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Agricultural Equipment 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.
Agricultural equipment technicians repair, overhaul and maintain agricultural equipment including tractors, tillage equipment, seeding equipment and harvesting equipment.
Agricultural equipment technicians may specialize in service and repair of fuel injection pumps and injectors, engine overhaul, hydraulic systems, power shift transmissions or specific types of equipment (combines, forage harvesteres, tractors, etc.).
In general, agricultural equipment technicians:
Agricultural equipment technicians must keep up-to-date with new developments in the agricultural equipment field.
Agricultural equipment technicians may work in the comfort of a fully equipped service centre or they may have to travel to farms to make service calls. Hours of work vary from regular hours during the winter to long and hectic hours during planting and harvesting seasons.
The work is most rewarding for those who enjoy working with their hands and for those who are capable of diagnosing a variety of complex mechanical, hydraulic and electrical problems.
To be successful in the trade, agricultural equipment technicians need:
Most agricultural equipment technicians are employed by retail agricultural equipment dealerships. Where a number of technicians are employed by one business, the opportunity exists for advancement to supervisory positions.
Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $25 to $40 an hour plus benefits, depending on the region.
Agricultural equipment technicians can move into sales positions or become manufacturers' service representatives. Individuals with business and administrative skills may move into management positions with the company or purchase an agricultural equipment dealership.
To work as an Agricultural Service Technician in Alberta, a person must:
Agricultural 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.
An agricultural equipment 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 agricultural 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 Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.
Agricultural equipment 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 agricultural 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 an agricultural equipment technician in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
- during on-the-job training, apprentice agricultural equipment technicians earn at least 60 percent of the journeyperson 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.
- select an educational institution that offers training for Agricultural 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)
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:
- a certified automotive service technician must have at least 4,200 hours and 33 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as an agricultural equipment technician
- a certified heavy equipment technician must have at least 4,500 hours and 36 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as an agricultural equipment technician
- a certified heavy equipment technician – heavy duty equipment mechanic (off road) must have at least 4,500 hours and 36 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as an agricultural equipment technician
- a certified heavy equipment technician – truck and transport mechanic must have at least 4,500 hours and 36 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as an agricultural equipment technician
- a certified heavy equipment technician – transport trailer mechanic must have at least 6,750 hours and 54 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as an agricultural 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. The Qualification Certificate practical examination requires a separate fee as identified on the application noted above.
