The Two Programs Available
Decide which program is right for you
There are two fourth-class power engineering courses available at BCIT: the Technical Program and the General Program.
The General Program
The General Program provides you with the skills and knowledge to become a fourth-class power engineer. It is for individuals who do not have the prerequisites for the technical program. Except for the matha and physics components, the general program is similar to the technical program.
The program is one year in length and provides the neccessary qualifying time and training for the fourth-class BC Safety Authority exams.
The prerequisites are:
- High school graduation
- English 12
- Technical Math 11
The Technical Program
The Technical Program is for individuals with good math skills (with entry level calculus recomended). It lays the foundation for acquiring a third-class certification and beyond. It is also a prerequisite for the Power and Process Program.
This program is also one year in length and provides the neccessary qualifying time and training for the fourth-class BC Safety Authority exams.
The prerequisites are:
- High school graduation
- English 12
- Technical Math 12
- Physics 12
The Power and Process Program
Individuals who complete the Technical Program are eligable for the Power and Process Program. This program provides part of the qualifying time and all the training for the third-class BC Safety Authority exams as well as training for the first two second-class exams.
The prerequisites are:
- Completion of the Technical Program
Other Suggested Skills
The prerequisites listed above are the minimum required to gain acceptance into the respective programs. Individuals have benefited from the following skills:
- Being physically fit (some valves are pretty stubborn)
- Good skills in chemistry (water treatment processes and water treatment tests)
- Excellent communication skills
- Experience in woodshop or metal shop
- The ability to visualize how a process works
- Good drawing skills (drafting and instrumentation diagrams)