Heavy Equipment Operator

Olds College’s Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate is an Alberta Advanced Education papers approved program. Our comprehensive program is developed with industry to keep up with the demands in the workforce. The mix of classroom theory and practical skills are a balance supported by industry.

We work closely with employers and industry and in many ways:

Industry advisory group - to help update curriculum as industry needs change
Industry guest speakers and field trips to connect our students to employers
Industry loaned equipment keeps the tuition costs affordable for our students while providing the employer early access to a pool of qualified new operators. In addition this affords the company a Gift in Kind tax deduction.

For more information regarding industry partnering opportunities, please contact coned@oldscollege.ca

The Heavy Equipment Operator classes are small which lends itself to a cohesive work climate simulating real-life job sites. Industry-standard COVID safety procedures are implemented and enforced, this prepares students to know what to expect when they enter the industry. Seat time is maximized for students as online instruction supplements the real-life scenarios set out to give you industry-related project experience. Our instructors have experience in a variety of industry work environments and have significant expertise to share with students.

The Heavy Equipment Operator program is constructed to ensure entry-level operators attain a professional standard in a twelve-week program, followed by a two-week practicum. Our program has a graduation requirement practicum of eighty (80) hours where students will further develop their skills in an industry-related work site position where they apply new skills from their education and training.

Some equipment you may learn on includes a skid steer, compactor, loader, dozer, grader, and excavator, and rubber-tired hoe.

The program is delivered as face-to-face, on-site practical instruction with an online component. This training takes place over a twelve week period from Monday to Friday with two groups to maximize seat time that students spend in equipment. Group 1 will be scheduled from 7 am-1 pm and Group 2 is scheduled from 12 pm -6 pm. This program observes Statutory Holidays. Some times may vary with prior notice. Keep in mind there are assignments and reading so use your time wisely.

Important attributes of an operator include mathematical ability, excellent vision, and a high degree of physical coordination, as well as:

full range of body motion and repetitive motions which specifically affect upper body use
sitting for extensive periods of time on vibrating and/or bouncing machinery
manual and finger dexterity as well as eye-hand and foot coordination

excellent physical condition and occasional heavy and moderate physical labor required
occasional lifting and carrying items up to 50 lbs/22.5 kg
corrected vision and hearing within normal range
good oral and written communication skills

Are you eligible for the $10,000 Alberta-Canada Job Grant? If you are employed, then under the Canada-Alberta Job Grant, employers will cover a minimum of one third of direct training costs, with up to a maximum of $10,000 in government contributions. Find out more information on your eligibility!

As this program is approved by Alberta Education - then admitted students are eligible to receive student loans. Please note though, that student loans will not cover the full cost of the program. Please contact your provincial student aid office to determine your eligibility.

What will you learn?

Upon completion of the Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate, you will be prepared to:

Demonstrate general principles of operations of selected pieces of equipment
Demonstrate the correct procedures for preventative maintenance of selected pieces of equipment
Demonstrate employability skills and professional conduct
Demonstrate workplace skills in an industry-related environment
Demonstrate required fieldwork and jobsite fundamentals

Employ current Occupational Health and Safety and relevant industry standards and procedures in the workplace
Apply the skills required in industry standard safety certificates and programs
Communicate interactively in a professional manner with industry associates
Gain successful employment in the heavy equipment operation industry

View Program Outline

Program Details

Credential: Certificate

Length of Program: 12 Weeks

Directed Field Study/Work Term/Practicum: 80-hour practicum is completed at the end of the program.

Program Intakes:

Fall Intake: September 2022 *APPLICATIONS OPEN*
Winter Intake: March 7, 2022 - May 27, 2022 *APPLICATIONS OPEN, Intake nearing capacity and admissible students may be placed on a waitlist. Please contact us to discuss options (trades@oldscollege.ca)*

Program dates: Please visit our Dates & Schedules page to confirm start and end dates of your desired program and confirm campus closures.

Applications Open:

First Wednesday of October (9:00am) for the Fall Intake
First Wednesday of February (9:00am) for the Winter Intake

Selection Process for Admission: First qualified, first accepted

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

Tuition: $12,590 / Fees: $475 / Books & Supplies: $1,000

* Please note that international students pay 3.5 times the domestic tuition amount. These fees are provided as estimates only for the purposes of budgeting. All students should refer to the Fee Schedule for the most accurate information and all fees are subject to change.*

International Students in this program will require a Co-Op Permit, a Study Permit and a Social Insurance Number for this program. Learn more on the International Students page.

