Program Overview

Environmental Technician (Fast Track) Program

The Environmental Technician program provides a well-rounded background for employment in a wide range of sectors by offering courses in water and air quality, waste management, occupational health and safety, and environmental assessment.

Program Overview

Add to your diploma or degree by developing the essential skills required for employment in the environmental sector and in all facets of the green economy.

Program Details

• Code: 0964FT
• Start Date: September 2026
• Credential: Ontario College Diploma
• Campus: Cornwall
• Program Length: 3 Semesters
• Delivery: Full-Time
• Open for international students

Program Highlights

Students benefit from the College's partnership with the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences. The River Institute, located on the Cornwall Campus, is a centre for scientific research focused on the St. Lawrence River and the surrounding environment.

Program Outline

Semester 1

• ENVI 16: Fresh Water Ecology 1
• ENVI 17: Site Characterization
• ENVI 35: Environmental Analysis 1
• ENVI 37: Environmental Legislation
• ENVI 38: Health and Safety for Environmental Technicians
• MATH 12: Statistics Experimental Design
• ENVI 1000: Environmental Issues and Solutions

Semester 2

• COMP 70: Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
• ENVI 14: Ecological Sampling Techniques
• ENVI 24: Ecotoxicology
• ENVI 26: Microbiology
• ENVI 29: Fresh Water Ecology 2
• ENVI 32: Air Quality
• ENVI 36: Environmental Analysis 2
• ENVI 1001: Solid Waste Management
• ENVI 40: Water Treatment and Distribution

Semester 3

• ENVI 25: Work Placement

Requirements

Admission Requirements

• University degree or college diploma which includes courses in Introductory Biology, Introductory Chemistry, and, at a minimum, an introductory-level college mathematics course.

Placement

The 160 hour work placement offers students the opportunity to observe and experience first-hand the operations, processes and protocols of an environmental technician related workplace environment.

Fees

Canadian Students

• Tuition: $3,456.00 CAD
• Program Fees: $0.00 CAD
• Ancillary Fees: $1,411.37 CAD
• Total: $4,867.37 CAD

International Students

• Tuition: $18,025.00 CAD
• Program Fees: $150.00 CAD
• Ancillary Fees: $1,955.15 CAD
• Total: $20,130.15 CAD

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Environmental Technician program find work in the following areas:

• Environmental consulting firms
• Water and wastewater treatment plants
• Government ministries
• Industry and private companies
• Testing laboratories
• Research institutes
• Conservation authorities

Types of activities you may carry out in these career areas include:

• Sampling air, water, soil, plant, and animal populations
• Testing air, water, and soil samples in the lab
• Assessing areas for environmental impact
• Designing ways to reduce the impact of waste on the environment
• Implementing legislation requirements and health and safety procedures
• Assisting in the design of environmental programs in the public and private sectors
• Preparing reports and proposals
• Entering and analyzing data using computer applications