Program Overview
Power Engineering Technologists operate and maintain the energy components of power plants in industrial, commercial and large residential buildings, hospitals and schools. Their work involves monitoring, adjusting, analyzing and solving problems with power boilers, turbines, compressors, refrigeration chillers, pumps and other related equipment. They may also assist Mechanical Engineers in the planning and design of power plant systems and operations. Day to day responsibilities can include conducting visual inspections and tests to ensure safety and optimum performance, ensuring that provincial and federal regulations are adhered to, and respond to emergency situations.
This program will help prepare you to challenge the TSSA 4th, 3rd, and 2nd Class Operating Engineer exams. It will also prepare you for operational, maintenance, supervisory and management roles in industrial settings. You'll gain knowledge and skills of plant operation and maintenance, at the 4th Class level in first year, the 3rd Class level in second year, and the 2nd Class level in your final year. Practical knowledge will be performed in our newly renovated million dollar power plant lab.
Program Highlights
- At the forefront of offering preparation towards Certification for 2nd 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, 3rd, and 2nd Class certification. This is only 1 of 3 colleges in Canada to be accredited for 2nd 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.
- Certified Engineering Technologist designation agreement with OACETT (Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technologists and Technicians) is possible.
- For the 4th year in a row, St. Clair College has secured 100% of work placements for 3rd and 4th Class students who have met the placement criteria.
Career Opportunities
Excellent job opportunities as 4th, 3rd, & 2nd Class Power Engineers, maintenance technicians, refrigeration operators and plant operators in a wide range of facilities including electrical power generation plants, light and heavy industry, refineries, food processing plants, refrigeration plants, schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, ice rinks and municipal water and wastewater treatment plants. Entry level positions include 4th & 3rd class Power (operating) Engineering technologists, “Operator-In-Training” for water or wastewater treatment plants and the possibility to advance to 2nd Class Power (Operating) Engineer certification within a short time period.
Admission Requirements
OSSD with the majority of courses at the College (C), University (U), University/College (M) or Open (O) level plus:
- Grade 12 English (C) or (U)
- Grade 12 Math (C) or (U)
- Senior level Physics (C) or (U)
Students must be 18 years of age to write TSSA 4th Class examinations. The first TSSA exam takes place between first and second semester.
Mature students - See Admission Procedures for details.
Courses
The curriculum below is for incoming students:
Semester 1
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
PSE119
|
Plant Communication And Maintenance
|
4
|
|
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
|
|
PSE217
|
Introduction To Gas & Steam Turbines
|
3
|
|
PSE219
|
Power Engineering Practical I
|
6
|
|
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
|
|
PSE419
|
Industrial Legislation, Combustion And Plant Auxillary Systems
|
2
|
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
|
|
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 7 & 8 (12 week semester)
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
PSE720
|
2nd Class Steam Generators and Auxiliaries
|
3
|
|
PSE778
|
2nd Class Water Treatment
|
3
|
|
PSE718
|
2nd Class Heat Engines And Prime Movers
|
3
|
|
PSE1001
|
Mechanical Drawing, Lubrication And Piping
|
3
|
|
PSE917
|
Power Engineering Practical IV
|
4
|
Semester 9 & 10 (12 week semester)
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
PSE717
|
Industrial Administration And Code Calculations
|
3
|
|
PSE800
|
2nd Class Thermodynamics
|
4
|
|
PSE803
|
Metallurgy & Material Testing
|
3
|
Semester 11 & 12 (12 week semester)
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
PSE1009
|
Plant Systems, Combustion And Environmental Protection
|
3
|
|
PSE1005
|
Power Engineering Practical V
|
2
|
|
PSE1006
|
2nd Class Refrigeration And Compression Systems
|
3
|
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 |
| PSE315 |
Work Placement 4th Class |
32 |
| OR |
| PSE317 |
Co-op Placement 4th Class |
11 |
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 |
| PSE611 |
3rd Class Workplacement |
11 |
| OR |
| PSE617 |
Co-op Placement 3rd Class |
11 |
Semester 7 & 8 (12 week semester)
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| PSE720 |
2nd Class Steam Generators And Auxiliaries |
3 |
| PSE778 |
2nd Class Water Treatment |
3 |
| PSE718 |
2nd Class Heat Engines And Prime Movers |
3 |
| PSE1001 |
Mechanical Drawing, Lubrication And Piping |
3 |
Semester 9 & 10 (12 week semester)
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| PSE715 |
2nd Class Mechanics |
4 |
| PSE717 |
Industrial Administration And Code Calculations |
3 |
| PSE800 |
2nd Class Thermodynamics |
4 |
| PSE803 |
Metallurgy & Material Testing |
3 |
| PSE1002 |
Power Engineering Practical 4B |
2 |
| PSE906 |
Power Engineering Practical 4A |
2 |
Semester 11 & 12 (12 week semester)
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| PSE1003 |
Industrial Controls |
3 |
| PSE1009 |
Plant Systems, Combustion And Environmental Protection |
3 |
| PSE1005 |
Power Engineering Practical V |
2 |
| PSE1006 |
2nd Class Refrigeration And Compression Systems |
3 |
| PSE1011 |
2nd Class Electrical |
3 |
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).
Your Investment
The standard tuition and compulsory fees for the current academic year:
2023-2024 Tuition Fees
For programs with Experiential Learning (Work Placement/Internship): Costs for accommodation, if needed, travel and related expenses is at the student's own expense. It is recommended for most programs, that students have access to a laptop or desktop computer while away from home during experiential learning periods.
Textbooks and other materials are in addition to Tuition Fees. Textbook prices may be found through the Bookstore website.
Please be aware that tuition and compulsory fees are subject to adjustment each year. The College reserves the right to change, amend or alter fees as necessary without notice or prejudice.
Program Physical Demands Analysis
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Stationary Engineering Technology (Ontario College Advanced Diploma) (MTCU Code 69100)
- Utilize instrumentation and control systems to support the safe and efficient operations of a power plant.
- Manage power plant activities such as maintenance and shift schedules for process equipment and electrical systems including boilers, prime movers, refrigeration systems, and associated auxiliaries to ensure safety and efficiency.
- Analyze and solve complex technical problems related to power engineering technology 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.
- Critically self-reflect to determine relevant strategies for ongoing professional development and career advancement in the power engineering field.
- Perform tasks related to power engineering and plant administration in accordance with relevant laws, policies, ethical principles, procedures, and industry standards to minimize risk and enhance personal and public safety.
- Relate effectively with co-workers and supervisors to build a supportive and purposeful team culture within the organization.
- Comply with the theory and accepted principles and practices of metallurgy, welding, and testing of materials as they relate to power engineering.