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Field Heat Treatment Technician |
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Select Alternate Year - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009
Specific tasks encompassed in the Field Heat Treatment Technician occupation include the following:
Heat treatment services are provided as a contract service to a variety of clients. Clients are primarily engaged in the construction, maintenance or operation of facilities with welded structures, piping and vessels.
Other clients requiring the specialized application of heat may contract for heat treatment services.
Work may be outdoors, possibly in adverse weather conditions. The work environment may be noisy dusty and dirty. Safety is most important, as work is performed on construction or industrial sites and possibly at heights. There is some risk of injury involved in working with power tools, heavy equipment, heating equipment, hot metals and toxic gases.
Many worksites may require field heat treatment technicians be clean shaven.
Field heat treatment technicians typically work a 40 hour week, with overtime sometimes required to meet deadlines. Extensive travel is a job requirement.
Heat treatment equipment can be large and bulky and technicians may be required to transport their own equipment using large and small trucks, possibly with trailer combinations or air brakes.
This work is most rewarding for those who enjoy travel, working outdoors, and are comfortable working at heights, on an occasional basis. Field heat treatment technicians may be required to travel almost anywhere on short notice and can expect to be away from home for extended periods of time.
Technicians must be able to:
Field heat treatment technicians work for companies that specialize in providing heat treatment services. In Alberta, the majority of the work is on high pressure welded pipes and vessels used in refineries, chemical processing or power generation. Heat treatment services are usually coordinated with construction and maintenance activities. The occupation is small in size, highly specialized and international in scope. Field heat treatment technicians have to be trained for national, North American, and international industry standards. Industry does the training, some of which is proprietary. The need for training in new technologies and up-dated standards will be on-going. Safety training for industrial construction sites, metallurgy, heat-related science, trade math etc. may be available through other training providers.
Most of the industry is subject to wage and benefits agreements negotiated by the Quality Control Council (QCC). The negotiated hourly journeyperson rate for 2008/09 is $36.65. Wage rates for field heat treatment technicians outside of the agreement with the QCC are comparable.
Certified field heat treatment technicians are expected to supervise crews of technicians as part of their regular duties. They may work independently as heat treatment consultants, or they may move into management positions including company ownership within the heat treatment contracted services industry.
A certificate is not required to work as a field heat treatment technician in Alberta. This is a designated occupation and participation is voluntary.
Job skills and competencies, standards of performance and training programs for field heat treatment technicians have been defined and approved under the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act.
Trainees who register with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in occupational training and achieve the established standards of performance are awarded an Alberta Occupational Certificate.
A person who holds a certificate or document from another jurisdiction for a line of work that is much the same as Alberta’s Field Heat Treatment Technician occupation may apply for occupational certification.
Field heat treatment technicians who have no formal training but can prove that their skills and work experience meet the standards set for the occupation in Alberta may apply for occupational certification.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate or a document indicating that the individual holds a certificate that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate, are eligible to receive a Blue Seal business credential upon completing the necessary requirements.
In order to become a field heat treatment technician, it is recommended that candidates have a high school diploma with a strong background in science; the ability to do trade math; good English verbal and written communication skills; and the ability to read technical documents written at a grade 12 or higher reading level. A trade or technology certificate in one of the welding, machining, pipe or metalworking trades would also be valuable.
The term of occupational training for a field heat treatment technician is a minimum of 48 months and a minimum of 7,200 hours work experience.
An applicant who previously completed training or work experience related to the field heat treatment technician occupation or who holds a related certificate may qualify for credit that could reduce the term of training.
To learn the skills required of a field heat treatment technician and be issued an Alberta Occupational Certificate, a person must:
When trainees attend formal training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies.
Student loans, grants, scholarships and other financial assistance may be available. For more information see Financial Assistance or contact an Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
To qualify for an Alberta Occupational Certificate based on a certificate issued by another jurisdiction, a person must:
To qualify for an Alberta Occupational Certificate based on proof of skills and work experience that meet Alberta standards for the occupation, a person must:
