Program Overview
This program has been developed for those seeking employment as a power engineering technician who operates and troubleshoots the energy components in industrial power plants (chemical, food, pulp and paper etc.), electrical power plants (coal, gas, nuclear, wind, solar, methane, cogeneration, flex fuel etc.), or commercial buildings. The work may involve system monitoring and work with boilers, turbines, and condensers in steam power plants as well as internal combustion engines. Subjects of instruction will follow the Standardized Power Engineers Examination Committee (SOPEEC) syllabus and prepare the students to write the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) examinations for 4th and 3rd class certification after 2 years as an operator. This program features co-operative training and use of a state-of-the-art power systems control room simulator.
Program Highlights
- At the forefront of offering preparation towards Certification for 3rd Class Operating Engineers under T.S.S.A. (Technical Standards and Safety Authority) and SOPEEC (Standardized Interprovincial certification). The Operating Engineer certification is recognized across Canada.
- Program is accredited by TSSA for reduced practical time for 4th, and 3rd Class certification.
- St. Clair College will find eligible students their 4th Class & 3rd Class steam time. The student must be prepared to go anywhere in Ontario and assume that the work placement is unpaid. 4th Class placement runs during semester 3 for 3 months, and 3rd Class placement runs during semester 5 for 1 month (May-August). Complete information regarding work placement is available from the Program Coordinator.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this program will find employment opportunities in power generation plants, hospitals, municipalities, schools, process refineries, steel mills, heating and cooling plants. Job titles include apprentice power dispatcher, auxiliary plant operator, building systems technician, control room operator - electrical power systems, distribution control operator - electrical power systems, electrical power systems operator, power dispatcher - generating station, power engineer, power plant operator power plant stationary engineer, stationary engineer and system controller - electrical power systems.
Laddering Opportunities
Graduates of the Power Engineering Technician program can ladder into Power Engineering Technology at an Ontario College.
Admission Requirements
OSSD with the majority of courses at the College ( C), University (U), University/College (M) or Open (O) level plus:
- Grade 11 or 12 Physics
- Grade 12 English (C or U) (ENG4C, ENG4U)
- Grade 12 College Mathematics (MAP4C or MCT4C) or any Grade 12 University Mathematics, or equivalent
Recommended subjects include:
- Physics: Grade 12 College or University (SPH 4C, SPH 4U); OR
- Chemistry: Grade 12 Chemistry College or Grade 11 or 12 University (SCH 4C, SCH 4U, SCH 3U).
Students must be 18 years of age to write TSSA 4th Class examinations. The first TSSA exam takes place between the first and second semester.
Courses
The curriculum below is for incoming students:
Semester 1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
PSE119
|
Plant Communication And Maintenance |
4
|
|
MTH143
|
Mathematics I |
3
|
|
PSE142
|
Industrial Legislation & Safety |
2
|
|
PSE151
|
Introduction To Boilers |
3
|
|
PSE124
|
Chemistry, Thermodynamics & Environmental Pollution Control |
2
|
|
PSE117
|
Materials And Welding |
2
|
|
PSE129
|
Introduction To Electrical Controls And Instrumentation |
4
|
|
PSE118
|
Applied Mechanics - 4th Class |
3
|
Semester 2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
Semester 4
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
PSE414
|
Power Engineering Practical II |
4
|
|
PSE407
|
Applied Mathematics/Mechanics - 3rd Class |
2
|
|
PSE411
|
Thermodynamics - 3rd Class |
3
|
|
PSE418
|
Applied Science - Chemistry And Metallurgy |
2
|
|
PSE416
|
Electrotechnology |
4
|
|
PSE419
|
Industrial Legislation, Combustion And Plant Auxillary Systems |
2
|
|
ELEC1030
|
Choose 1 Elective Course |
3
|
|
PSE478
|
Simulator |
3
|
Semester 5
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
Past Cohorts:
Semester 1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSE119 | Plant Communication And Maintenance | 4 |
| MTH143 | Mathematics I | 3 |
| PSE142 | Industrial Legislation & Safety | 2 |
| PSE151 | Introduction To Boilers | 3 |
| PSE124 | Chemistry, Thermodynamics & Environmental Pollution Control | 2 |
| PSE117 | Materials And Welding | 2 |
| PSE129 | Introduction To Electrical Controls And Instrumentation | 4 |
| PSE118 | Applied Mechanics - 4th Class | 3 |
Semester 2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSE445G | Industrial Environmental Awareness | 3 |
| MTH243 | Mathematics II | 3 |
| PSE217 | Introduction To Gas & Steam Turbines | 3 |
| PSE219 | Power Engineering Practical I | 6 |
| PSE203 | Water Treatment | 2 |
| PSE222 | Auxillary Building & Heating/Cooling Systems | 2 |
| PSE221 | Introduction To Refrigeration And HVAC | 2 |
Semester 3
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of: | ||
| PSE315 | Work Placement 4th Class | 32 |
| PSE317 | Co-Op Placement 4th Class | 32 |
Semester 4
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSE414 | Power Engineering Practical II | 4 |
| PSE407 | Applied Mathematics/Mechanics - 3rd Class | 2 |
| PSE411 | Thermodynamics - 3rd Class | 3 |
