Trades professionals are the foundation for building the future of BC, and they are in demand now more than ever. The StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan is a generational commitment to accelerating talent and skills training throughout the province.
TradeUpBC brings together British Columbia’s post-secondary institutes to help experienced tradespeople and employers remain resilient, adaptable, and inclusive by providing access to microcredentials and professional development courses. These courses will assist tradespeople and employers in advancing their careers, strengthening their businesses, creating welcoming worksites for everyone, and ensuring they are prepared for future opportunities.
TradeUpBC is a provincially-funded initiative that connects tradespeople to all BC post-secondary institutes.
The sectors listed below provide information on available programs, courses, and accredited education institute partners across British Columbia and the Yukon. Choose your industry and start planning your future today!
The Commercial Vehicle Inspection program enables the mechanic to inspect and certify vehicles to government safety standards as required by law. Applicants must be licensed heavy duty, automotive, or commercial transport mechanics. Students will receive provincial government certification upon successful completion of this course.
Your introduction to Geographic Information System (GIS) skills as they apply to operational drone mapping. You’ll learn about drone types, data collection and data application, as well as drone piloting theory and analyzing drone imagery.
The Micro-certificate in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion provides you with a robust knowledge base and essential skills to create an inclusive and thriving workplace for all. This program deepens learners’ self-awareness, critical thinking and empathy through exploring crucial topics such as social location, intercultural communication, accessibility, reconciliation, and the influence of power dynamics and privilege.
Lean is an organizational philosophy, and an approach to business, that develops people through respect, training and engagement to facilitate problem solving that drives innovation and productivity. Though Lean methodologies are already common in fields such as manufacturing and supply chain management, every field from healthcare to construction can benefit from this philosophy. This online, asynchronous, low-cost Micro-Credential will teach you the basics of Lean and how you can apply it to your work and your workplace.
Develops core skills for professionals working in conflict and change management contexts: reflective practice, use of self, skills, process, and context of application. Examines design and implementation of sustainable and integrative changes at organizational and community levels, as well as in complex multi-stakeholder environments. Builds professional competencies for dealing with resistance and generating buy-in and ownership in change processes.
TradeUpBC has identified seven key areas of demand aimed at supporting certified or experienced trades workers and employers through specialized training programs. The programs offered on the TradeUpBC website are designed to complement apprentice training rather than replace it.
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic, Business Owner
From high school to apprentice, then certified tradesperson to business owner, Logan Henson’s journey is a great example of the power of ongoing education to advance careers and open exciting new pathways for both experienced tradespeople and the business owners who employ them.
Plumber
Wallis Plumpton is kind of surprised. The 36-year-old has just entered year three of the four-year BC plumbing apprenticeship program and is excited about the future. This is a story of discovery, full of twists and turns with some surprises along the way.
