Power Engineering Technology Diploma

Program Overview

The Power Engineering Technology Diploma is a two-year program that prepares students for certification as 3rd class power engineers. Through hands-on learning and comprehensive training, students gain expertise in operating, maintaining, and inspecting power systems and equipment in various industrial and commercial settings. The program emphasizes safety and prepares graduates for careers as power plant operators, maintenance technicians, and more. International students are welcome, and credits can be laddered towards advanced programs.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Power Engineering Technology Diploma is a two-year program designed to prepare students for a career as a certified 3rd class power engineer. The program focuses on the details of power engineering, maintenance, and operation, equipping students to work in various industrial and commercial settings, including oil and gas, mining, pulp and paper, food processing, agriculture, hospitals, cities, power plants, manufacturing, and more. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, with practical exercises and scenarios reinforcing classroom knowledge. Students will learn to operate and maintain pumps, compressors, generators, and pressure vessels, as well as prepare, test, and inspect equipment found in large facilities, buildings, industrial power plants, processing plants, and thermal electric generating stations. The program follows the Standardized Power Engineers Examination Committee (SOPECC) material, ensuring students are well-prepared for the Technical Standards and Technical Safety BC exams required for 4th and 3rd class power engineering certification.

Outline:

The program is structured into two years:

• Year 1: Covers the material required for the 4th class power engineer exams.
This is the same material covered in the one-year 4th Class Certificate program. Students with existing 4th class certification from a provincial safety authority will receive credit for the first year and enter the second year of the program.
• Year 2: Builds upon the knowledge gained in the first year and prepares students for the 3rd class power engineer exams.

Teaching:

The program emphasizes hands-on learning, with practical exercises and scenarios reinforcing classroom knowledge. Students gain experience in the comprehensive steam power training plant, which features two 150lb steam boilers, a steam turbine generator, condensers, and auxiliary equipment. The boilers produce 10,000lbs of steam per hour, driving a 50kw steam turbine generator to produce heat and power utilized by the TRU campus. Students also gain hands-on experience with two types of gas-fired steam boilers: Watertube and Firetube.

Careers:

Graduates of the Power Engineering Technology Diploma program are qualified to work as certified 3rd class power engineers in various industrial and commercial settings. Potential career paths include:

• Power Plant Operator: Operating and maintaining power generation equipment in various industries.
• Maintenance Technician: Performing preventative maintenance and troubleshooting on power systems and equipment.
• Process Engineer: Optimizing and controlling industrial processes involving power generation and utilization.
• Safety Officer: Ensuring compliance with safety regulations and standards in power engineering environments.

Other:

• The program is open to international students.
• Students can ladder their credits earned in the Power Engineering Technology Diploma program towards related certificates, diplomas, and degrees, such as the Bachelor of Technology, which focuses on management and leadership.
• The program schedule runs from early October through to April, with class hours from Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.