Power Engineering Technician CERTIFICATE at Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Program Overview

Power engineering technicians help keep power plants running safely and efficiently. A shortage of certified technicians means job opportunities have never been better. You could work in the oil patch, mining, manufacturing, energy, health and other industries. It’s a physical job that requires manual dexterity and good vision, as well as problem-solving skills and a knack for working with machinery.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is Saskatchewan’s primary provider of power engineering certification. We offer two levels of training: the one-year Power Engineering Technician certificate program and the two-year Power Engineering Technology diploma program.

The one-year Power Engineering Technician certificate program is offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic Regina Campus, and at Southeast College, (Estevan), Great Plains College (Swift Current), Parkland College (Yorkton), and Carlton Trail College (Humboldt). You’ll study Fourth Class interprovincial standardized material, which will prepare you to challenge interprovincial Fourth Class examinations.

You’ll receive practical training in boiler operations, maintenance techniques and tool use. You’ll develop troubleshooting skills in practical labs, get boiler firing time in the power lab and industry work experience in your second term.

The balance of hands-on labs, work experience and exam preparation makes Saskatchewan Polytechnic graduates productive on the job from day one—something employers look for when hiring and promoting.

Certification Opportunities

Power engineering is divided into levels of skill and training called classes (First Class is the highest level). You progress from one class to another through a combination of work experience, course completions and rigorous interprovincial exams.

As a Power Engineering Technician graduate, you’ll be prepared to challenge:

• TSASK (Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan) interprovincial (standardized) Fourth Class exams, and
• TSASK provincial Refrigeration Engineers Certificate exam, which allows you to operate larger refrigeration plans in Saskatchewan

Personal study is recommended before you write any industry certification exam.

Graduates are also eligible to enrol in Year 2 of the Power Engineering Technology program, based on seat availability.

Career and Salary Information

Your Career

Graduates are prepared to work as power engineers or process operators in a variety of industrial and heating plants. These include utility (power) plants, refineries, hospitals, pulp and paper mills, breweries, mines, gas processing plants, heavy oil upgraders, fertilizer plants or chemical plants.