Pre-Employment Heavy Equipment Technician
What can you expect from our program?
If you enjoy maintaining and repairing equipment, you can't get much bigger than the heavy equipment and off-road industry! This program will introduce you to the maintenance of a wide variety of equipment including trucks and trailers, off-road, and earthmoving equipment.
The Olds College Pre-Employment Heavy Equipment Technician program prepares the graduate for entry level positions in the heavy equipment sector. It covers basic diagnostics, repair, and maintenance of heavy equipment and its various components. Worksite fundamentals including occupational health and safety are emphasized throughout the training. This program is the equivalent to the technical training of first year apprenticeship, with additional instructor contact hours.
Our classrooms are discipline specific (i.e. motor lab, machinery lab) with small student to instructor ratio and personal workbenches. With our experienced 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. Our large workshops comfortably house industry equipment for overhaul projects.
What will you learn?
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
Describe standard workplace safety, materials and tools
Describe suspensions, wheels and systems
Describe hydraulics and hydraulic brake systems
Describe electrical and electronics
Describe air brakes
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.
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:
- Heavy equipment technicians maintain, repair and overhaul heavy vehicles and industrial heavy equipment, and commercial transport devices connected to or moved by a power unit.
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
Program at a glance
Length of Program:
12 Weeks
Program Intakes:
Dates Vary
Delivery:
Olds Campus
Applications Open:
Oct 1, Feb 1
Tuition & Fees:
$5,850
Credential: Pre-Employment Certificate (plus eligibility to write First Period apprenticeship exam)
Length of Program: 12 Weeks
Method of Delivery: Olds Campus
Program Intakes:
Fall Intake – September program start [September – November 2021] *APPLICATIONS OPEN*
Winter Intake – [Winter 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:
Fall Intake: October 1 of the Year Prior to Start
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 & Fees: $5,850 / Books & Supplies: $290
*These fees are provided as estimates only for the purposes of budgeting. Please note that this is an estimate for domestic students (international students should refer to the Fee Schedule) and all fees are subject to change.
What do I need to apply?
Admission Requirements:
- 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)
- 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.