# Painter and Decorator - Industrial (404D)

## Fast facts

| Trade code | 404D |
| --- | --- |
| Sector | Construction |
| Classification | Voluntary trade |
| Certifying exam | Required (O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3) |
| Apprentice to journeyperson ratio | Subject to a ratio (O. Reg. 876/21, s. 4) |
| Red Seal trade | No |
| Active apprentices in Ontario | 65 (reported in Ontario's apprenticeship dataset) |
| Approved sponsors | 9 |
| Certifying body | Skilled Trades Ontario |

Last verified August 20, 2026 against the sources listed below.

## What does a painter and decorator - industrial do?

A Painter and Decorator — Industrial applies protective finishes in commercial, institutional and industrial settings.

Skilled Trades Ontario describes the work of this trade as follows:

- reads specifications to determine quantities of materials required
- prepares and cleans surfaces using methods, such as scraping, sanding, sandblasting, hydro-blasting and steamcleaning
- mixes coatings according to manufacturer’s specifications
- applies coatings using brushes, rollers or spray equipment
- practices quality control
- assembles and erects scaffolding, swing stages and other access equipment

## How long is the painter and decorator - industrial apprenticeship?

| Total training hours | 6,000 (about 3 years) |
| --- | --- |
| On the job | 5,280 hours |
| In school | 720 hours |
| In-school levels | 3 |

These hours are set by the Registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario under section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.

## What do you study in school for the 404D?

The in-school portion covers, but is not limited to:

- protecting self and others
- reading and interpreting blueprints and other instructions
- using and maintaining tools and equipment
- using and maintaining access equipment
- preparing surfaces for industrial applications
- spraying and brush and roll coatings
- Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act, Society for Protective Coatings Standards, National Association of Corrosion Engineers Standards and relevant Material Safety Data Sheets

## Is painter and decorator - industrial a compulsory trade in Ontario?

No. Painter and Decorator - Industrial is a prescribed trade under section 1 of O. Reg. 876/21, but it is not on the compulsory list in section 2. That means you can legally work in this trade in Ontario without holding a Certificate of Qualification. Certification is voluntary and serves as formal proof of competency to employers and clients.

Voluntary classification only covers certification under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act. Specific work within the trade can still require separate licences or permits under other Ontario statutes, so confirm the rules for the actual work being done. The 23 trades where certification is mandatory are on the [compulsory trades list](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/compulsory/).

## How do you become a painter and decorator - industrial in Ontario?

The apprenticeship pathway for this trade is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario under section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021:

1. **Find a sponsor and register a training agreement.** An employer or union sponsor takes you on and the training agreement is registered with the ministry.
2. **Complete the on the job and in school training.** The skills are set out in the trade's Apprenticeship Training Standard, signed off by your sponsor as you demonstrate them, alongside levels of in school theory at a training delivery agent.
3. **Receive your Certificate of Apprenticeship.** Skilled Trades Ontario issues it when the program is complete.
4. **Pass the certifying exam.** This trade has a certifying exam under O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3. Passing it earns the Certificate of Qualification, the voluntary proof of qualification for this trade.

The exact training standard, current curriculum and program details are on the [Skilled Trades Ontario page for Painter and Decorator - Industrial](https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca/trade-information/painter-and-decorator-industrial/). On the job hour requirements vary by trade and are not published on this page yet; confirm them in the training standard before signing an agreement.

## Is there an apprentice to journeyperson ratio for the 404D?

Yes. Painter and Decorator - Industrial is one of the 33 trades that section 4 of O. Reg. 876/21 makes subject to an apprentice to journeyperson ratio. The regulation establishes that a ratio applies, but the numeric ratio itself is not stated in section 4. Confirm the current ratio with Skilled Trades Ontario before registering an additional apprentice, because it limits how many apprentices a sponsor may train at once.

## Is the 404D a Red Seal trade?

No. Painter and Decorator - Industrial is an Ontario prescribed trade but is not part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program, so an Ontario credential in this trade does not carry automatic recognition in other provinces. Workers moving to another province should check that province's own trade classification.

## Already experienced? The Trade Equivalency Assessment

Workers with experience from outside Ontario's apprenticeship system, or from another country, can apply for a Trade Equivalency Assessment instead of starting an apprenticeship. Approval requires verifiable evidence of competency in the trade's Training Standard and experience at least equal to the trade's total training time; if approved, you challenge the certifying exam directly. The assessment costs $235 plus HST, and a reassessment with new evidence costs $100 plus HST, per [Skilled Trades Ontario's Trade Equivalency Assessment page](https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca/experienced-workers/trade-equivalency-assessment/).

## Certification is not the only paperwork

A Certificate of Qualification covers the person. Running a business in the trade carries its own obligations: many Ontario municipalities require a contractor licence on top of personal certification, and construction employers must complete WSIB registration before work begins. Both are indexed on our sister site: [municipal contractor licensing requirements by city](https://ontariotraderegistry.ca/licensing/) and [WSIB Form 1000, registration of constructors and employers](https://ontariotraderegistry.ca/compliance/wsib-form-1000/), on Ontario Trade Registry.

## Where can you train as a painter and decorator - industrial in Ontario?

| Private training providers | 2 |
| --- | --- |
| Approved sponsors | 9 employers registered to train apprentices |
| Apprentices in training | 65 |

Counts are from Ontario's published apprenticeships dataset. A sponsor is the employer or union that registers and trains the apprentice; you need one before an apprenticeship can start.

## How dangerous is construction work in Ontario?

Ontario does not publish injury figures per trade, only by sector. In 2024 the Ministry of Labour recorded 18 worker fatalities and 442 critical injuries under the construction health and safety program. See [the ten-year counts and what they leave out](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/safety/).

## Related Ontario trades

Other construction sector trades with certification records on this registry:

- [Painter and Decorator - Commercial and Residential (404C) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/404c-painter-and-decorator-commercial-and-residential/)
- [Automotive Painter (410N) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/410n-automotive-painter/)
- [Concrete Pump Operator (637C) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/637c-concrete-pump-operator/)
- [Drywall Finisher and Plasterer (453A) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/453a-drywall-finisher-and-plasterer/)
- [Electrician - Construction and Maintenance (309A) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/309a-electrician-construction-and-maintenance/)
- [All 23 compulsory trades in Ontario](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/compulsory/)

## Official verification sources

- Regulation[O. Reg. 876/21, Prescribed Trades and Related Matters (e-Laws)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/210876)
- Certifying body[Skilled Trades Ontario: Painter and Decorator - Industrial](https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca/trade-information/painter-and-decorator-industrial/)
- Act[Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 (e-Laws)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/21b28)
- Participation data[Ontario open data: Apprenticeships dataset](https://data.ontario.ca/dataset/apprenticeships)Classification, exam requirement and ratio status on this page are read directly from O. Reg. 876/21 as consolidated on e-Laws, not from secondary summaries. Facts not yet verified against a primary source are marked as not published rather than estimated.

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Source: https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/404d-painter-and-decorator-industrial/