In this full-time, Alberta Advanced Education approved, 12 week certificate you will learn in a cohesive work climate simulating real-life job sites. 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.
Heavy Equipment Operators are required for numerous industries and this program will prepare you for employment. Olds College’s Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate (HEO) is an Alberta Advanced Education PAPRS 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.
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 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. Some times may vary with prior notice. Keep in mind there are assignments and reading so use your time wisely.
Program Intakes:
Applications Open 11 months prior to the program start date.
Upon successful completion of this program, you will receive a Certificate of Graduation for the Heavy Equipment Operator program.
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
Important attributes of an operator includes mathematical ability, excellent vision, and a high degree of physical coordination as well as:
Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.
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.
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology 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:
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
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.
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.
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 of Agriculture & Technology. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
Personal protective equipment is required for all field components of the program and must be CSA approved, which includes:
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.
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).
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.
Week 1: Mandatory safety training on campus (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Students complete safety training in their first week (HEO 6001). This is mandatory training and you are required to attend even if you have the tickets already.
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 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Group 2 is scheduled from 12 p.m. to 5:30 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.
“I found out about this program from an online search. I’m learning a lot here, plus it’s great to operate the equipment.”
Matt Downs
There are multiple pieces of each type of equipment. We teach skills for Loader, Dozer, Excavator, Skid Steer, Rubber Tired Hoe. There are a variety of sizes and models to give students a well-rounded experience. It also offers the opportunity to explore multiple projects that represent various sectors of the industry. The equipment fleet is organized on a rotational basis for each student to give multiple opportunities on each machine.
There are 10 students in each cohort. There is a morning and afternoon cohort. Each has a field instructor and lead instructor overseeing the class as a whole. Much of the program is hands-on - so again, as curriculum is competency-based, we do not have set 'hours' (maximum or minimum hours) that a student spends on each piece of equipment. Some machines require more time to learn, some individuals may require more time to gain the competencies. As a rule of thumb students spend between 5-6 hours per day in hands-on learning. All theory and readings are completed in our Learning Management System MOODLE. It is a great way to combine theory learning while doing real-life projects on our worksite to maximize time in the machine.
