Licensing guide · Nova Scotia

How to Become an Auto Body and Collision Technician in Nova Scotia

Last checked 4 sources checkedNOC 72411

Do you need certification?

Certification required

Auto body and collision technician is a compulsory trade in Nova Scotia. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.

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“Auto Body Collision Technician is a compulsory certified trade in Nova Scotia.”

From nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/trades, checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Certification required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Your roadmap

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

Trained in Canada

  • 4 steps without a listed fee

  1. If you are working in a compulsory certified trade, contact the nearest apprenticeship office and ask an Industry Training Consultant how to obtain a temporary permit so you can keep working while registration takes place.

    Source
    “If you are currently working in one of the compulsory certified trades, contact the apprenticeship office nearest you and ask to speak with an Industry Training Consultant about how to obtain a temporary permit.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice

  2. Complete, sign and submit the application package, including proof of previous trades training and proof of previous work experience, so you and your employer can enter into an apprenticeship agreement with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.

    Source
    “Because you are working in a compulsory trade, you and your employer need to enter into an apprenticeship agreement with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency so that you can become a registered apprentice.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice

  3. After submitting the complete application package, contact the Industry Training Consultant for your trade and region to arrange a meeting with the consultant, the employer and the apprentice.

    Source
    “After you've submitted the complete application package to the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, please contact the Industry Training Consultant for your trade/region to arrange a meeting with the Consultant, the employer and the apprentice.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice

  4. At the meeting the consultant reviews the program and credited hours, and then has the employer and apprentice sign the form, which is returned to the apprenticeship office for the Director or Designate's signature.

    Source
    “The Industry Training Consultant will then have the employer and apprentice sign the form, and will return the form to the Apprenticeship office for the Director/Designate's signature.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

4 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. Source
    “If you do not yet have an AMS account, refer to our AMS webpage for more information. Please refer to the steps for those with existing accounts with NSAA, do not create a new account.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/tradespersons/trade-certificates

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

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. If you already have experience, whether gained in Canada or internationally, you may be able to challenge the trade qualifier exam and become certified.

    Source
    “If you already have experience – whether in Canada or internationally – you may be able to challenge the trade qualifier exam and become certified”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/discover-trades/auto-body-and-colli...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

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.

  • Apprenticeship ID card: $20
    Source
    “As a Youth Apprentice, you will only need to pay the cost of issuing your apprenticeship ID card, which is less than $20.00.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Experience

Other

  • To register as an apprentice you must be supervised in the workplace by a certified journeyperson.

    Source
    “To register, you must be supervised in the workplace by a certified journeyperson.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice

  • Applicants must be employed full- or part-time in one of Nova Scotia's designated trades to register as an apprentice.

    Source
    “If you are employed full- or part-time in one of Nova Scotia's designated trades, you can register as an apprentice.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

If your Certificate of Qualification was issued in another Canadian jurisdiction and is in one of Nova Scotia's compulsory certified trades, you must apply for an Equivalency Card via AMS.

Source
“If your CQ was issued in another Canadian jurisdiction AND is in one of Nova Scotia's compulsory certified trades, including Blaster, you must apply for an Equivalency Card via AMS.”
nsapprenticeship.ca/tradespersons/trade-certificates

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 72411, Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Nova Scotia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Nova Scotia $18.00 $25.00 $33.00 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $18.50 $27.00 $40.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Nova Scotia

Wages in every province and territory

Auto bodies and collision technicians in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 11 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare auto body and collision technician licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Trades in Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/trades · fetched October 9, 2026
  2. Auto Body and Collision Technician | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/discover-trades/auto-body-and-colli... · fetched October 9, 2026
  3. Register as an Apprentice | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice · fetched October 9, 2026
  4. TRADE CERTIFICATES | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/tradespersons/trade-certificates · fetched October 9, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as an auto body and collision technician in Nova Scotia?

Yes. Certification, or registration as an apprentice, is required to work in the trade in Nova Scotia. Certification is managed by the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.

Which exams are required?

trade qualifier exam, certification exam.

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