Admission Requirements:

High School Diploma or its equivalent
Minimum of 18 years of age upon completion of the program
Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement
Personal Profile Submission (please use the link to electronically submit your profile)
Acknowledge the Student Commitment Contract
Answer three (3) questions for your personal profile:
- Do you have any experience in relation to the program you have chosen, such as operating construction or agricultural equipment, construction worksite activities, mechanical duties, or utility installation? Please provide details.
- Receiving your Certificate of Completion is only one step of becoming successful in the workforce. What are other attributes or qualities you possess that would be beneficial in assisting you in gaining employment?
- What research have you done in relation to the program you have chosen; provide details? What are your plans after completing this course?
Class 5 Driver’s License
- Please submit a copy of your Class 5 Driver’s License (GDL licenses are accepted). It is recommended that you have a full Class 5 License as it improves your employability, however it is not required for entrance into the program. Please note: restrictions such as a blow box on your license are not acceptable to enter into the program.
Driver’s Abstract
- Please submit a recent copy of your Driver's Abstract (current within three months of the start of the program)

Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrollment and any available interim/midterm 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.

Alternate Admission Option: Alternate Admission status may be offered to applicants who have not or will not complete one of the academic admission requirements. To be considered under Alternate Admission Status, applicants will be asked to provide the following:

(Required) Transcript(s) showing any completed high school and post-secondary courses
(Required) Letter of Introduction and Intent, outlining the following:
- Introduce yourself
- Indicate why you wish to enrol in the program
- Elaborate on your career goals
- Detail your experience relevant to this program and the industry
(Required) A resume of your work history, extracurricular activities, volunteer service, etc. for the last 5 years
(Optional) Include copies of any tickets and/or certificates you currently hold (e.g.: first aid, safety tickets, etc.)
(Optional) Letter(s) of reference from current or past employers/coaches/etc. (maximum of two letters)

*Submitting Alternate Admission material does not guarantee admission*

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.

Career Opportunities

Olds College has a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. Opportunities include, but are not limited to:

Landscaping design and maintenance;
Golf Courses, Grounds keeping;
Municipal Government road maintenance;
Demolition;
Forestry;
Intensive Livestock Operations;
Utility installations both commercial and residential;
Road Building;
Waste Management;
or Oil and Gas site preparation and reclamation

Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!

ALIS Occupational Profiles

Admitted Student Information

Program Dates

Find out when your 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

We recommend that students bring a Windows laptop to complete the online portion of their training. Students will have access to computer labs on campus. If you need to sign out a laptop from the Service Desk, then please submit a request.

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:

Personal protective equipment is required for all field components of the program and must be CSA approved, which includes:

Steel toe safety footwear (minimum 6” ankle height)
Safety glasses
Reflective vest or reflective marked coveralls
Hard hat (yellow preferred, NOT white)
Hearing protection
Work gloves

Failure to wear this equipment when required will result in dismissal from class, as this is a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations of Olds College.

A textbook is required for this program. Further details will be communicated with admitted students nearer to the program start date.

Other Important Information:

Time Requirements: This is a very intense 12 week program. Self study of the printed material is mandatory. Students must be willing to treat this program like a job. The field portion is very much like a work site. This program is heavily weighted in employability skills. It is very important students commit to full attendance.
Additional Skills: mechanical aptitude, good communication skills, exceptional employability skills (i.e. ability to show up on time, abide by worksite & OHS rules, etc).

Required items before your program starts:

A new three year, standard driver's abstract must be sent to your Admission Officer before your program starts. It needs to be dated within three months of your program start date.
Typically, student loans cover only a portion of the tuition and fees. Please remember to plan accordingly for additional living expenses (accommodation, meals, travel) and the required equipment list.

Training schedule:

Week 1: Mandatory safety training on campus (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Weeks 2-12: The gravel pit that training is held at is in the Olds area and students are responsible for driving themselves to the location. Training at the gravel pit takes place over a twelve week period from Monday to Friday with two groups to maximize seat time that students spend in equipment. Group 1 is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Group 2 is scheduled from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; this program observes Statutory Holidays. Section scheduling requests for training time can be accommodated and sign up forms will be sent approximately one month before your program starts.