College GalleryPower Engineering
Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are open! Apply now!
Power Engineering 3rd Class
Power Engineering 4th Class
Power Engineering 4th Class Lab Certification
Power Engineering
The Northern Lakes College Power Engineering programs prepare students to write the Alberta Boiler Safety Association (ABSA) Power Engineer’s Certification of Competency examinations. Power Engineering is an ABSA-accredited certification governing the operation and maintenance of boilers and associated equipment in heating plants and other industrial settings.
Further Educational Opportunities
+Power Engineering certification can start at either 5th or 4th Class level and progress up to 1st Class level. Consult the Power Engineers Regulations of the Alberta Safety Codes Act for more information.
Power Engineering 3rd Class
At NLC, we understand our students need the flexibility to balance work and home. Our Power Engineering 3rd Class is flexible enough to fit into your lifestyle:
- Apply as a part-time or full-time student
- Available anywhere
- Eight-months full-time
Program Dates
+Full-time September - May.
Part-time students - applications are accepted on a continual basis throughout the year, including July and August! Begin your studies in any month! If you would like to start a course in a specific month, your registration must be received and processed by the 10th day of the previous month. For example, if you would like your course to start on June 1, your registration must be successfully processed by May 10.
Areas of Study
+- Power Engineering 3rd Class A1
- Power Engineering 3rd Class A2
- Power Engineering 3rd Class B1
- Power Engineering 3rd Class B2
Career Potential
+Graduates may find employment in electrical generating plants, pulp mills, oil and gas plants, food processing plants, hospitals, breweries, office buildings, heating plants, and chemical plants.
Program Requirements, Fees, and Additional Information »
Power Engineering 4th Class
At NLC, we understand our students need the flexibility to balance work and home. Our Power Engineering 4th Class is flexible enough to fit into your lifestyle:
- Apply as a part-time or full-time student
- Available anywhere
- Eight-months full-time
This program is available to high school students. Talk to your high school counsellor for more information.
Learn more about Dual Credit.
Program Dates
+Full-time September – May.
Part-time students - Applications are accepted on a continual basis throughout the year, including July and August! Begin your studies in any month! If you would like to start a course in a specific month, your registration must be received and processed by the 10th day of the previous month. For example, if you would like your course to start on June 1, your registration must be successfully processed by May 10.
Areas of Study
+- Power Engineering 4th Class A
- Power Engineering 4th Class B
Career Potential
+Graduates operate boilers and associated equipment at large scale industrial facilities. In the local region, these include mills and waste treatment plants. Outside the region, they also include power plants, refineries, breweries, large gas plants, and steam-assisted heavy oil recovery projects.
Program Requirements, Fees, and Additional Information »
Power Engineering 4th Class Lab Certification
The 4th Class Power Engineering Lab Certification program is approved by the Alberta Boiler Safety Association to meet the firing time requirement for 4th Class Power Engineer certification. This program is available at the Northern Lakes College Shell Canada Power Engineering and Technology Centre in Peace River, Alberta.
The July and September offerings are consecutive 4-week programs, and the March offering is designed to align with industry work schedules and is offered in an intensive, one-week-on and one-week-off format.
Applications will be accepted up to 2 weeks prior program start date. Students will need to enrol in all 4 courses at once.
Program Dates
+September 9 - October 4, 2024 - Face to Face - Peace River (Four consecutive weeks; Monday to Friday; ten hours/day)
March 2 - April 4, 2025 - Face to Face - Peace River (To align with industry scheduling, this offering is three alternating weeks; Sunday to Saturday; ten hours/day)
Areas of Study
+- PLAB0201 - PE Lab - 4th Cert 1
- PLAB0202 - PE Lab - 4th Cert 2
- PLAB0203 - PE Lab - 4th Cert 3
- PLAB0204 - PE Lab - 4th Cert 4
Career Potential
+Graduates operate boilers and associated equipment at large-scale industrial facilities. In the local region, these include mills and waste treatment plants. Outside the region, they also include power plants, refineries, breweries, large gas plants, and steam-assisted heavy oil recovery projects.
