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COMMUNICATION TECHNICIAN |
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Select Alternate Year - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008
Communication technicians install, maintain, remove and/or repair wiring networks, consumer and business communication equipment and specialized equipment such as intercoms, fax machines, computer networks.
They also maintain and repair various types of microwave, television, toll and switching equipment used to provide local or long distance service.
To perform these functions, they must be:
Installers working in customers' homes and businesses must be courteous, tactful and adaptable.
Working conditions vary greatly for communication technicians, depending upon the specific duties involved. Some work primarily outdoors, and some primarily indoors. Shift work may be required; overtime is required during emergencies.
There is some risk of injury from electrical shock or from falling.
The work is most rewarding for those who enjoy learning new things and doing precise work that sometimes requires creativity.
To be successful in their trade, communication technicians need:
Communication technicians are employed by communication companies that install, maintain, sell, rent or lease communications equipment, or install private communications systems.
Journeyman wage rates vary, but generally can range up to $40 an hour plus benefits.
Experienced communication technicians may advance to supervisory positions, change to other craft areas, or retrain and transfer to other departments such as sales or engineering.
To work as a Communication Technician in Alberta, a person may:
Communication 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 communication 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.
Communication 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 communication 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 communication technician in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:
Courses in mathematics and physics are particularly important.
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
- during on-the-job training, apprentice communication technicians earn at least 40 percent of the journeyman wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 50 percent in the second, 60 percent in the third, and 75 percent in the fourth year.
- select an educational institution that offers training for communication 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. For more information see Financial Assistance or contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
The Communication Technician trade does not participate in the Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) Program
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 exam(s) must:
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials - Communication Technician )
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:
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.
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials - Communication Technician )
