Program Overview

Power Engineering Technology Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Co-op

Program Description

Power Engineers operate high-energy industrial processes found in power plants in Canada and across the world. Power Engineers ensure that steam production, electrical generation, refrigeration, and gas compression is safe, reliable, and efficient.

As a power engineering student, you will learn in classrooms, labs, and using simulation. In the classroom, you learn about power industry equipment design and the applied sciences that explain how machines work. You will get hands-on experience working in our on-site TSSA registered high-pressure steam power plant. You will operate a steam boiler, a refrigeration chiller, and a steam prime mover. You will also learn practical maintenance skills while working on pumps, compressors, valves, and piping in our power systems lab. You will learn to operate and troubleshoot power plant processes in our power plant simulation lab. On your CO-OP, you will work in industry and apply your academic knowledge.

Power Engineering Technology (Coop) is an approved TSSA Operating (Power) Engineer training program for 4th and 3rd Class certifications. Graduates can complete our program with a nationally recognized power engineering certification, coop work experience, and the skills needed to be successful in the power industry.

Intake Information

• Start date: Fall 2025
• Campus: Owen Sound
• Start date: Summer 2026
• Campus: Owen Sound

Tuition and Fees

• Visit our tuition and fees page for detailed information on the cost to attend Georgian.
• You can afford this! Explore OSAP as well as awards, scholarships, and bursaries to help you pay your way to graduation.

Work-Integrated Learning

• This program includes **co-op work term and field placement components where you will gain practical, hands-on work experience in your field to prepare for your future career.
• Learn about types of work-integrated learning at Georgian.

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, mature student status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)
• Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U)
• And one of:
  • Grade 12 Physics (C or U)
  • Grade 12 Chemistry (C or U)
  • Grade 11 Chemistry (U)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to:

Pathways

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program may find rewarding careers as Power or Operating Engineers in a wide variety of industries.

Graduates may work as Operating Engineers at TSSA regulated facilities such as power generating plants, heating plants, industrial refrigeration, and gas compression facilities. Food processing, manufacturing, and natural resource extraction and processing are areas in which students may find employment.

Power Engineers are also employed in industries such as nuclear power, clean energy, and chemical processing.

Course Overview

• 33 Program Courses
• 2 Communications Courses
• 3 General Education Courses
• 1 Field Placement
• 1 Co-op Work Term

Program-Specific Courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Power Engineering Technology program outline.

• CHEM 1010 – Chemistry and the Environment
• ELEC 1009 – Electricity and Controls
• PENG 1007 – Introduction to Power Engineering
• PENG 1008 – Power Engineering Sciences
• PENG 1013 – Power Plant Communications
• PENG 1014 – Power Plant Simulation 1
• PENG 1019 – Power Plant Essentials
• WETC 1010 – Welding Techniques

Course Delivery Method

In Person

This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.

Learn MORE about program delivery methods

Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.