Certification
Canada has 5 levels of certification for Power Engineers. Continued education, practical experience and an exam are required for each certification level. Each province has its own legislation regulating the requirements for certification.
Standardized test banks used for examinations throughout Canada (excepting Quebec) are developed and maintained by the Standardization of Power Engineer’s Examination Committee (SOPEEC). Visit the SOPEEC website for more information on provincial and standardized certifications.
Opportunity
There is plenty of room to grow in a Power Engineering career path. With the median age of Power Engineers at around 45 and fewer graduates than job vacancies in the industry, there are positions available at every class level across Canada and the demand is only expected to increase.
On completion of a 2-year, full-time program and meeting the requirements to pass provincial certification, an Entry Level Power Engineer (4th Class) can expect to make $25-$30 per hour. Top 1st Class Engineers can make upwards of $200,000 after years or even decades of training and experience.
The 5 levels of Power Engineering Certifications in Canada
1st Class – Can be considered equivalent to Mechanical or Electrical Engineers in theoretical knowledge with the hands-on operating experience and expertise to be in charge of very powerful boilers.
2nd Class – Act as relief for 1st Class Engineers and provide supervision for both engineers and contractors on site.
3rd Class – Perform a lot of maintenance and monitor the efficient operation of Coal, Natural Gas and Bio-energy boilers.
4th Class – Perform a lot of field and monitoring work.
5th Class – Often in charge of refrigeration plants such as ice rinks.
Below is a list of accredited colleges and recognized training providers across Canada organized by province. Please contact us if there is an error or we’re missing a provider at ipenat@nipe.ca
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Contact: Mike Safoniuk
BCIT_assistant_powerengineering@bcit.ca
604-431-4929
College of New Caledonia
Instructor: Stephen Davis
250-562-2131 ext 5234
Northern Lights College
Department Head: Robert McAleney or Jay Cowan
rmcaleney@nlc.bc.ca or jcowan@nlc.bc.ca
250-784-5149
Vancouver Island University
Department Head: Melanie Cousins
Training Providers
Glenn McQuarrie Enterprises
President: Glenn McQuarrie .
604-223-7575
Power Engineering Technology Corporation
ali@campsquamish.com
Recreation Facilities Association of BC
Business Manager: Dan Pagely
1-877-285-3421
Selkirk College
Contact: Bruce McMaster
Skeena Technical School
Contact: N/A
https://www.skeenatechnical.com
TFM Consultants International LTD
Contact: Mike Garcia
778-873-1050
Colleges
Northwestern Polytechnic
Contact: Brent Boutilier
780-835-6794
1-888-539-4772
Keyano College
Contact: Brian Macdougal
780-791-4885
Lakeland College
Contact: Robert Collins or Michelle Armstrong
robert.collins@lakelandcollege.ca or michelle.armstrong@lakelandcollege.ca
780-853-8537
Lethbridge Community College
Contact: Shayne Gurney
shayne.gurney@lethbridgecollege.ab.ca
403-320-3492
Medicine Hat College
Contact: Rakesh Kaushish
403-529-3980
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Contact: Danielle Waroniuk or Lowell Harke
daniellew@nait.ca or lowellh@nait.ca
780-471-7026
Northern Lakes College
Contact: Cherie Friesen
cherie.friesen@northernlakescollege.ca
Resource Technology Training Team
1-888-652-8780 ext 8352
Portage College
Contact: Christine Tredger
christine.tredger@portagecollege.ca
780-623-5626
Red Deer College
Contact: Elaire Frenette
403-342-3442
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Contact: Mitch McNeil
403-284-8031
Calgary Board of Education
Contact: Stan Powers
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society
Contact: Monika Bhandari
Training Providers
George Brychka Boiler Consulting
Contact: George Brychka
gbrychka@yahoo.com
780-513-6747
Power Engineering Preparation Consulting
Contact: Mike Maidens
mike@powerprep.ca
780-946-7457
Colleges
Assiniboine Community College
Contact: Ken Alders
204-725-8700 ext. 6615
Red River College
Contact: Tim Farrell
204-632-2169
River East Transcona
Contact: Gail Bobowski
Training Providers
Westech Energy Training Systems
Contact: Brian Baker
204-775-7744
Colleges
Cambrian College
Contact: Greg Rickard
gregory.rickard@cambriancollege.ca
705-566-8101 ext 7869
Conestoga College
Contact: Mike Diamond
mdiamond@conestogac.on.ca
519-748-5220 ext 3371
Confederation College
Contact: Wesley Grace
wgrace@confederationcollege.ca
807-475-6247
Durham College
Contact: David Beals
david.beals@durhamcollege.ca
Fanshawe College
Contact: Gordon Silverthorn
gsilverthorn@fanshawec.ca
519-426-8260 ext 225
Georgian College
Contact: Jed Gibbons
jed.gibbons@georgiancollege.ca
519-376-0840 ext 2654
Lambton College
Contact: Blair Partington
blair.partington@lambtoncollege.ca
519-542-7751 ext 3206
Mohawk College
Contact: Ross Farrant
ross.farrant@mohawkcollege.ca
905-575-1212 ext 5042
St. Clair College
Contact: Dave Belanger
dbelanger@stclaircollege.ca
519-972-2727 ext 4757
Training Providers
Power Engineering Training Services
President: Mike Phillip
mikep@pwrengtraining.ca
905-827-8770
Colleges
Commission Scolaire René Lévesque
Jean-Yves Savoie
jysavoie@csrl.net
418-364-6619
Riverside School Board
Contact: Erin Linington
450-645-2370 ext 7164
Colleges
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Contact: Les Gulka
les.gulka@saskpolytech.ca
306-798-8045
Carlton Trail College
Contact: Kevin Ackerman
ackermank@carltontrailcollege.com
Great Plains College
Contact: Darlene Anton
darlenea@greatplainscollege.ca
Parkland Regional College
Contact: Dale Holstein
Southeastern Regional College
Contact: Duane Chipley, Gloria Stevenson
gstevenson@southeastcollege.org
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology
Contact: Rushikesh Patel, Wayne Toney
Sunwest School Group
Contact: Guy Tetrault