Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Apprenticeship

Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Apprentices learn how to maintain, manufacture, overhaul, recondition and repair equipment powered by internal combustion engines or electricity. Some equipment technicians work on include graders, loaders, shovels, off-highway tractors, off-highway trucks, forklifts, wheeled and tracked vehicles.

Level 1: 10 weeks
Level 2: 8 weeks
Level 3: 6 weeks
Level 4: 5 weeks (effective for classes starting April 1, 2024 onwards) - usually offered online or in-person

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Heavy Duty Equipment Technician students work in the shop
Program details
Admission requirements
Financial incentives
Contact
Apply to OC

Campus

  • Kelowna
View training schedule
Legend:
  • Full program offered
  • Partial program offered

Credential

Apprenticeship

Delivery options

Full-Time

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees depend on the level of apprenticeship study.

Program details

Program Outline
  • occupational skills
  • brakes
  • hydraulics
  • electrical
  • frames, steering and suspension
  • trailer
  • heating, ventilation and A/C
  • structural components and accessories
Textbooks

The current total cost of the textbooks is approx. $875.

5% GST is not included in price. Price is subject to change.

Textbooks available online only at the .

The booklists on OC Campus Store website will be updated 3 times a year (January, April and mid-August).
Please check back with the Campus Store 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!

If you have any questions regarding the booklist, please call OC Campus Store, 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.

It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.

Required supplies
  • A Windows 11, 10 or 8 laptop or Chromebook (OS 88 or higher) with camera capable of loading Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor for assessments
  • Coveralls
  • CSA-approved steel-toed work boots
  • Safety glasses
  • Binder
  • Pencils, pens, eraser, paper
  • Calculator to write exams, preferably one of the following: Sharp EL-520W, EL-520X, EL-531X

Government-issued picture ID (driver’s license, photo ID or valid passport) is required to write the provincial and national exams; student ID cards are not acceptable.

Program Outline
  • electrical
  • engines and supporting systems
Textbooks

The current total cost of the textbooks is approx. $210.

5% GST is not included in price. Price is subject to change.

Textbooks available online only at the .

The booklists on OC Campus Store website will be updated 3 times a year (January, April and mid-August).
Please check back with the Campus Store 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!

If you have any questions regarding the booklist, please call OC Campus Store, 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.

It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.

Required supplies
  • A Windows 11, 10 or 8 laptop or Chromebook (OS 88 or higher) with camera capable of loading Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor for assessments
  • Coveralls
  • CSA-approved steel-toed work boots
  • Safety glasses
  • Binder
  • Pencils, pens, eraser, paper
  • Calculator to write exams, preferably one of the following: Sharp EL-520W, EL-520X, EL-531X

Government-issued picture ID (driver’s license, photo ID or valid passport) is required to write the provincial and national exams; student ID cards are not acceptable.

Program Outline
  • Power trains
Textbooks

The current total cost of the textbooks is approx. $405.

5% GST is not included in price. Price is subject to change.

Textbooks available online only at the .

The booklists on OC Campus Store website will be updated 3 times a year (January, April and mid-August).
Please check back with the Campus Store 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!

If you have any questions regarding the booklist, please call OC Campus Store, 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.

It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.

Required supplies
  • A Windows 11, 10 or 8 laptop or Chromebook (OS 88 or higher) with camera capable of loading Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor for assessments
  • Coveralls
  • CSA-approved steel-toed work boots
  • Safety glasses
  • Binder
  • Pencils, pens, eraser, paper
  • Calculator to write exams, preferably one of the following: Sharp EL-520W, EL-520X, EL-531X

Government-issued picture ID (driver’s license, photo ID or valid passport) is required to write the provincial and national exams; student ID cards are not acceptable.

Program Outline
  • apply work practices and procedures
  • service alternative brake systems
  • service power train components
  • service A/C system
Textbooks

The current total cost of the textbooks is approx. $670.

5% GST is not included in price. Price is subject to change.

Textbooks available online only at the .

The booklists on OC Campus Store website will be updated 3 times a year (January, April and mid-August).
Please check back with the Campus Store 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!

If you have any questions regarding the booklist, please call OC Campus Store, 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.

It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.

Required supplies
  • A Windows 11, 10 or 8 laptop or Chromebook (OS 88 or higher) with camera capable of loading Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor for assessments
  • Coveralls*
  • CSA-approved steel-toed work boots*
  • Safety glasses*
  • Binder
  • Pencils, pens, eraser, paper
  • Calculator to write exams, preferably one of the following: Sharp EL-520W, EL-520X, EL-531X
  • Lock for locker*

* Only required if the course is offered on campus
Government-issued picture ID (driver’s license, photo ID or valid passport) is required to write the provincial and national exams; student ID cards are not acceptable.