| PSE418 | Applied Science - Chemistry And Metallurgy | 2 |
| PSE416 | Electrotechnology | 4 |
| PSE419 | Industrial Legislation, Combustion And Plant Auxillary Systems | 2 |
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
| PSE478 | Simulator | 3 |
Semester 5
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSE516 | Steam Generators & Auxiliaries | 5 |
| PSE517 | Water & Wastewater Treatment And Plant Administration | 3 |
| PSE508 | Industrial Refrigeration & Air Comp | 3 |
| PSE519 | Steam & Gas Turbines Including Cogeneration | 2 |
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
| PSE518 | Power Engineering Practical III | 4 |
Semester 6
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of: | ||
| PSE611 | 3rd Class Workplacement | 11 |
| PSE617 | Co-Op Placement 3rd Class | 27 |
Semester 1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSE119 | Plant Communication And Maintenance | 4 |
| MTh643 | Mathematics I | 3 |
| PSE142 | Industrial Legislation & Safety | 2 |
| PSE151 | Introduction To Boilers | 3 |
| PSE124 | Chemistry, Thermodynamics & Environmental Pollution Control | 2 |
| PSE117 | Materials And Welding | 2 |
| PSE129 | Introduction To Electrical Controls And Instrumentation | 4 |
| PSE118 | Applied Mechanics - 4th Class | 3 |
Semester 2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSE445G | Industrial Environmental Awareness | 3 |
| MTH243 | Mathematics II | 3 |
| PSE217 | Introduction To Gas & Steam Turbines | 3 |
| PSE219 | Power Engineering Practical I | 6 |
| PSE203 | Water Treatment | 2 |
| PSE222 | Auxillary Building & Heating/Cooling Systems | 2 |
| PSE221 | Introduction To Refrigeration And HVAC | 2 |
Semester 3
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSE414 | Power Engineering Practical II | 4 |
| PSE407 | Applied Mathematics/Mechanics - 3rd Class | 2 |
| PSE411 | Thermodynamics - 3rd Class | 3 |
| PSE418 | Applied Science - Chemistry And Metallurgy | 2 |
| PSE416 | Electrotechnology | 4 |
| PSE419 | Industrial Legislation, Combustion And Plant Auxillary Systems | 2 |
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
| PSE478 | Simulator | 3 |
Semester 4
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSE516 | Steam Generators & Auxiliaries | 5 |
| PSE517 | Water & Wastewater Treatment And Plant Administration | 3 |
| PSE508 | Industrial Refrigeration & Air Comp | 3 |
| PSE519 | Steam & Gas Turbines Including Cogeneration | 2 |
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
| PSE518 | Power Engineering Practical III | 4 |
Semester 5
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of: | ||
| PSE315 | Work Placement 4th Class | 32 |
| PSE317 | Co-Op Placement 4th Class | 32 |
Semester 6
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of: | ||
| PSE611 | 3rd Class Workplacement | 11 |
| PSE617 | Co-Op Placement 3rd Class | 27 |
Placement Requirements
Please be aware that although a COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend St. Clair College, some of our placement sites may require students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to be eligible to attend. Unfortunately, we cannot predict if a placement site will begin to require full vaccination and as such, we are encouraging all students to consider vaccination. If the requirement of your placement sites changes at any point, you will be notified immediately by the College.
It is important to note that if placement sites do require students to be fully vaccinated to attend their place of business, students who are not fully vaccinated cannot be provided with a placement for their program and therefore will not be able to complete their programs.
If you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, please contact our St. Clair College Health Centre at 519-972-2727 ext. 4484 (in Windsor) or 519-354-9100 ext. 3729 (in Chatham).
Program Physical Demands Analysis
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Power Engineering Technician (Ontario College Diploma) (MTCU Code 59100)
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Examine the operation of typical power plant components including prime movers, heat engines, refrigeration, HVAC, and electrical according to industry standards.
- Operate, diagnose, troubleshoot, test and service power plant components in compliance with manufacturers recommendations, industry standard power engineering technology, and Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).
- Analyze and solve technical problems related to power engineering and plant systems by applying the principles of mathematics, engineering, and science.
- Communicate effectively and accurately by evaluating, translating, and applying relevant drawings and other related documents.
- Monitor and control environmental discharges associated with power plant operation adhering to plant procedures and complying with local, provincial, and federal legislation.
- Select strategies for ongoing professional development and career advancement in the power engineering field.
- Execute power plant operation duties and other assigned work in a professional manner in accordance with Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) regulations, occupational, environmental, health, and fire safety procedures, ethical practices, and laws applicable to the power engineering industry.
- Relate effectively to co-workers and supervisors in the work environment through various modes of communication, and by accurately documenting projects and daily tasks.