Overview
Learn to manage and dispense parts inventories, handle stock, identify and catalogue parts and assemblies in a variety of industries like automotive, heavy-duty, farm implement, industrial, recreational vehicles, plumbing, electrical and more.
If you like a variety of work, working with people, working in their area of expertise and participating in a customer’s success, you will enjoy a career as a parts technician. Parts technicians may be responsible for stock handling, identifying and cataloging parts and assemblies as well as ordering, receiving, inspecting, sorting, pricing and selling, depending on business areas.
The specific duties a parts technician performs depend upon the size of the wholesale, retail or warehouse distribution business and the types of parts involved. Some businesses specialize in one line of equipment such as a particular line of automotive parts. Others stock parts for several makes of machinery as well as a wide variety of hardware supplies.
In general, you will:
- sell supplies and parts
- order parts and keeps inventories
- receive supplies and store them according to a prearranged system
- organize and ship exchange parts and returns
- keep price lists and catalogues updated
- prepares statements
- submit bills
- maintain records
- receive payments
Materials technicians may be employed in many different settings and work with a wide variety of materials.
This is a non-compulsory trade — individuals can work in the trade without certification if the employer deems the individual to have the skills of a journeyperson. However, individuals who are working in the trade and learning the trade must become a registered apprentice.
Is this the right fit for me?
To be successful in their trade, parts technicians must have:
- the ability to deal effectively and courteously with the public even in difficult situations
- basic math skills
- strength, stamina and the ability to use proper lifting techniques to lift items up to 18 kilograms
- the ability to pay careful attention to details such as parts catalogues and electronic inventory systems.
Credentials
Upon successfully completing the required working hours and apprenticeship education periods, graduates will be awarded journeyperson status by Alberta's Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
This is a Red Seal Endorsed trade — 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. Parts technicians are employed by wholesale and retail businesses and warehouse distributors that deal with all types of parts. Apprentice parts technicians may begin working as stock or receiving clerks or drivers. As they become acquainted with the different parts and their applications and the stockroom system, they may be promoted to parts counter positions.
Experienced parts technicians who have business and technical experience may advance to supervisory positions such as parts department manager, store manager or even store owner. With some sales experience, parts technicians can move into sales representative positions.
Some journeypersons go on to run their own contracting business – we can help you build your business with our Blue Seal business certificate.
Admission requirements
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
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 apprenticeship education 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.
When do classes start?
Registration for the 2022/23 academic year opens May 18, 2022.
| Period | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sept. 13, 2022 | June 6, 2023 |
| 1 | Oct. 26, 2022 | May 31, 2023 |
| 3 | Oct. 27, 2022 | June 1, 2023 |
Training
The term of apprenticeship for a parts technician is three years (three 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training for each year, 6 weeks of apprenticeship education in the first and third years and 8 weeks of apprenticeship education in the second.
apprenticeship education performance
To be successful in apprenticeship education, 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 provincial exam Exam and the Interprovincial Qualification (or Red Seal Exam) is 70%.
Costs 2022/23
Tuition and fees*
| Period | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $720 | $231 | $54 | $1,005 |
| 2 | $720 | $231 | $54 | $1,005 |
| 3 | $720 | $231 | $54 | $1,005 |
SAIT fees
Campus recreation fee: $49
Lab and material fee: $82
Student support fee: $50
Student technology fee: $50
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.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees*
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023.
| Period | Number of weeks | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
| 2 | 8 | $1,056 | $247 | $72 | $1,375 |
| 3 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
Fees breakdown
| SAIT fees | Cost per period |
|---|---|
| Lab and materials fee | $90 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 |
| Campus recreation fee | $51.50 |
| Total | $247 |
Saitsa fee per week: $9
Learn more about what your fees are for
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.
