Pre-Employment Motorcycle Mechanic

What can you expect from the program?

Motorcycle enthusiasts have a true passion for the open road and for ensuring their bikes are performing at a top-notch level. Whether you are looking to begin your career as a Motorcycle Mechanic, or you are a hobbyist looking for professional training, the Pre-Employment Motorcycle Mechanic program might be a fit for you. This twelve week program will prepare you to use industry procedures for entry level assembly, maintenance, repairs, and restoration of motorcycles and multi-wheeled lightweight all-terrain vehicles.

If you’re interested in reading more about the trade of Motorcycle Mechanics, visit this Trade Secrets link.

Our facility is at the forefront of mechanical technology. That expertise carries right into the world of Motorcycles with a designated workshop. From mopeds to touring bikes, students in the Pre-Employment Motorcycle Mechanic program will get hands-on instruction with an assortment of makes and models allowing you to benefit from expert instructors who will be guiding you through two and four stroke engine theory, electrical theory and circuits, mechanical/hydraulic brake systems and wheel and tire maintenance.

What will you learn?

Upon successful completion of the pre-employment program, students who meet the apprenticeship requirements for the trade are eligible to write the first period apprenticeship exam. Please note that there is a fee, payable to Apprenticeship and Industry Training, to write this exam. This fee is in addition to tuition, books and supplies. Canadian Standards Association approved personal protective equipment is required to complete the practical portion of this program. You may be required to purchase other tools and equipment for your chosen trade.

Olds College has a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. In colder climates like Alberta's, motorcycle repair work is seasonal. Motorcycle mechanics are very busy doing diagnostic and repair work in the warmer months, and encourage customers to have preventative maintenance work done in the winter.

Motorcycle mechanics must be skilled in other types of repair work (e.g. repairing snowmobiles) to remain employed year-round. Motorcycle mechanics are employed by motorcycle dealerships or repair shops, or are self-employed. Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $20 to $32 an hour. Experienced motorcycle mechanics may advance to supervisory positions or set up their own businesses.

View Program Outline

Credential: Pre-Employment Certificate

Length of Program: 12 Weeks

Method of Delivery: On-Campus

Program Intakes:

Winter Intake: January 31, 2022 - April 22, 2022 *APPLICATIONS OPEN*

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

Applications Open: Winter Intake - February 1 of the year prior to start

Selection Process for Admission: First Qualified, First Accepted

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

Tuition: $6,440 / Fees: $475 / Books & Supplies: $380

* 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.*

What do I need to apply?

Admission Requirements:

Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement
18 years of age or older upon completion of the program.
Completion of Grade 11.
Please refer to tradesecrets.alberta.ca

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.

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: 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 following items are required:

CSA approved steel toe boots
CSA approved safety glasses
Coveralls (two pairs)

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.
Apprenticeship ILMs: We use the Apprenticeship ILMs (Individual Learning Modules) as our reference material. These modules take the place of textbooks and are available at the Olds College Campus Store at 1.800.661.6537 or 403.556.4630. They are packaged by technical training period.
AIT Technical Training Exams: Students who meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.3 will be permitted to challenge their technical training exam. The exam challenge fee is $150.00 CAD and payable directly to Alberta's Apprenticeship & Industry Training Board (AIT).