Millwrights keep plant machinery running and borrow skills from several other trades. Here is the path and the schools that teach it.
Industrial mechanics (millwrights) install, repair and maintain machinery in mills, plants, mines and factories. SkilledTradesBC describes the work as drawing on electricians’, plumbers’, machinists’ and mechanics’ skills combined (SkilledTradesBC). Expect alignment, rigging, hydraulics and troubleshooting.
| Levels | Foundation, then Apprenticeship Levels 1–4 |
|---|---|
| Technical training (school) | 28 weeks over 4 years |
| Work-based training (on the job) | 6,360 hours |
| Certification | Red Seal |
| Compulsory in BC? | No |
Selkirk College and Thompson Rivers University list combined Millwright/Machinist programs. That is a useful option if you have not decided between the two trades, but confirm with SkilledTradesBC how its credit applies to the trade you pick.
Fees as each school publishes them.
| School and campuses | Program (type, SkilledTradesBC program) | Length | Next intakes / seats | Tuition and fees (as published) | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia Institute of Technology BBY - Burnaby | Millwright Apprentice levels · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Apprenticeship Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 | 6–7 weeks (varies by intake/level) | Seats/intake not published by the school. SkilledTradesBC schedule lists: Jan 4, 2027 (BBY - Burnaby, Level 3): Open; Jan 4, 2027 (BBY - Burnaby, Level 2): Closed; Jan 4, 2027 (BBY - Burnaby, Level 4): Closed +5 more (TTBC schedule) | Not published; check with the school | Program page |
| British Columbia Institute of Technology BBY - Burnaby | Millwright Foundation Foundation · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) — Foundation | 24–25 weeks (varies by intake/level) | Seats/intake not published by the school. SkilledTradesBC schedule lists: Jan 25, 2027 (BBY - Burnaby): Closed (TTBC schedule) | Books & supplies / $1,282 (general estimated cost, subject to change) (source) | Program page |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University Cloverdale | Apprenticeships | Millwright/Industrial Mechanic Apprentice levels · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Apprenticeship Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 | 6–7 weeks (varies by intake/level) | Seats/intake not published by the school. SkilledTradesBC schedule lists: Nov 2, 2026 (Cloverdale, Level 4): Closed; Jan 4, 2027 (Cloverdale, Level 2): Open (TTBC schedule) | Not published; check with the school | Program page |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University Cloverdale | Millwright/Industrial Mechanic Foundation · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) — Foundation | 24–26 weeks (varies by intake/level) | Seats/intake not published by the school. SkilledTradesBC schedule lists: Feb 8, 2027 (Cloverdale): Open (TTBC schedule) | Not published; check with the school | Program page |
| School and campuses | Program (type, SkilledTradesBC program) | Length | Next intakes / seats | Tuition and fees (as published) | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Rockies Main Campus | Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Apprenticeship Apprentice levels · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Apprenticeship Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 | 6 weeks | Seats/intake not published by the school. SkilledTradesBC schedule lists: Jan 4, 2027 (Main Campus, Level 3): Open; Mar 1, 2027 (Main Campus, Level 1): Open (TTBC schedule) | Application Fee: / $30.00 Tuition: / $817.32 Student Association Fee: / $16.10 Total / $863.42 (source) | Program page |
| College of the Rockies Main Campus | Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Foundation · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) — Foundation | 25 weeks | Sep 7, 2027 (Cranbrook) (school page, checked Oct 8, 2026; source) | Not published; check with the school | Program page |
| Selkirk College Silver King Campus - Nelson | Millwright/Machinist Foundation - Certificate Foundation · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) — Foundation | 29 weeks | Seats/intake not published by the school. SkilledTradesBC schedule lists: Feb 1, 2027 (Silver King Campus - Nelson): Open (TTBC schedule) | Tuition / $4,430 Mandatory Fees / $466 Student Union Fees / $183 Health and Dental Insurance / $285 Total / $5,364 Book Costs / $1,272 … (source) | Program page |
| Selkirk College Silver King Campus - Nelson | Millwright/Machinist Foundation - Certificate Foundation · Millwright/Machinist — Foundation | 37 weeks | Not published | Tuition / $4,430 Mandatory Fees / $466 Student Union Fees / $183 Health and Dental Insurance / $285 Total / $5,364 Book Costs / $1,272 … (source) | Program page |
| Thompson Rivers University Kamloops | Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) / Machinist Apprentice levels · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Apprenticeship Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 | 7 weeks | Seats/intake not published by the school. SkilledTradesBC schedule lists: Nov 2, 2026 (Kamloops, Level 2): Open; Nov 2, 2026 (Kamloops, Level 3): Closed; Jan 4, 2027 (Kamloops, Level 2): Open +2 more (TTBC schedule) | FoundationTuition / $3,652.47 Student and lab fees / $914.76 Learning guides and/or textbooks / $560.00 Health and Dental Plan / $248.00 CSA work boots, clear safety glasses / $200.00 Total / $5,575.23 … (source) | Program page |
| Thompson Rivers University NorKam | Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) / Machinist Foundation · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) — Foundation | 21–24 weeks (varies by intake/level) | Feb 1, 2027 (NorKam): Limited Space; Aug 3, 2027 (NorKam): Available; Jan 31, 2028 (NorKam): Available (school page, checked Oct 8, 2026; source) | FoundationTuition / $3,652.47 Student and lab fees / $914.76 Learning guides and/or textbooks / $560.00 Health and Dental Plan / $248.00 CSA work boots, clear safety glasses / $200.00 Total / $5,575.23 … (source) | Program page |
