? Get Your Resume Ready Too
Nainly pairs expert resume assessment with a done-for-you career marketing campaign, so your profile keeps reaching decision-makers while you work through the licensing steps.
Schedule a CallFree consultation. No commitment.