Overview
Delivery mode: BLENDED
- This program will be delivered during COVID-19 as a combination of online and on-campus learning.
- Faculty will notify students of when their attendance on campus will be required.
- We are putting measures in place for your safety and well-being, ensuring that all safety protocols are addressed. Please see BCIT COVID-19 Return to Operations for details on the mandatory procedures that have been implemented.
- Your education is our priority and we will continue to deliver the applied instruction, collaborative experience, and industry connections that you expect from BCIT.
Power Engineers operate, maintain and manage industrial power and process plants. These plants are associated with various industries such as pulp and paper, chemical manufacturing, food processing, electrical generation, petroleum refining, institutional mechanical systems and others. Provincial regulations require that plant personnel be certified prior to assuming positions of responsibility in the operation of fired pressure equipment.
Certificates range from the entry level of Fourth Class to the highest level of First Class. The larger the plant, the higher the level of certificate required to operate and manage the facility.
This program provides sound practical and technical knowledge and skills to persons desiring to enter the power engineering field. After completing this program, graduates are prepared to write the BC Safety Authority examinations for an Interprovincial Fourth Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency.
The program
The program is divided into two levels. Classroom activity consists of lectures, demonstrations, audiovisual presentations and exercises that provide practical working knowledge of plant systems. Power plant tours, extensive workshop and power plant laboratory experience are provided to reinforce theoretical concepts, develop manual skills and familiarity with power engineering techniques.
Check out Global TV visits Power Engineering at the BCIT Open House:
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Entrance Requirements
COVID-19 Notice to Applicants
Application processing
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first qualified basis as long as space remains. When available intakes are full, qualified applicants are wait-listed.
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements prior to applying to this program. If you are uncertain or don’t meet the requirements we strongly recommend you complete any applicable Trades Entry Assessments before applying.
- English: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the following:
- English Studies 12 (50%) or
- English First Peoples 12 (50%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
- 3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (50%) from a recognized institution or
- BCIT English Trades Entry Assessment (for applicants who have two years of education in an English-speaking country only)
- Math: one of the following:
- Pre-Calculus 11 (50%) or
- Foundations of Math 11 (50%) or
- Workplace Math 11 (50%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
- BCIT Math Trades Entry Assessment
Recommended for success
Applicants should have:
- Good command of oral and written English
- Sufficient physical strength and stamina to meet the demands of the work, good hearing, good eyesight, normal colour vision, manual dexterity and hand/eye coordination
- Good theoretical and practical mathematical skills and mechanical aptitude
Previous power plant experience and related training are assets
Potential students with medical or physical difficulties should contact Accessibility Services to arrange an interview (telephone interview if out of town) with the institute's rehabilitation specialist at 604-451-6963.
Trades Discovery
The Trades Discovery General and Trades Discovery for Women are full-time programs designed to prepare participants to successfully enter and complete a Trades Training
program.
International applicants
This program is not available to international students. View available programs
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
August each year
*Scheduled intakes are subject to change
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
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Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Please see the Full-Time Studies Tuition & Fees page for full-time tuition fees.
Books & supplies
Level 1: $940; Level 2: $940
(general estimated cost, and subject to change)
Students are required to supply their own coveralls. A supply of coveralls are available through the BCIT Bookstore. Please check the uniform authorization voucher [PDF] to determine the type of coveralls required for your program.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
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- Next up Courses
Courses
Class hours
0730–1430, Monday through Friday
Program matrix
Level 1: (18 weeks) | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
POWR 1100 | Power Plant Training 1 | 4.5 | |
POWR 1101 | Power Plant Oper and Systems 1 | 5.5 | |
POWR 1102 | Drafting | 1.5 | |
POWR 1103 | Power Plant Theory 1 | 4.5 | |
POWR 1104 | General Electricity 1 | 3.5 | |
POWR 1105 | Power Plant Maintenance 1 | 4.5 | |
POWR 1106 | Instrumentation 1 | 3.5 | |
POWR 1107 | General Mathematics | 4.5 | |
Level 2: (20 weeks) | Credits | ||
POWR 2200 | Power Plant Training 2 | 6.0 | |
POWR 2201 | Power Plant Oper and Systems 2 | 3.0 | |
POWR 2203 | Power Plant Theory 2 | 6.0 | |
POWR 2204 | General Electricity 2 | 4.5 | |
POWR 2205 | Power Plant Maintenance 2 | 6.0 | |
POWR 2206 | Instrumentation 2 | 4.5 | |
POWR 2208 | Heating/Ventilation/Air Cond | 6.0 | |
POWR 2209 | Applied Science | 7.0 | |
POWR 2210 | Business Writing | 2.5 | |
Total Credits: | 77.5 |
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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- Next up Program Details
Program Details
Program length
38 weeks, full-time
Grading
A minimum course passing grade is 60%.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
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Graduating & Jobs
Job opportunities
Former graduates have secured employment in hospitals, chemical plants, oil refineries, breweries, pulp and paper plants, sawmills, schools and institutions. Average salaries reported by students were among the highest when compared to other occupational programs.
