How to Become a Welder in BC

Welders are needed across BC’s construction, manufacturing, marine, and shipbuilding industries — with major projects in places like North Vancouver’s shipyards regularly hiring certified welders. Here’s how to get there.

Who regulates welding in BC?

SkilledTradesBC regulates general welding certification, and — like plumbing and carpentry — welder certification is voluntary in BC (it’s compulsory only in Alberta among Canadian provinces). One important exception: Pressure Welding is separately regulated by Technical Safety BC, since it involves higher-risk work like boilers and pressure vessels — if that’s your specialty, different rules apply.

Two training streams

• Apprenticeship stream: for those with an employer sponsor. Covers Levels 1, 2, and 3 of technical training, plus an optional Multi-Process Alloy Welding (MPAW) endorsement
• Modular stream: for those without an employer sponsor — you enrol directly in Welder Foundation, then Welder B, then Welder A programs, accumulating work-based hours (950 hours for the B Stamp, 3,450 for the A Stamp) along the way

Both streams lead to eligibility for the Red Seal Interprovincial Exam. Passing it, combined with 4,500 accumulated work-based hours, earns you Red Seal certification — recognized across Canada.

If you already have welding experience

Experienced welders — including those trained outside Canada — can apply through the Welder Challenge Application to SkilledTradesBC, which assesses your workplace hours and scope of experience for eligibility to challenge certification directly, without completing a full apprenticeship.

A practical note on industry tickets

Beyond government-recognized certification, many BC employers also expect specific CWB (Canadian Welding Bureau) tickets for particular welding processes (like FCAW or specific positions/materials) — these are separate, process-specific qualifications worth researching once you know what kind of welding work you’re targeting (structural, pipe, marine, etc.).

This guide is intended as general orientation information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements, fees, and processing times can change — always confirm current details directly with SkilledTradesBC (skilledtradesbc.ca) before applying.