| School and campuses | Program (type, SkilledTradesBC program) | Length | Next intakes / seats | Tuition and fees (as published) | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of New Caledonia Prince George - Main Campus, Quesnel | Apprentice Industrial Mechanic L1 Apprentice levels · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Apprenticeship Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 | 6–7 weeks (varies by intake/level) | Seats/intake not published by the school. SkilledTradesBC schedule lists: Nov 2, 2026 (Prince George - Main Campus, Level 2): Limited/WL; Nov 2, 2026 (Quesnel, Level 3): Closed; Jan 4, 2027 (Quesnel, Level 4): Limited/WL +4 more (TTBC schedule) | Fees* / Starting at $961.85 View costs by level / Level 1 Tuition: $961.85-989.14 View costs by level / Level 2 Tuition: $961.85-989.14 Level 3 Tuition: $961.85-989.14 Level 4 Tuition: $961.85-989.14 Work BC offers financial support to apprenticeship students. / Apprentices may qualify for interest free loans of up to $4,000 per level of technical training through the Canada Apprentice Loanprogram. (source) | Program page |
| College of New Caledonia Prince George - Main Campus, Quesnel, Vanderhoof | Industrial Mechanic Foundation Foundation · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) — Foundation | 24–25 weeks (varies by intake/level) | Spring 2027 (Quesnel); Fall 2027 (Prince George); Spring 2028 (Quesnel); Spring 2028 (Mackenzie) (school page, checked Oct 8, 2026; source) | Fees* / Estimated at $3,000 Invest in your future / The estimated cost for this program is $3,000. Invest in your future / Tuition: $1,900 Student fees: $658 Medical/Dental Fee (Fall semester only): $260 (source) | Program page |
| Northern Lights College Dawson Creek | Millwright Apprenticeship Apprentice levels · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Apprenticeship Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 | 7 weeks | Seats/intake not published by the school. SkilledTradesBC schedule lists: Jan 4, 2027 (Dawson Creek, Level 2): Open; Mar 1, 2027 (Dawson Creek, Level 3): Open (TTBC schedule) | Level 1 / $ 784.98 Level 1 / $ 70.73 $ 133.19 $ 988.90 Level 2 / $ 784.98 Level 2 / $ 70.73 … (source) | Program page |
| Northern Lights College Dawson Creek | Millwright Foundations Certificate (CIP 47.0303) Foundation · Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) — Foundation | 31 weeks | September (yearly cohort) (Dawson Creek) (school page, checked Oct 8, 2026; source) | Year 1 / $ 2,990.40 Year 1 / $ 160.46 $ 296.84 $ 3,447.70 Year 1 / $ 11,850.30 Year 1 / $ 173.02 … (source) | Program page |
Find a sponsor (usually an employer), register together on the SkilledTradesBC Portal, then complete 28 weeks of school and 6,360 work hours and pass the certification exam (70% pass mark, up to 4 attempts). In millwright, foundation training is optional and may count as Level 1. Full walkthrough: how to register an apprenticeship; rules from SkilledTradesBC.
Foundation (optional)Usually a few months full-time. The length is on each school’s page in the table above.
Apprenticeship28 weeks of technical training spread over 4 years, in blocks of school between work periods
Work-based training6,360 hours with your sponsor
CertificationExam with a 70% pass mark and up to 4 attempts. Trade Qualifiers must pass within 24 months of approval.
Program length per SkilledTradesBC trade pages. Exam rules per SkilledTradesBC.
Fees as millwright schools publish them; tools and student fees are usually extra.
| Item | Published amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Books and supplies · British Columbia Institute of Technology | Books & supplies: $1,282 (general estimated cost, subject to change) | school page |
| One apprentice level · College of New Caledonia | Fees*: Starting at $961.85 | school page |
| Foundation program · College of New Caledonia | Fees*: Estimated at $3,000 | school page |
| One apprentice level · College of the Rockies | Tuition:: $817.32 | school page |
| Foundation program · Northern Lights College | Year 1: $ 2,990.40 | school page |
| Foundation program · Selkirk College | Tuition: $4,430 | school page |
| Certification exam as a Trade Qualifier (challengers only) | $120 application, which includes your first attempt. The 2nd attempt is free; the 3rd and 4th cost $100 each. | SkilledTradesBC |
Job Bank wages for Industrial mechanics (millwrights) in British Columbia (2023–2024 reference period; Job Bank wage report). These figures cover journeypersons only, not apprentices. See also BC trades salaries.
EI, loans, grants and tool deductions for apprentices: apprentice funding in BC.
Not required. A millwright apprentice can start at Level 1 as soon as a sponsor signs on. The optional foundation course mostly helps you get hired, and it usually earns Level 1 credit.
No, but only hours worked as a registered apprentice count toward certification.
If your millwright hours are enough, apply as a Trade Qualifier ($120 in the cost table). With fewer hours, a level challenge exam may fit better.
Most millwright apprentices who qualify for EI can claim it during school blocks. Ask WorkBC Apprentice Services for your reference code up to 4 weeks before class begins.
SkilledTradesBC lists 28 weeks of technical training over 4 years and 6,360 work-based hours. Starting with a foundation course lengthens the path a little, though it may give Level 1 credit.
This page relies on the official pages below. Rules, fees and processes change, so check the authority before you apply or spend money.
Links checked November 1, 2026. Found an error or a broken link? Report it.