Graduates of this program may be able to obtain employment as Fourth Class Power Engineers in industry, and qualify for positions as plant operators and maintenance technicians.
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2017-2019 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2016-2018 graduates and for Degree 2015-2017 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
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- Next up Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Faculty
Instructors
Mike Safoniuk, PhD
Department Head
Tel: 604-431-4929
Email: Mike_Safoniuk@bcit.ca
Frank Cichon, Power Eng 2nd Class
Chief Engineering for Educational Equipment
Tel: 604-431-4931
Email: Frank_Cichon@bcit.ca
Leomer Causarin, Power Eng 3rd Class, Marine Eng 2nd Class
Faculty
Tel: 604-451-6730
Email: lcausarin@bcit.ca
Harmesh Chander, BEng (Mech), Power Eng 2nd Class
Faculty
Tel: 604-432-8558
Email: hchander@bcit.ca
Alok Dhungana, MASc, MBA Candidate, PEng
Faculty
Tel: 604-431-4930
Email: adhungana@bcit.ca
Ritchie A. Diopita, BEng, Power Eng 3rd Class
Faculty
Tel: 604-453-4093
Email: Ritchie_Diopita@bcit.ca
Harb Doad, Power Eng 1st Class
Faculty
Tel: 604-432-8776
Email: Harb_Doad@bcit.ca
Suzanne Doyon, Power Eng 2nd Class
Faculty
Tel: 604-456-1146
Email: Suzanne_Doyon@bcit.ca
Wai-Chung Lam, BSc, Power Eng 1st Class
Faculty
Tel: 604-432-8880
Email: Wai-Chung_Lam@bcit.ca
Alex Podut, MASc
Faculty
Tel: 604-453-4091
Email: Alex_Podut@bcit.ca
Joseph Stadel, Power Eng 2nd Class
Faculty
Tel: 604-451-7114
Email: Joe_Stadel@bcit.ca
Sergiy Yatlo, MSc, Power Eng 1st Class, Marine Eng 2nd Class
Faculty
Tel: 604-432-8631
Email: Sergiy_Yatlo@bcit.ca
Staff
Brian Buckley, BSc
Associate Dean
Tel: 604-451-6964
Email: Brian_Buckley@bcit.ca
Maryann Newmeyer
Program Assistant
Tel: 604-432-8390
Email: Maryann_Newmeyer@bcit.ca
Kelsey Sem
Administrative Assistant
Tel: 604-432-8259
Email: Kelsey_Sem@bcit.ca
Advisory committee
Chris Coleman
Chief Engineer, Westcoast Reduction Ltd.
Paul MacPhee
Cheif Engineer, Colliers Maintenance Services
Stephen McKinney
Operations Manager/Chief Engineer, Covanta Energy
Clayton Mullen
Operations Manager/Chief Engineer, BC Hydro
Robert Nyden
Steam Chief, Endbridge Inc.
Dave Paulin
Area Director, Institute of Power Engineers
Eric Steinson
President, Institute of Power Engineers
James Torocov
Thermal Energy Manager, Engineering and Utilities, UBC
Andrew Wright
Chief Engineer, Teck Metals Ltd
Nicole Victor
Alternative Fuels Advisor, Fortis BC
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Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.