Power Engineering Technician

Program Overview

This program prepares students for a career as a power engineering technician with a focus on operating and troubleshooting energy components in various industries. After completing this TSSA-accredited program, graduates can earn 4th and 3rd class certification and find employment in power generation plants, schools, and other settings. Through co-op training and hands-on simulations, students gain the skills required for power plant operation and career advancement.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program is designed for individuals seeking employment as power engineering technicians. Graduates will be qualified to operate and troubleshoot energy components in various settings, including industrial power plants, electrical power plants, and commercial buildings. The program covers a wide range of topics related to power engineering, including boilers, turbines, condensers, internal combustion engines, and system monitoring.

Objectives:

• Prepare students to write the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) examinations for 4th and 3rd class certification after 2 years as an operator.
• Provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a power engineering technician in a variety of industries.
• Equip students with the ability to operate, diagnose, troubleshoot, test, and service power plant components.
• Develop students' problem-solving skills in relation to power engineering and plant systems.
• Enhance students' communication skills, including the ability to interpret technical drawings and documents.
• Foster students' understanding of environmental regulations and practices related to power plant operation.
• Prepare students for ongoing professional development and career advancement in the power engineering field.

Program Highlights:

• The program is accredited by TSSA for reduced practical time for 4th and 3rd Class certification.
• St. Clair College will find eligible students their 4th Class & 3rd Class steam time.
• The program features co-operative training and use of a state-of-the-art power systems control room simulator.

Careers:

Graduates of this program will find employment opportunities in various industries, including:

• Power generation plants
• Hospitals
• Municipalities
• Schools
• Process refineries
• Steel mills
• Heating and cooling plants
Potential job titles include:
• Apprentice power dispatcher
• Auxiliary plant operator
• Building systems technician
• Control room operator - electrical power systems
• Distribution control operator - electrical power systems
• Electrical power systems operator
• Power dispatcher - generating station
• Power engineer
• Power plant operator
• Power plant stationary engineer
• Stationary engineer
• System controller - electrical power systems

Other:

• The program follows the Standardized Power Engineers Examination Committee (SOPEEC) syllabus.
• The Operating Engineer certification is recognized across Canada.
• Students must be 18 years of age to write TSSA 4th Class examinations.
• The first TSSA exam takes place between the first and second semester.
• Students must be prepared to go anywhere in Ontario for their work placement, which is unpaid.
• 4th Class placement runs during semester 3 for 3 months, and 3rd Class placement runs during semester 5 for 1 month (May-August).