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Appliance Service Technician |
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Select Alternate Year - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009
There have been no changes to this trade in the year of 2009.
Appliance service technicians install, service and repair household and commercial appliances such as ranges, ovens, clothes washers, dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, microwave ovens, dishwashers, waste disposers and compactors.
In general, appliance service technicians:
Appliance service technicians generally work alone with little supervision. Those who repair portable appliances work indoors at a workbench in a shop. Technicians who repair large appliances usually have to drive a truck with an inventory of parts and tools.
Appliance service technicians usually work a 40-hour week, but may work overtime in an emergency or at busy times of the year. Some work Saturdays and evenings to serve customers and the hours of work can vary considerably for those who are self-employed.
The physical demands of the work vary. Installing and servicing large appliances requires moving heavy appliances and a considerable amount of standing, stooping, kneeling and reaching. Benchwork is not as physically demanding.
There is some risk of physical injury due to electrical shocks, cuts, burns or muscle strain.
Appliance service technicians are independent and self-motivated individuals who enjoy meeting and helping people. The work is most rewarding for those who like problem-solving and working with their hands.
To be successful in their trade, appliance service technicians need:
Appliance service technicians work for appliance dealers, independent appliance service companies, department stores, appliance manufacturers' own service departments, gas and electric utility companies, and owners of rented commercial appliances.
Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $20 to $30 an hour plus benefits.
With experience and knowledge of how to run a small business, appliance servicemen may start their own independent appliance service companies or appliance sales and service outlets. They may also become factory service representatives employed by manufacturers to supervise authorized repair depots in a particular region.
Experienced appliance service technicians employed in larger organizations may become specialists or advance to supervisory positions such as foreman or service manager.
To work as an Appliance Service Technician in Alberta, a person must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson or hold a recognized trade certificate. (see Recognized Trade Certificates)
Appliance service 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.
An appliance service technician who holds a valid trade certificate from Alberta or from another Canadian province or territory may apply to write the Interprovincial Exam and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal under the Interprovincial Standards Program. The Red Seal is recognized throughout most of Canada.
An appliance service 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 Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.
Appliance service technicians who:
may be eligible to apply for trade certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, or a credential 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 an appliance service technician is 3 years (three 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1600 hours of on-the-job training each year, and 8 weeks of technical training in each year.
To learn the skills required of an appliance service 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 appliance service technicians earn at least 55 percent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 percent in the second, and 85 percent in the third year.
- select an educational institution that offers training for Appliance Service 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)
Apprentices may attempt the Interprovincial Exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal. (see Exam Counselling Sheets)
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.
To qualify for a Red Seal, a person must:
- an Alberta trade certificate or completion of apprenticeship certificate, OR
- a journeyperson or completion of apprenticeship certificate issued by another Canadian province or territory
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized credential, a person must:
A person who has a recognized certificate, as described above, does not require an Alberta Equivalency document to work in the trade in Alberta. However, some employers may require an Alberta Equivalency document as proof that the certificate is equivalent to the requirements of the trade in Alberta.
To qualify for a Qualification Certificate based on Canadian credentials, a person must:
To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, 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. The Qualification Certificate practical examination requires a separate fee as identified on the application noted above.
