NOC 73112: Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)

Painters and decorators apply paint, wallpaper and other finishes to interior and exterior surfaces of buildings and other structures. They are employed by construction companies, painting contractors and building maintenance contractors, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 3.
• Canadian Experience Class: counts as skilled Canadian work (1 year in the last 3 years).
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: counts as skilled work (1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years).
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: an eligible skilled trade (2 years in the last 5 years).
• High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): no. No high-wage add-on, and a job offer in it earns no CRS points.

TEER 3: Occupations that usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

• Trade occupations

  At least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in this occupation within the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 73112

Skilled Canadian work in this occupation earns the standard points, the same before and after November 3, 2026, with no high-wage add-on:

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Read specifications to determine quantities of materials required
• Prepare and clean surfaces using methods such as scraping, sanding, sandblasting, hydro-blasting and steam-cleaning; remove old wallpaper and loose paint; repair cracks and holes in walls; and sandpaper and apply sealer
• Mix and thin paint to obtain desired colour and texture
• Apply paint or other materials, such as stains, lacquer, enamel, oil, varnish, fibreglass, metal coating or fire retardant using brushes, rollers or spray equipment
• Measure, cut and apply wallpaper or fabric to walls
• Assemble and erect scaffolding and swing stages
• May advise customer on selection of colour schemes and choice of wall coverings
• May provide cost estimates to clients.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

• construction painter
• maintenance painter
• painter
• painter and decorator
• painter and decorator apprentice
• paperhanger

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or Over three years of work experience in the trade is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification for painters and decorators is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified painters and decorators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Similar jobs with a different code

• 72411Automotive painter - motor vehicle repair
• 94213Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
• 52121Interior decorator
• 72014Painters and decorators supervisor
• 53122Painters, sculptors and other visual artists