Painter and Decorator

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Duties

Painters and decorators apply paint, wallcoverings and other finishes to interior and exterior surfaces of buildings and other structures.

In general, painters and decorators:

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Working Conditions

Painters and decorators try to arrange their work so they will be outdoors in late spring, summer and early fall, and indoors in the late fall and winter. They must stand for long periods of time, often doing work with their arms raised over their heads.

There is some risk of injury from falling off ladders, scaffolds or swingstages, and from working with hazardous chemicals such as paint thinners and removers.

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Skills and Abilities

People who enjoy working in this occupation tend to prefer work that involves variety, creativity, and recognition for their special skills.

To be successful in their trade, painters and decorators need:

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Employment and Advancement

Painters and decorators are employed by contractors involved in new construction, repair, alteration or remodelling work, or by organizations that own or manage large buildings such as apartment complexes or schools. Many painters and decorators are self-employed. Although there is indoor painting to do in the winter, the work is seasonal to some extent. Employment prospects are also affected by economic conditions, particularly conditions in the construction industry.

Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $16 to $30 an hour plus benefits.

Experienced painters and decorators may advance to supervisory positions with painting and decorating contractors, or set up their own small businesses.

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Working in Alberta

To work as a Painter and Decorator in Alberta, a person must:

Painters and decorators learn their skills by registering with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in apprenticeship training and, upon successful completion, are awarded the Alberta Journeyman Certificate.

A painter and decorator who holds a valid trade certificate from Alberta or from another Canadian province or territory may apply to write the Interprovincial Exam and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal under the Interprovincial Standards Program. The Red Seal is recognized throughout most of Canada.

A painter and decorator who holds a certificate that was issued by another recognized apprenticeship authority in Canada (province, territory or federal jurisdiction) may apply for an Alberta Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.

Painters and decorators who:

may be eligible to apply for trade certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.

Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, or a credential that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate are eligible to receive a Blue Seal business credential after completing the necessary requirements.

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Apprenticeship Training

The term of apprenticeship for a painter and decorator is 3 years (three 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1300 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of technical training each year.

To learn the skills required of a painter and decorator in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:

Apprentices may attempt the Interprovincial Exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal. (see Exam Counselling Sheets)

When apprentices attend technical training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies.

Grants, scholarships and other financial assistance may be available. For more information see Financial Assistance or contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.

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Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) Program

To qualify for a Red Seal, a person must:

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Equivalency Program

To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized credential, a person must:

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Qualification Certificate Program

To qualify for a Qualification Certificate based on Canadian credentials, a person must:

To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, a person must:

Time spent on supervisory or foreman duties, counter work, heading the tool crib, or on a training course is NOT counted as ‘hands-on’ work experience.

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