Do drywallers need a licence in Ontario?
Not as a trade. Skilled Trades Ontario classes Drywall Finisher and Plasterer as non-compulsory, and only compulsory trades require a certificate or registration to work legally; people practising it do not appear on the Public Register, so the register cannot confirm a drywaller. What Ontario does regulate is asbestos: asbestos is found in buildings built before 1986, drywall compound is among its common sources, and removing drywall that contains it is classed under O. Reg. 278/05.[1],[2],[3],[4]
How to check
There is no public register to check a drywaller against: people practising a non-compulsory trade do not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. A drywaller who passed the trade's certifying exam holds a Certificate of Qualification, which does not have to be renewed, so you can ask to see it.[1]
What Ontario's rules say
- Drywall Finisher and Plasterer is a non-compulsory trade in Ontario, and people practising it do not appear on Skilled Trades Ontario's Public Register, so the register cannot confirm a drywaller. Skilled Trades Ontario[1]
- Ontario's labour ministry says asbestos can be found in buildings built in Canada, especially before 1986, and lists drywall compound among its most common sources. Before a project, section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires the owner — including the owner of a home who undertakes a project — to determine whether asbestos is present, list it, and make sure the contractor has that list before signing a contract. Government of Ontario[3]
- Under O. Reg. 278/05, removing less than one square metre of drywall with asbestos-containing joint compound is a Type 1 operation and one square metre or more is Type 2, counted across the whole room even if the work is split into smaller jobs. Government of Ontario[4]
Frequently asked questions
Does a drywaller need a licence in Ontario?
No certificate is required to practise it. Drywall Finisher and Plasterer is a non-compulsory trade; Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Qualification to someone who passes its certifying exam, but compulsory trades are the ones that require a certificate or registration to work legally.[1],[2]
Can I look up a drywaller on the Skilled Trades Ontario register?
No. Because the trade is non-compulsory, the information of people practising it does not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register, so the register cannot confirm a drywaller either way.[1]
Who is responsible for checking for asbestos before drywall work?
The owner. Before a project, section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires the project owner, including the owner of a home who undertakes a project, to find out whether asbestos is present, list it, and make sure the contractor has the list before signing a contract.[3]
How is removing drywall with asbestos compound classed?
Under O. Reg. 278/05, removing less than one square metre of drywall with asbestos-containing joint compound is a Type 1 operation, and one square metre or more is Type 2. The area is counted across the whole room, even if the work is split into smaller jobs.[4]
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Sources
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Drywall Finisher and Plasterer (trade information). Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Apprenticeship programs quick facts chart (Updated June 2026). Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Government of Ontario, Asbestos in the workplace (Updated November 9, 2023). Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Government of Ontario, O. Reg. 278/05: Designated substance — asbestos. Accessed October 19, 2026.
This guide restates what each source says; it is not legal advice. Rules change — the linked source is the authority.
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