Overview
The Sustainable Energy Management Advanced Certificate (SEMAC) program is a partnership between BC Hydro, FortisBC and BCIT, with initial funding support from the Natural Resources Canada – Office of Energy Efficiency. The program is designed to support employment opportunities in the emerging field of sustainable energy management, with focus on the energy demands of commercial, institutional, industrial and community facilities.
The target audience for this advanced certificate are those that are interested in expanding their knowledge and initiatives into sustainable energy management or are interested in changing careers.
The SEMAC program is a completely online part-time studies program that will provide graduates with the skills and knowledge of sustainable energy management principles, approaches, techniques, and tools, in order to be able to function quickly and effectively in the energy management industry. Energy management is the practice of energy conservation, in short making sure that industry is only using the energy it needs and that that energy is being used as efficiently as possible. This program consists of nine courses that cover the technical aspects of energy management along with the business aspects and human behavior aspects. This holistic program provides graduates with a well-rounded base for succeeding in the energy management industry.
The program will use lectures and self-guided learning as the primary method to develop the knowledge and applied skills of the learners. Learning methodologies will also include case studies, project work, group collaboration, and student presentations.
Missed an info session?
If you’ve missed a Sustainable Energy Management information session, you can watch the program overview and the Q&A session Note: This information session was held April 13, 2016 and topics discussed in this session are subject to change without notice.
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Entrance Requirements
Application processing
Note: This program is under review and will not accept applications at this time. For more information, please contact zeb@bcit.ca.
Entrance requirements
This program has a two-step admission process. Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first qualified basis as long as space remains.
Step 1: Pre-entry assessment
Applicants are required to complete a pre-entry assessment form to review their work experience and how they meet the entrance requirements.
- Applicants that do not meet all entrance requirements may receive a study plan indicating required pre-entry courses.
The pre-entry assessment can be completed and emailed to BCIT_SEMAC@bcit.ca
You can apply if you have had the pre-entry assessment and have completed any necessary pre-entry courses. A completed pre-entry assessment form from the program area must be uploaded to complete your application.
Step 2: Meet the following entrance requirements
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
- Math: one of the following options:
- Pre-Calculus 11 (67%) or
- Foundations of Math 11 (67%) or
- Workplace Math 11 (67%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses
- Post-secondary: one of the following:
- Recognized diploma or degree in a related field (e.g. civil engineering, building, construction management, electrical engineering, business, facilities management, mechanical engineering, operations management) or
- Interprovincial Red Seal in a related trade (e.g. instrumentation and control technician, industrial electrician)
- Recognized diploma or degree in a related field (e.g. civil engineering, building, construction management, electrical engineering, business, facilities management, mechanical engineering, operations management) or
- Five years of work experience
Applicants who have completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Credential evaluation reports from other Canadian services may be considered. These reports must include course-by-course evaluations and GPA calculations.
Recommended for success
Applicants are expected to be proficient with word processing, spreadsheet programs and file management.
Although not mandatory, prior work experience in the fields of facilities, energy, business, trades, and/or project management would be greatly beneficial for the on-the-job success of SEMAC graduates.
Professional development
Subject to departmental approval and course availability, students may take up to three courses for professional development without having to first apply to the program. A minimum of a diploma or equivalent work experience is required. Applicants will have to either take CESA 5100 - Energy Basics or show that they have the equivalent background before permission is granted to register in any of the courses. Please contact BCIT_SEMAC@bcit.ca for more information.
International applicants
This program is available to international applicants who will complete the program from outside Canada or who currently have a valid status in Canada other than study permit. International applicants accepted into this program are not eligible for a study permit.
Apply to program
Note: This program is under review and will not accept applications at this time. For more information, please contact zeb@bcit.ca.
Scheduled Intakes
September each year.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT email addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We will send you an email when a new message is posted. It is important to watch for these emails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
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Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information on domestic and international tuitions.
Books & supplies
$500 (general estimated cost, subject to change)
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Courses
Class hours
Students enroll in one course at a time.
For each course in the program there will be a requirement to log in to the course via Desire to Learn (D2L) during one evening a week. During these times, there may be a lecture, guest lecturer and/or class discussions. For the rest of the week, students will work at their own pace to complete the weekly assignments or tasks. Though self-paced, each course will have set timelines for the completion of assignments and quizzes.
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Required Courses: | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
CESA 5100 | Energy Basics | 2.5 | |
CESA 5300 | Energy Systems | 4.0 | |
CESA 5400 | Operations Management | 4.0 | |
CESA 5500 | Codes and Standards | 1.0 | |
CESA 5600 | Energy Audit | 2.5 | |
CESA 5700 | Decision Making | 2.5 | |
CESA 5800 | Change Management | 2.5 | |
CESA 5850 | Strategic Planning for Energy Management | 2.5 | |
CESA 5900 | Project Development | 2.5 | |
Total Credits: | 24.0 |
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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- Next up Program Details
Program Details
Program delivery
Online: This program is delivered fully online.
Program location
Courses are offered through online learning.
