This four year program consists of eight weeks each year of classroom instruction, and a minimum of 1,500 hours of on-the-job training per period of classroom instruction. Learn about engine and electrical fundamentals and systems for trucks and trailers and more from licensed Journeyperson faculty and industry experts. In this program you can choose to specialize in Off-Road or On-Road Heavy Equipment.
This is a designated trade with restricted activities.
There are equivalencies between the Agricultural Equipment Technician (AET) and Heavy Equipment Technician (HET) trades. AET Period 2 is equivalent to HET Period 2 and AET Period 4 is equipment to HET Period 3. Apprentices may choose to pursue their dual trade certification.
Off-Road Topics include: Advanced hydraulics; off-road steering and suspension systems and accessories; and off-road powertrains.
On-Road Topics include: On-road powertrains; steering and antilock brake systems; air conditioning; and vehicle electrical diagnosis and failure analysis.
This is a Red Seal trade. Apprentices who have obtained Journeyperson certification are encouraged to write the national standard exam. The Red Seal, when affixed to a provincial or territorial trade certificate, indicates that a tradesperson has demonstrated the knowledge required for the national standard in that trade. The Red Seal endorsement promotes excellence to employers, instills pride in skilled workers, and facilitates labour mobility.
When you graduate from your apprenticeship education program, you will earn an Advanced Diploma. A credential in a designated trade also qualifies you for an Alberta Journeyperson Certificate, which authorizes you to work unsupervised in your trade. You'll receive both at the same time.
Note: Heavy Equipment has a number of designated trades within the four periods and these receive different education credentials - please refer to AIT’s Education Credential Framework for more information.
Please visit Alberta’s Apprenticeship & Industry Training website to Begin an Apprenticeship.
Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.
Alberta Apprenticeship & Industry Training – Heavy Equipment Technician:
First Period Training Topics include: Standard workplace safety, materials, and tools; oxy-acetylene heating and cutting; suspensions, wheel, and systems for trucks and trailers; hydraulics and hydraulic brake systems; electrical systems and electronics; and air brakes.
Second Period Training Topics include: Engine fundamentals, service, and repair; engine systems; diesel fuel injection systems; electronics fuel management; and heavy duty charging and cranking systems.
Third Period Off-road Training Topics include: Advanced hydraulics; off-road steering and suspension systems and accessories; and off-road powertrains.
Fourth Period On-road Training Topics include: On-road powertrains; steering and antilock brake systems; air conditioning; and vehicle electrical diagnosis and failure analysis.
Heavy equipment technicians maintain, repair and overhaul heavy vehicles and industrial heavy equipment, and commercial transport devices connected to or moved by a power unit. Heavy equipment technicians are employed by specialized repair shops and organizations that own or lease heavy equipment used in the construction, mining, forestry, material handling, landscaping, land clearing, and agriculture and transportation industries.
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology with the following technology:
As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
The following items are required:
You will be required to purchase "tool chips" at a cost of $50. These tool chips allow you to use specialized tools out of the tool room and also include the cost of shop towels, locker rentals and supplies that will be used in the lab classes. At the end of the year, $20 will be refunded if you return all of your tool chips.
Safety Regulations: Wearing safety equipment and abiding by industry safety standards is mandatory within our program.
Apprenticeship ILMs: We use the Apprenticeship ILMs (Individual Learning Modules) as our reference material. These modules take the place of textbooks and are available at the Olds College Campus Store at 1.800.661.6537 or 403.556.4630. They are packaged by classroom instruction period.
Employment Insurance: Information on applying for Employment Insurance benefits is provided in your MyTradesecrets account
