$30 - $60
Average hourly wage
Next information session
Overview
Learn how to maintain, repair and overhaul heavy vehicles, transport trailers, heavy-duty off-road vehicles and industrial equipment.
If you enjoy mechanics, precise work and problem solving, you'll enjoy working as a Heavy Equipment Technician. You'll interpret orders, diagnose faults and malfunctions before adjusting equipment or repairing and replacing defective parts or systems.
In Alberta, you may specialize as transport-trailer mechanics, truck and transport mechanics, heavy-duty equipment mechanic (off-road) or an overall heavy equipment technician.
- Transport trailer mechanics: transport trailer mechanics maintain, repair and overhaul commercial transport devices that are connected to or moved by a power unit. They provide maintenance and repair flat decks, dry freight vans, refrigerated vans, tankers, converters, boosters, pole trailers, jeeps, steering dollies, dump trailers and other commercial pull-type devices.
- Truck and transport mechanics: truck and transport mechanics maintain, repair and overhaul on-highway vehicles. They will work on internal combustion engines and components, on-highway vehicles including buses and trucks, towed on-highway and off-highway vehicles including semi-trailers.
- Heavy equipment technician (off-road): heavy-duty equipment mechanics (off-road) maintain, repair and overhaul heavy equipment vehicles and industrial equipment that is off-road. They will repair internal combustion engines and components, crawler tractors, ground engaging equipment, earth moving equipment, off-highway motor vehicles and towed off-highway vehicles.
- Heavy equipment technician (overall): heavy equipment technicians are trained to work on transport trailers, trucks and transport vehicles and off-road vehicles. They will maintain, repair and overhaul heavy vehicles and industrial equipment in a variety of settings.
This is a compulsory trade - to work in this trade you need to hold a recognized trade certificate or be a registered apprentice.
Is this the right fit for me?
Students who have the following characteristics see greater success in the heavy equipment trade:
- good vision, hearing and sense of smell to diagnose problems
- the strength and stamina required to work with heavy equipment and work in cramped or awkward positions
- comfort in working alone or with a team
- mechanical ability and an interest in all types of machinery, engines, electronics and precision equipment
- the ability to problem solve, think logically and keep current with the changes in technology
- a valid driver’s license is required to operate equipment for testing purposes
Credentials
Upon successfully completing the required working hours and technical training periods, graduates will be awarded journeyperson status by Alberta's Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Heavy equipment technicians and their specialties are Red Seal Endorsed trades –a recognizable standard that allows tradespeople to work across Canada.
Career opportunities
Start your career by finding an employer who is willing to indenture you as an apprentice or gain experience with our Diesel Equipment Technician program.
As a heavy equipment technician, you will be employed by specialized repair shops and organizations that own or lease heavy equipment used in the construction, mining, forest, materials handling, landscaping, land clearing, agricultural and transport industries. You will likely work in industrial sites, construction sites, large shops designed to house the heavy vehicles and equipment and some work in modern laboratories. You may work indoors and outdoors depending on the project and your employer may have travel requirements.
After becoming a journeyperson, you may move into management positions. Some journeypersons go on to run their own businesses – we can help you build your business with our Blue Seal business certificate.
4
Periods of training
Tuition and fees per year*
Year 1: $1,033.92
Year 2: $1,033.92
Year 3: $1,033.92
Year 4: $1,033.92
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change
Requirements
The program requirements are set by Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
When can you apply?
- Registration for apprenticeship intakes opens August 2020
Immersive technologies used in SAIT classrooms
Students at SAIT expand their classroom experiences through extended reality.
Admission and completion
To enter an apprenticeship, you must have the educational qualifications required or recommended education for the trade to which you apply.
