

Managing Safety Risks: Licensing and Certification
Licensing and certifications
Technical Safety BC issues licences to contractors and contracting companies who install, operate, and maintain regulated equipment. We issue certificates of qualification to individuals working on regulated equipment. Together, they provide the public with assurances that certain standards of knowledge and proficiency are being maintained around regulated work.
Licences
The number of licences issued in 2021 increased by 31% from 2020 to a total of 1,016. This increase can be attributed in part due to a significant drop in new licences in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health and safety guidelines.
Certificates
In 2021, Technical Safety BC expanded the offering of certification exams to align with new code change requirements and created procedures that are equitable for clients across the province. By moving many of our exams online, we were able to adhere to public health guidelines and support our clients in earning certification.
After receiving feedback from our clients, we refined our online exam experience with improved accessibility, special accommodations, a flexible exam schedule, and faster results. Over 2,364 clients took an online exam while 2,094 took an exam in person.
Note: Railways and Alternative Safety Approaches do not have licences or certificates of qualification and are not reflected in this chart.
New Licenses and Certificates by Year (2017 - 2021)
New Licenses and Certificates by Technology
Business transformation project
As COVID-19 pushed industries around the world to adopt digital tools, Technical Safety BC looked inward to make sure our technological framework puts people first. That’s why our main focuses coming into 2021 were to provide tools that make participation in the safety system simpler and more effective. Learn more.