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HEAVY EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN |
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Select Alternate Year - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008
Heavy Equipment Technicians maintain, repair, and overhaul heavy vehicles and industrial equipment, both towed and self-propelled.
Maintenance and repair of vehicles and equipment may include:
In general, heavy equipment technicians:
The working environment for heavy equipment technicians varies considerably from one job to another. Some heavy equipment technicians work in modern laboratories overhauling fuel injection pumps and delivery systems. Others work at construction or industrial sites, sometimes outdoors in all types of weather conditions. Travel requirements and hours of work also vary.
There is some risk of injury involved in working with heavy equipment and power tools. However, proper safety standards are maintained at all times.
The work is most rewarding for those who enjoy achieving expertise with precise work, problem solving and working with their hands.
To be successful in the trade, heavy equipment technicians need:
Heavy equipment technicians are employed by specialized repair shops and organizations that own or lease heavy equipment used in the construction, mining, forestry, material handling, landscaping, land clearing, agriculture and transportation industries.
Journeyman wage rates vary, but generally range from $25 to $40 an hour plus benefits - rates vary depending on the region.
Experienced journeymen may advance to supervisor or service manager positions.
To work as a Heavy Equipment Technician in Alberta, a person must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyman or hold a recognized trade certificate. (see Recognized Trade Certificates)
Heavy equipment technicians learn their skills by registering with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in apprenticeship training and, upon successful completion, are awarded the Alberta Journeyman Certificate.
A heavy equipment technician who holds a certificate that was issued by another recognized apprenticeship authority in Canada (province, territory or federal jurisdiction) may apply for an Alberta Journeyman Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.
Heavy equipment technicians who have no trade certification but can prove that their skills and work experience meet the standards set for journeymen in Alberta may apply for certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, a document indicating that the individual holds a certificate that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate, or a certificate that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate are eligible to receive a Blue Seal business credential after completing the necessary requirements.
The term of apprenticeship for a heavy equipment technician is 4 years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of technical training each year.
To learn the skills required of a heavy equipment technician in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates or technical school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
- during on-the-job training, apprentice heavy equipment technicians earn at least 60 percent of the journeyman wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 percent in the second, 80 percent in the third, and 90 percent in the fourth year. Apprentices are generally required to provide their own basic hand tools.
- apprentices are required to provide their own tools (costs range from $10,000 to $25,000)
- select an educational institution that offers training for heavy equipment technician apprentices, and a time to attend training (see Technical Training Locations and Schedule)
- determine requirements for enrolling at the selected institution, and forward completed enrollment form to the selected institution (see Enrollment Instructions)
When apprentices attend technical training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies.
Grants, scholarships and other financial assistance may be available. More information is available at www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca or by contacting an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
The Heavy Equipment Technician branch of the trade does not participate in the Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) Program. However, this branch of the trade encompasses both the Heavy Equipment Technician – Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off Road) and the Heavy Equipment Technician – Truck and Transport Mechanic branches of the trade. These branches do participate in the Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) Program, and the Interprovincial Standards examinations are available to qualifying Heavy Equipment Technicians.
To qualify for a Red Seal, a person must:
- an Alberta trade certificate or completion of apprenticeship certificate, OR
- a journeyman or completion of apprenticeship certificate issued by another Canadian province or territory
An Application can be submitted for Heavy Equipment Technician – Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off Road) and/or Heavy Equipment Technician – Truck and Transport Mechanic.
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials -Heavy Equipment Technician – Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off Road))
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials -Heavy Equipment Technician – Truck and Transport Mechanic)
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized certificate, a person must:
A person who has a recognized certificate, as described above, does not require an Alberta Journeyman Equivalency document. Because some employers may not be familiar with these certificates, the holder may choose to apply for an Equivalency document.
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a non-recognized certificate, a person must:
An applicant who chooses to write the two required exams must:
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials -Heavy Equipment Technician – Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off Road))
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials -Heavy Equipment Technician – Truck and Transport Mechanic
An applicant who chooses to have their skills and knowledge assessed (instead of writing an exam) must:
- complete the Equivalency Application – Alternate Assessment and submit it to an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office
- pay the non-refundable application fee as identified on the application noted above
The Alternate Assessment process includes an assessment of the standards that the certificate is based on compared to Alberta's standards, and verification and assessment of the applicant's previous work experience, skills, knowledge and training in the trade. The application fee covers the verification and assessment of the applicant's experience in the trade.
An applicant whose trade credential from another Canadian province or territory is currently not valid (has expired) in the jurisdiction for which it was originally issued may apply to the Qualification Certificate Program to have their experience assessed and examined.
To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate, a person must:
- a certified heavy duty equipment mechanic (off road) must have at least 2,250 hours and 18 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as a heavy equipment technician
- a certified truck and transport mechanic must have at least 2,250 hours and 18 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as a heavy equipment technician
- a certified transport trailer mechanic must have at least 4,500 hours and 39 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as a heavy equipment technician
- a certified automotive service technician must have at least 4,500 hours and 36 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as a heavy equipment technician
- a certified transport refrigeration technician must have at least 6,750 hours and 54 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as a heavy equipment technician
- a certified agricultural equipment technician must have at least 4,500 hours and 36 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as a heavy equipment technician
Time spent on supervisory or foreman duties, counter work, heading the tool crib, or on a training course is NOT counted as ‘hands-on’ work experience.
This application fee covers the verification and assessment of the applicant's work experience hours/months as well as one attempt at the Qualification Certificate theory examination.
- prepare for the Heavy Equipment Technician – Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off Road) exam (see Exam Counselling Sheets, and click here to view the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Policy on Cheating)
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials - Heavy Equipment Technician – Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off Road))
- prepare for the Heavy Equipment Technician – Truck and Transport Mechanic exam (see Exam Counselling Sheets, and click here to view the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Policy on Cheating)
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials -Heavy Equipment Technician – Truck and Transport Mechanic)
