A Career in Power Engineering Awaits!
Power engineers operate, maintain, and manage industrial plants that use equipment such as boilers and refrigeration units. In every Canadian province and territory, only certified power engineers are permitted to operate such equipment. Provincial regulations require that plant personnel be certified prior to assuming positions of responsibility in the operation of fired pressure equipment.
BCIT offers training for a great career path in this exciting field of employment. The BCIT Power Engineering programs provide you with the theory and skills that allow you to take the interprovincial exams to become a certified power engineer.
Certificates range from the entry level of Refrigeration Plant Operator (RPO) and 5th Class to the highest level of 1st Class. The larger the plant, the higher the level of certificate required to operate and manage the facility.
No matter what career path you choose, your education and training at BCIT will open the door to exciting jobs solving a wide range of technical problems in diverse industry settings.
Summary of programs
The BCIT Power Engineering certificate and diploma programs offer the theoretical and practical training that you need to pass the exams for all five levels of power engineer certification, from Fifth Class to First Class (the highest). You can study full-time or part-time, depending on the program you select.
You will gain solid practical, theoretical, and technical knowledge in:
- maintenance of pressurized systems and boilers
- power plant operations and management
- instrumentation and control systems
- thermal engineering
- fluid mechanics
- industrial electronics
- technical communications
Power Engineering General program
This full-time Certificate program gives you the background and required qualifying time that allows you to challenge the exams for interprovincial certification to become a 4th Class Engineer.
Power and Process Engineering Diploma program
The two-year full-time Diploma program provides the background to challenge the exams for interprovincial certification. For purposes of qualifying time, this program reduces the required period of employment to 3 months to become a 3rd Class Power Engineer.
For students who are currently employed in industrial power plants and are interested in obtaining higher levels of certification, BCIT offers home study (correspondence) with online capabilities and tutor assistance. These programs are theoretical training for RPO, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st Class certification exams.
In addition, students completing these courses will need to obtain the required qualifying time in order to challenge the exams for interprovincial certification. For more information on qualifying requirements for class certification, refer to Technical Safety BC
Online BCIT Flexible Learning (formerly Part-time Studies) courses
Do you require certification in Boiler or Refrigeration safety awareness? Are you:
- too busy working
- living in a remote part of BC
- wanting flexible access to BCIT
We have a solution!
BCIT has developed two online courses required to qualify students to write the Boiler or Refrigeration Safety Awareness challenge exams through the Technical Safety BC. Get the theoretical background you require to assist you in achieving your certification in:
Power Engineering Boiler Safety Awareness (POWR 0142)
Power Engineering Refrigeration Safety (POWR 0143)