Program Overview

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Environmental Technician

Credential

Ontario College Diploma

Duration

Four semesters

Start Date(s)

No Upcoming Intakes

Locations

Belleville

Open to

• International Students
• Domestic Students

CIP Code

15.0507

Find your career

Everyone’s going green and there have never been so many opportunities to combat environmental contamination through prevention, pollution abatement, waste reduction and public education. Graduates find opportunities:

• Working within industries to reduce and clean up waste.
• Conducting environmental investigations and enforcement for government agencies.
• Monitoring water and wastewater treatment and safe drinking water for municipalities.
• Providing technical support to consulting engineers, urban and rural planners and environmental consultants.
• Students acquire skills in assessment of freshwater bodies using Ontario stream assessment protocols (OSAP and OBBN).
• Grads are prepared for certification in the Ministry of the Environment’s entry-level course for drinking water operators.

Our grads get great jobs

• Environmental Technician, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.
• Soil Tester, Matrix Solutions
• Environmental Lab Technician, SGS Canada
• Water and Sewer Plant Operator, Prince Edward County
• Environmental Technologist, The Greer Galloway Group Inc.
• Relief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, Town of Smiths Falls
• Assistant Watershed Monitoring Technician, Lower Trent Conservation Authority
• Source Protection Outreach Lead, Quinte Conservation Authority
• Biosciences Lab Technician, Loyalist College
• Supervisor of Compliance, Water and Wastewater Services, Corporation of the County of Prince Edward

Is it for you?

Students who thrive in this program:

• Want to get hands-on experience in practical settings.
• Can work both independently and collaboratively with others.
• Are passionate about the environment.
• Have strong skills in math and science.
• Enjoy working outdoors and/or in laboratory settings.
• Have strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Want to get hands-on experience in practical settings.

How you'll learn

Prepare to get your hands dirty! Loyalist offers real-world learning for real-world problems – featuring extensive fieldwork and instruction with technologies of the future in the newly equipped Bay of Quinte Skills Centre:

• Sample natural environments and analyze environmental contaminants to develop remediation plans/solutions for impacted environments.
• Get hands-on experience in leading-edge environmental facilities, including well-equipped field biology and instrumentation labs.
• Understand the underlying social and environmental systems that contribute to pollutants in water/wastewater, soil and air. Combine this knowledge and related-field experience to apply for the highly sought after Water/Wastewater Operator-in-Training (OIT) license in your final semester.
• Learn to apply current legislation under the Environmental Protection Act.

Certifications

Earn certifications while you study.

• Ontario Water Wastewater Certification
• MOE Entry Level Drinking Water Operator Certification

Outstanding staff make the difference

• Learn with active, involved faculty who are committed to students’ success by focusing on student-focused adult-education practices that address a variety of learning styles.
• The teaching labs were set up by a program coordinator who brings 15 years of experience as a research geneticist working in three different countries.
• Passionate professors incorporating emerging trends, techniques, technologies, and Indigenous knowledge and approaches to sampling, analyzing, monitoring, and improving environmental systems ensure students will be prepared for the evolving landscape of environmental technicians.
• Get on-demand help with our stellar equitable learning advisor (an alumni of the program) and our senior faculty team to navigate life’s unexpected events to be as successful as possible in your education – whatever that looks like for you.

Courses

Semester One

• BIOS1013 Cell Biology Lab
• BIOS1012 Cell Biology Lecture
• COMM1068 Communications
• CHEM1019 Introduction to Applied Chemistry-Lab
• CHEM1018 Introduction to Applied Chemistry-Lecture
• CHEM1017 Introduction to Organic Compounds
• MATH1003 Mathematics for Biosciences 1
• BIOS1010 Sustainability

Semester Two

• CHEM1016 Applied Chemistry 2-Lab
• CHEM1015 Applied Chemistry 2-Lecture
• CHEM1013 Applied Organic Chem Techniques
• BIOS1001 Introduction to Microbiology
• CHEM1017 Introduction to Organic Compounds
• MATH1004 Mathematics for Biosciences 2
• BIOS1002 Organismal Biology & Taxonomy
• BIOS1007 Technical Communications in Biosciences
• GNED1100 Becoming a Global Changemaker

Semester Three

• MATH2002 Data Analysis 1
• ENVR2011 Environmental Chemical Analysis
• BIOS2008 Habitat Management and Assessment
• ENVR2000 Hydrology and Watershed Management
• ENVR3004 Introduction to Geomatics
• BIOS2000 Microbiology
• GNED General Education Elective

Semester Four

• ENVR2010 Environmental Instrumentation
• ENVR2008 Environmental Protection Legislation
• BIOS2014 Freshwater Ecology
• ENVR2009 Hydrogeology and Sampling Methodology
• WKPL2089 Industry Research &Career Prep
• ENVR2005 Waste Management
• ENVR2006 Water/Wastewater Treatment
• GNED General Education Elective

Admission requirements

Required academic preparation

• OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, AND
• Grade 12 English (C) level or equivalent

OR

• Mature applicant

Recommended academic preparation

• Biology and Chemistry at the (C), (U) or general level

Advanced standing

Applicants with a related degree or diploma may be considered for advanced standing or direct entry into second year. Learn more about credit transfer and advanced standing.

Academic upgrading

Are you missing admission requirements? Discover how Career and College Prep at Loyalist can help you get started on your journey.

International students

Learn more about admission requirements for international applicants, including English language proficiency requirements, and how to apply.

Costs

Domestic students

Approximate costs (2024 – 25)

• Domestic Tuition: $2,722.08
• Full-Time Ancillary Fees: $1,367
• Total: $4,089.08

Additional costs, such as supplies, travel and parking, may be incurred during workplace visits, etc.

International students

Approximate costs (2024 – 25)

• International Tuition: $15,000
• Full-Time Ancillary Fees: $1,367
• Mandatory Health Insurance: $659
• Total: $17,026

Additional costs, such as supplies, travel and parking, may be incurred during workplace visits, etc.

Further study

What’s next?

Build on the knowledge and skills you learned at Loyalist by continuing your academic journey. Continue your studies in year three of the Environmental Technology program. Or, fast-track to a second diploma with just one additional year of study in:

• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering Technician

Pathways and university transfer

Receive credit recognition for your Loyalist studies when pursuing a degree at a university. Explore pathway opportunities.

Register with OACETT

Graduates are encouraged to register with the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT). Discover the benefits of being a member.

Related programs

• Environmental Technology
• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering Technician