Entrance Requirements are monitored and set by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Minimum requirements
Successful completion of the following courses:
- English 10-2
- Math 10-3
- Science 10
OR
A pass mark in all five Canadian General Educational Development (GED) tests
OR
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Entrance Exam
Recommended Path
Apprentices with an Alberta High School Diploma that includes the following courses:
- English 30-2
- Math 30-3
- Physics 20 OR Chemistry 20 OR Science 20
- Related career and technology studies (CTS) courses
How to register
Registration for technical training is run through Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Learn how you can register for your next intake.
Apprenticeship and Industry Training Client Services
1.800.248.4823
tradesecrets.alberta.ca
Suite 200 Willow Park Centre
10325 Bonaventure DR. SE
Calgary, AB
After you register
Email is the primary source of communication after you have registered for your intake. Please ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
Courses
Depending on the specialization, apprentices will spend two to four periods of technical training and work experience before becoming a journeyperson. See below for an outline of each period.
Common to all
| Find an employer willing to indenture you as an apprentice |
| Apply as an apprentice with AIT and your employer |
| Sign contract and receive record book |
| Written entrance examination or get approved for previous transcripts |
Heavy Equipment Technician - Transport Trailer Mechanics
| Complete first period of on-the-job-training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Attend first period of technical trainingfor 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Pass first period Trade Qualification Exam |
| Complete second period of on-the-job training (1500 hours) |
| Become a Journeyperson |
Heavy Equipment Technician - Truck and Transport Mechanics
| Complete first period of on-the-job-training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Complete first period of technical training for 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Complete second period of on-the-job training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Complete second period of technical training for 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Complete third period of on-the-job training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Complete third period of technical training for 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Become a Journeyperson |
| Write and pass the Interprovincial Qualification Exam |
Heavy Equipment Technician - Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics (off road)
| Complete first period of on-the-job-training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Complete first period of technical training for 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Complete second period of on-the-job training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Complete second period of technical training for 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Complete third period of on-the-job training (1500 hours) |
| Complete third period of technical training at SAIT (8 weeks) - the curriculum is different from the third year of truck and transport mechanics |
| Become a Journeyperson |
| Write and pass the Interprovincial Qualification Exam |
Heavy Equipment Technician
| Complete first period of on-the-job-training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Complete first period of technical trainingfor 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Complete second period of on-the-job training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Complete second period of technical training for 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Complete third period of on-the-job training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Complete third period of technical training for 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Complete fourth period of on-the-job training (1500 hours) |
| Register at SAIT |
| Complete fourth period of technical training for 8 weeks at SAIT |
| Become a Journeyperson |
| Write and pass the Interprovincial Qualification Exam |
Technical Training Performance
To be successful in technical training, an apprentice must pass each section of the course and pass the AIT exam. The passing grade for each section in the course is a 65%. A passing mark on each Trade Qualification Exam and the Interprovincial Qualification (or Red Seal Exam) is 70%.
Costs
Domestic tuition and fees*
| Period | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Lab & Material fees | 2020/21 total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $840 | $50 | $71.92 | $72 | $1,033.92 |
| 2 | $840 | $50 | $71.92 | $72 | $1,033.92 |
| 3 | $840 | $50 | $71.92 | $72 | $1,033.92 |
| 4 | $840 | $50 | $71.92 | $72 | $1,033.92 |
SAIT Fees
Student support fee: $25
Student technology fee: $25
Books and supplies*
- Books or modules along with other items for class average out to $600 per period.
- It is recommended that you do not purchase books or modules ahead of time as they might be outdated by the time you attend classes and they cannot be returned to the bookstore.
- Personal Protective Equipment will be required for the program, which may be an additional cost to apprentices.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Wellness centre
Membership to the SAIT Wellness centre - including an ice arena, swimming/diving pool, gymnasium, squash and racquetteball courts and eight room is available to apprentices at a discounted rate.
Financial planning tool
Our apprenticeship cost calculator can help you make a financial plan by identifying and adding up your expected expenses while attending SAIT — find out exactly how much money you need to save, seek or borrow to get you through your studies.