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Graduating & Jobs
Job opportunities
Although the program is aimed at filling BC Hydro’s need for energy managers and Fortis BC’s need for Energy Specialists, additional opportunities exist for graduates in the many governmental energy or energy-related (including GHG) agencies:
- Non-profit sector employment (e.g. working to educate the population or auditing for other NGOs)
- Specialized sales representative understanding the reality of the energy manager working with BC Hydro. They could be working for:
- Energy management software manufacturers / distributors (e.g. Pulse Energy)
- Building systems and controls manufacturers / distributors – small or big (e.g. Honeywell)
- Other companies in the energy sector (e.g. Nexterra)
- Energy manager / project manager / sales representative for the big ESCO players (e.g. Honeywell, Johnson Controls)
- Energy manager in other sectors (e.g. engineering consultant)
- Educator (e.g. corporate training)
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
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- Next up Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
zeb@bcit.ca
Advisory committee
- Alicia Hearn, Fortis BC
- Caroline Jackson, City of North Vancouver
- Darla Simpson, SES Consulting
- Graham Henderson, BC Hydro
- Homay Khatami, Stantec
- Luke Ferdinands, Energy Advantage Inc.
- Michael Urbas, Great Canadian Casinos
- Peter Love, Love Energy Consultants Inc.
- Robert Greenwald, Prism Engineering
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the online program work?
- How long is the program and what is the course schedule?
- How much time per week do I need to spend on the program?
- Do I get to meet my classmates in person?
- Can I just take a few courses or do I have to take the whole program?
- What kinds of jobs can I get when I graduate from this program?
- How many energy manager and specialist positions are currently available?
- What kinds of networking opportunities are there for me in this program?
- How much does this program cost and is there financial aid?
How does the online program work?
The SEMAC program consists of nine courses. The length of a course can differ from five weeks to fifteen weeks, depending on the number of credits. When each course starts you log into D2L, BCIT’s online learning system. You work through the content by yourself but often have group assignments. Your instructor is there to answer questions, run live webinar sessions, moderate discussion forums and support you in your learning. Quizzes and exams are taken online as well. The scheduled live webinar sessions with your instructors are usually no more than two hours per week in the evening. These sessions are recorded so that you can also watch them at a later date.
How long is the program and what is the course schedule?
It takes approximately 16 months to complete the program. Courses run from September to June, with a break for Christmas. You then take a two-month summer break during July and August. Courses start again in September and finish in December. During this time you will be taking two courses at all times.
How much time per week do I need to spend on the program?
This depends on the course and how many courses you have each semester. For example, the first course is a 36 hour course and it is offered over 10 weeks. On average, you should expect up to 3 hours of homework and readings on top of your class time. A 36 hour course would require a maximum of 144 hours over 10 weeks. Expect to spend between 6 to 14 hours a week to complete this course.
Do I get to meet my classmates in person?
Students have, in the past, organized informal social events with other students in the program to help stay in touch.
We also love to see students attend convocation after the have graduated, this can be a great celebration and networking opportunity for the cohort.
Can I just take a few courses or do I have to take the whole program?
The SEMAC program is best taken in sequence, starting with CESA 5100 in the fall. If you intend to take the program we highly suggest you take it in order.
Some students come from backgrounds where they already have quite a bit of experience with energy management. Quite often these students are presently employed as energy management professionals. They might be looking for some specific courses to improve or refresh their skill set and if so, may be allowed to take “one-off classes” with permission from the Program Head.
What kinds of jobs can I get when I graduate from this program?
This program was originally designed to allow people with the correct background and experience to be hired into the Energy Manager and Energy Specialist programs at BC Hydro and FortisBC. Some of our graduates have gone into these roles over the past few years. Many other individuals work in various supporting fields of energy management.
The following are examples of job titles of past students:
- Energy Specialist/Manager/Director
- Energy and Sustainability Manager
- Energy Engineer
- Maintenance Manager
- Project/Sales Manager
- Technical Sales Manager
- Senior Consultant
- Business Energy Advisor
The following organizations are examples of where students have found work:
- Institutions
- Consulting Firms
- Health Care
- Industrial Manufacturing
- Non-Profit Associations
- Municipalities
- Hospitality Industry
- Private Consulting Business
Additional opportunities exist for graduates:
- Non-profit sector employment
- Specialized sales representative understanding the reality of the energy manager working with BC Hydro and FortisBC
- Building systems and controls manufacturers / distributors
- Other companies in the energy sector
- Energy manager / project manager / sales representative for the big ESCOs
- Energy manager in other sectors (e.g. engineering consultant)
- Educator (e.g. corporate training)
How many energy manager and specialist positions are currently available?
This number is constantly in flux. Please take a look at BC Hydro and FortisBC’s web pages to learn more.
BC Hydro – Energy Managers
FortisBC
- Energy Specialists
(this link provides a list of the existing energy specialist positions)
What kinds of networking opportunities are there for me in this program?
The program offers many optional networking opportunities with industry over its 16 month duration. Most are offered in the last few months of the program as students begin to plan the next steps in their careers.
How much does this program cost and is there financial aid?
The total cost of the program in 2021 is approximately $6250. This cost includes the cost of text books and will go up each year. Payments are made as each course is started rather than as a lump sum at the beginning of the program.
This program is not eligible for financial aid through BCIT’s financial aid office.
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