Education · 1 of 5

The path

You can be working within weeks. Becoming skilled takes years.

1. 1

   High school diploma or an equivalency certificate

   Grade 12

   Most employers want one. Some crews will hire without it, but apprenticeships usually will not.

2. 2

   Get on a crew, or apply to an apprenticeship

   Weeks to months

   Residential painting will hire you as a helper straight away. A registered apprenticeship is more selective and pays you to learn properly.

3. 3

   Learn the preparation, not just the paint

   First year

   Sanding, patching, caulking, masking and priming are most of the job. Anyone can roll a wall. Good preparation is what customers are paying for.

4. 4

   Registered apprenticeship

   3 to 4 years

   Three to four years of paid work on the job plus classroom hours, through a union training center or an employer program registered with the Department of Labor.

5. 5

   Journey-level painter

   After your hours

   Full rate, able to run a job. From here you can move into industrial coatings, estimating, or start your own business.