Agricultural and Heavy Equipment Diploma

"The Agricultural and Heavy Equipment Diploma Program is a very good opportunity to become fully introduced into both the agricultural and heavy equipment technician trades that exist in the province of Alberta. The quality of instruction provided by the instructors is outstanding and, when paired with the practical training also provided, it is easy to develop an in-depth understanding of the trade and it’s practices very quickly. The college boasts a wide variety of heavy/agricultural machinery in which students regularly diagnose, disassemble and rebuild as instructed in class. I plan on working in the heavy equipment technician trade upon my graduation, and eventually, start my own heavy equipment repair contracting business to service the western Canadian oilfield. My experience in my program so far has been amongst the best in my life, and I feel very confident about the benefits it provides me."

Dan Theoret, 1st Year Agricultural and Heavy Equipment Diploma student (2017)

What can you expect from the program?

This comprehensive program will give you a thorough understanding of the fundamentals in engines, hydraulics, braking, electrical, starting, charging, fuel systems and more. Students in this program will have the option of choosing one of two majors; Agricultural Equipment or Heavy Equipment.

After program completion, you have the option of writing apprenticeship exams for full technical accreditation towards your specific trade. You will also be well placed to attain Alberta Journeyman Status, pending completion of job training hours specified by Alberta Industry Trade Board.

What will you learn?

Our classrooms are discipline specific (e.g. motor lab, machinery lab) with a small student to instructor ratio and personal workbenches. With our experienced, Journeyman certified, industry-trained instructors, you will receive an education placing you at the forefront of the technical curve. Our extensive tool room exposes students to a wide range of tooling solutions for better problem solving and the large workshops comfortably house industry equipment for overhaul projects.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Employ current Occupational Health and Safety and Industry safety standards and procedures in the workplace
Communicate to achieve desired outcomes in industry
Make decisions regarding the adjustment and repair of agricultural and heavy equipment systems
Demonstrate proficiency in adjustment and repair of selected agricultural and heavy equipment systems to meet industry and government standards

Diagnose common faults on agricultural and heavy equipment
Maintain agricultural and heavy equipment
Use advanced technologies on agricultural and heavy equipment

Agricultural Equipment Major

Agricultural equipment students will learn to repair, overhaul and maintain agricultural equipment including tractors, tillage equipment, seeding equipment, and harvesting equipment. They may also specialize in service and repair of fuel injection pumps and injectors, engine overhaul, hydraulic systems, power shift transmissions or specific types of equipment (combines, forage harvesters, tractors, etc.). A strong pathway into precision farming systems is also included.

Heavy Equipment Major

Heavy equipment students will learn to maintain, repair, and overhaul heavy vehicles and industrial equipment. They may also learn how to maintain and repair various types of vehicles and equipment including internal combustion engines, tracked equipment, earth moving equipment, rubber tired equipment, on- and off-highway trucks, or towed on- and off-highway trailers.

Credential: Diploma

Length of Program: 2 Years

Method of Delivery: On-campus

Program Intakes: Fall Intake - September program start

Applications Open: October 1 for the Fall Intake

Selection Process for Admission: First Qualified, First Accepted

Tuition, Mandatory Fees, Books, and Supplies: Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for details.

Year 1: Tuition & Fees: $5,470 / Books & Supplies: $4,200
Year 2: Tuition & Fees: $5,470 / Books & Supplies: $1,100

*These fees are provided as estimates only for the purposes of budgeting. Please note that all fees are best estimates and are subject to change.

What do I need to apply?

Admission Requirements:

50% or better in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2
50% or better in Math 20-1 or Math 20-2
Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement (completed at minimum 3 years of formal education taught entirely in English or provide the results of a recognized English Language Proficiency exam)

Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrolment and any available interim/mid term marks. Final marks must be submitted within one month following the completion of the course(s) and no later than one month prior to the program start date.

Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.

International Applicants: Olds College welcomes applications from international applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency. Further information can be found on our website under International Students.

Alberta’s Apprenticeship & Industry Training

When you graduate your diploma either specializing in Agricultural or Heavy equipment, you then have the option of writing apprenticeship exams for full technical accreditation towards your specific trade. You will also be well-placed to attain Alberta Journeyman Status pending completion of job training hours specified by Alberta Industry Trade Board. Graduates are in demand by industry professionals.

Olds College also offers the Agricultural Equipment Technician Apprenticeship and Heavy Equipment Technician Apprenticeship program for prospective students who are currently employed and wish to pursue journeyman status.

Did you know?

Students who complete the certificate and/or diploma program with a 2.3 GPA and department consent will have the option of writing their apprenticeship exams?

Admitted Student Information

Program Dates: Find out when you term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.

Class Registration: You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Technology Recommendation: It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College with the following technology:

A device capable of running Microsoft Office, preferably a laptop

As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:

Go to portal.office.com
Enter your Olds College email address and password
Once logged in there is a button on the right that says "Install Office Apps"

This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.

Materials & Supplies:

The materials on our tool kit list are to be purchased before starting the program in September. There are several local businesses in Olds that supply the requirements. The list gives suggestions on the size of toolbox; however, it is a good idea to have the smallest one that will fit the required tools, as you will be moving from our two main shops to different labs throughout your studies.

View the Tool List

You will be required to purchase "tool chips" at a cost of $50. These tool chips allow you to use specialized tools out of the tool room and also include the cost of shop towels and supplies that will be used in the lab classes. At the end of the year, $20 will be refunded if you return all of your tool chips.

Information on other required textbooks and any further supplies will be provided as you attend each class. All books and supplies will be available during the first few weeks of classes in the College Campus Store.

Other Important Information:

Safety Regulations: Wearing safety equipment and abiding by industry safety standards is mandatory within our program.
Student Clubs: Ag Mech Club
Apprenticeship ILM: Because of the accreditation that our program has with Alberta Apprenticeship for the Heavy Equipment Technician and Agricultural Equipment Technician programs, we use the Apprenticeship ILM’s (Individual Learning Modules) as our reference material for the Agricultural and Heavy Equipment Program. Students will also be required to purchase additional textbooks, which they will be told more abount on their first day of classes. These modules and textbooks are available at the Olds College Campus Store at 1.800.661.6537 or 403.556.4630.