Apprentices who are studying Heavy Duty Mechanics have training options to consider upon completing Level 3 of their apprenticeship. Their Level 4 options to obtain Red Seal certification include:

Apprentices can also just complete Level 4 of Heavy Duty Mechanic Apprenticeship

The textbook list above was current at the time it was posted and may be used for initial planning purposes. Please check back with the bookstore 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!

Textbooks available online only at . If you have any questions, call 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.

It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.

HeavyDutyEquipmentTechnicianApprenticeship

Admission requirements

  • Registered as an apprentice with SkilledTradesBC.
  • Must be working for an employer with at least one qualified journeyperson.
  • Not registered as an apprentice? Ask your employer to register you as an apprentice with SkilledTradesBC. It’s free, simple, and can be completed within a few minutes online. More details can be found at

Financial Incentives

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant provides direct support to apprentices in the first two years of an approved apprenticeship training program (Red Seal trades). The taxable grant is $1,000 for Level 1 and $1,000 for Level 2. This grant is only available after you have completed the specified level of technical training and have a specific number of work-based hours on your SkilledTradesBC transcript.

Please note this benefit will end March 31, 2025 – all students who complete their technical training and work-based hours before this date may still apply until March 31, even without receipt of their Confirmation of Progression letter from STBC.

The Apprenticeship Completion Grant is a $2,000 taxable cash grant for apprentices who complete their apprenticeship training and obtain Red Seal endorsement or a provincial/territorial certificate of qualification in a designated Red Seal trade.

Please note this benefit will end March 31, 2025 – all students who complete their technical training and work-based hours before this date may still apply until March 31, even without receipt of their Confirmation of Progression letter from STBC.

WorkBC Apprenticeship Supports

Apprentice financial supports are available to eligible apprentices while they’re completing their classroom apprenticeship training. Apprentices may be able for supports which cover costs such as child card, transportation, disability, and more. Once an apprentice , a 16-digit reference code will be emailed to them. Use the 16-digit reference code for the Service Canada EI application. 

Service Canada EI Application

Apprentices attending full-time technical training (sometimes referred to as block-release training), they may be eligible to receive Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while unemployed and attending your course. Refer to the .

Apprentices registered in a Red Seal trade apprenticeship program who meet the eligibility requirements may receive up to $4,000 in loans per period of technical training. The purpose of the CAL is to provide apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with loans to assist with the costs to attend technical training.

The LNG Canada Trades Training Fund supports small and medium employers that employ, sponsor and train apprentices in Northwest BC.  To be eligible to apply for funding support, the employer and student need to be a resident of Northwest BC (Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, and surrounding areas of Highway 16 to Houston, BC).  Applications to the Trades Training Fund can be made by employers with business operations in Northwest BC on behalf of their apprentices and must be received one month prior to the class start.

The federal government will now provide tax recognition for the costs that many employed tradespeople incur to provide their own tools in their employment duties. A deduction (up to a maximum of $500/year) will be allowed for the total cost of new tools acquired by an employed tradesperson in a tax year in excess of $1000. Employer will need to certify that the employee is required to obtain those tools for use in employment activities.

Apprentices who complete their third and four year of any apprenticeship program may be eligible for a tax credit. The apprentice will receive the tax credit when they file their annual income taxes. Apprentices will be eligible for a tax credit of $2,000 for completing Level 3 and a credit for $2,500 for completing Level 4 of any apprenticeship. For more information visit www.sbr.gov.bc.ca. 

Your T2202A tax form is available online via myOkanagan on the last day of February.
To access your tax form:

  1. Login to
  2. Username: firstname.lastname@myokanagan.bc.ca
  3. Password: birthdate (mmddyyyy) (you will be asked to update your password the first time you login)
  4. Click the "T2202A Tax Form" link under Online Services

If you have any problems accessing your myOkanagan account, please call IT Services at 1-866-839-4032 or complete an online myOkanagan .

Additional information

View the official Calendar details and policies
Learn more about the department
View the Tuition and fees page

Ask

Have your questions answered by a Trades and Apprenticeship staff member.

Ask OC

Register

Register with SkilledTradesBC prior to applying to an apprenticeship program.

Apply

Take the next step and enrol in an apprenticeship program at OC.

Apply to OC
Trades and Apprenticeship
Address

T115 - 1000 KLO Rd.
Kelowna BC V1Y 4X8
Canada

Phone
(1250) 862-5457
(1800) 621-3038
Email
trades@okanagan.bc.ca
Office Hours
Sunday: Closed
Monday - Friday: 7:30-4:00
Saturday: Closed