This skilled job involves the operation of power processes, which can include pumps, instrumentation, air compressors and refrigeration. The work is divided into various skill levels (classes), with First Class representing the highest level of achievement and Fourth Class referring to entry-level standard.
Completing a post-secondary training and gaining sufficient working experience enables workers to move from one class to the next. Opportunities exist in both the private and public sector, and graduates may find themselves working in a wide variety of environments, such as refineries, electric utilities, bottling companies and food processing plants.
The College of the North Atlantic provides Fourth Class training programmes for undergraduates wishing to enter the field. After a suitable period of employment, Fourth Class mechanics can then take the college’s Third Class course. Alternatively, there is a three-year Mechanical Engineering Technology course that provides Third Class power certification. Power engineers generally receive average salaries of C
$63,000, but these can be as high as C
$85,000 in Ontario.