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Important Notice

The Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre (SIIC) will be closing on March 31, 2025 due to funding cuts. This website will no longer be available after this date. Please save any guides you would like ahead of the closure. If you have any questions, please email siic@vpl.ca.

How Do I Become a Material Handler?

In BC, there is no certification required to work as a material handler. However, secondary school education is usually required and graduation is generally needed to advance to supervisory positions. College level courses or programs in warehouse operations, production and inventory management, or supply chain management will also improve your chances of advancing your career.

Voluntary Certification: Parts Technician

SkilledTradesBC offers courses and apprenticeships as a ‘Parts Technician 1,’ ‘Parts Technician 2,’ and ‘Parts Technician (Red Seal).’  These programs train you to order, warehouse and keep inventory control over parts and accessories for industries like the automotive, commercial transport, heavy duty, marine and warehousing sectors. 

In BC, you can be certified as a Red Seal Parts Technician by successfully completing all three parts of the Parts Technician program and the Interprovincial ‘Red Seal’ exam. If you have extensive experience working in the occupation, you may choose to challenge the certification.