Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters

Completion of Grade 10 is required, but completion of Grade 12 is preferred. Other training and requirements may include:

• Completion of Principles or Applications of Math 11 or Apprenticeship and Workplace Math 11
• Completion of an apprenticeship program or a combination of several years of work experience and some college or industry courses in metal fabrication (fitting) for trade certification

Trade certification is not required to be a metal fabricator (fitter) in B.C., but workers with certification will likely have more job opportunities.

SkilledTradesBC offers a four-year apprenticeship program for metal fabricators (fitters). Apprenticeship programs:

• May begin in secondary school, through entry-level training programs at colleges and technical institutes, or through direct entry to the workplace
• Involve a combination of work experience and technical training
• Require workers to find a sponsor employer who is willing to participate in the program

Interprovincial Standards Red Seal certification is available to metal fabricators (fitters) through SkilledTradesBC. This allows holders to work in any province or territory. Once individuals pass the final examination in their accredited training program, they will achieve certification and will automatically receive Red Seal qualification.

Metal fabricators with 9,600 hours of documented, directly related work experience can challenge the Interprovincial Red Seal examination. For more information, please see SkilledTradesBC's website at https://skilledtradesbc.ca/.

Those who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Of the opportunities that arise in the coming years, it is expected that more than half will result from new job creation.

While the Construction industry is a much smaller employer of workers in this occupation, it does offer work opportunities. Government funding for capital projects has also been an important source of construction employment. For example, the 2010 Olympic Games created demand for structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters to build sports complexes, transportation facilities and the new trade and convention centre. Major investments are also planned and underway in B.C.'s transportation infrastructure, including roads, rails, ferries, bridges, ports and airports.

In recent years, work has been declining in Canada’s Manufacturing industry. Falling exports and increasing imports of goods from other countries are the likely cause, influenced by the strong Canadian dollar and the depressed currencies of some countries.

British Columbia manufacturers are, for the most part, small- and medium-sized companies that serve specialized markets. They are vulnerable to economic impacts faced by Canadian firms as a whole.

Within the Manufacturing industry, Shipbuilding and Ship Repair is a significant sector for structural metal platework fabricators and fitters jobs. Some activity in this sector has moved offshore to take advantage of low-cost suppliers. However, there are still some specialty niches in the province.