12-week course
This 12 week course is comprised of 3 programs running consecutively – Road Building Foundation, Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) and Specialized Equipment – and is aimed at those interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator.
The Foundation Program is a three-week course that provides students with an introduction to the road building industry. It provides a valuable overview of career opportunities, safety practices, an orientation to job site operations, equipment, tools, operations and maintenance as well as providing a fundamental introduction to civil engineering. Students earn a number of credentials including Level 1 First Aid, Traffic Control Person and WHMIS. This program is also a prerequisite for entry into the Heavy Equipment Operator Technician (HEO) apprenticeship.
The Heavy Equipment Operator Technician program is an apprenticeship designated by the Industry Training Authority (ITA). The program combines two weeks of in-class theory instruction covering the following six pieces of heavy equipment: articulating rock truck (ART), backhoe, dozer, excavator, grader and loader. This is followed by two weeks of practical equipment lab training on the following four pieces of heavy equipment: ART, dozer, excavator and loader.
The final five weeks focus on practical skills, rotating through the following pieces of heavy equipment – ART, Backhoe, Dozer, Excavator or Loader. Apprentices will have the opportunity to specialize their practical on one or more machines.
The course will provide the necessary theoretical knowledge for the occupation as well as practical skills for entry level into the trade.
Upon completion, apprentices will receive:
ITA Certificate of Qualification with endorsements for one or more equipment
Program admission requirements
- Successful completion of the OETP Trade Assessment Exam
- Valid BC Driver’s License
Course Costs:
| Tuition | Registration Fee | Book Fee | Total Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,900 | $150 | $450 | $16,500 |
Program overview:
Week 1 – 3:
- Orientation
- Health and Safety
- Environmental Requirements
- Hand and power tools
- Ladders and scaffold
- Rigging and material handlin
- Basic heavy equipment operation and maintenance
- Surveying
- Drainage
- Soil Mechanics and geology
- Aggregates, asphalt pavement, concrete
Weeks 4 – 7
- Heavy Equipment Types and Operations
- Heavy Equipment Inspection and Maintenance
- Diesel Engines and Hydraulic Systems
- Work Procedures and Planning
- Interpretation of Grades and Stakes
- Transportation of Equipment
- Environmental Protection
- Aggregates and Compaction
- Drainage and Erosion Control
- Equipment Maintenance Cycles
- Basic Operation of Each Type of Heavy Equipment
Weeks 8 – 12
- Communications / Human Relations
- Practical (Field) Training
- Operating Techniques
- Safety
- Hydraulics
- Grades and Stakes
- Site Inspection
- Regulations
- Rigging
- Environmental Concerns
- Machines and Attachments
- Service and Preventative Maintenance
How to apply
Contact the Training Association and ask for an application. Complete the application and submit it—along with your resume, appropriate reference materials and a copy of your driver’s license—to the nearest IUOE Local 115 office. That package will to be forwarded to the Operating Engineers Training Association.
In addition, successful completion of the OETA Trade Assessment Examination is required of all applicants.
Qualified applicants’ files will go before a selection committee. Successful applicants will be assigned to the class upon confirmation of their ability to attend. Students may be eligible to apply for program funding through BC Student Aid.
Contact
JEFF GORHAM (604) 473-5255
RANDY GRISEWOOD (604) 473-5270