How to become a heavy equipment operator in BC
Experienced Heavy Equipment Operator · British Columbia
Drive excavators, bulldozers and loaders on construction sites. You need a few weeks of machine training, often a Class 3 licence, and practice on the job.
THE ROUTE
The route at a glance
Commercial Driver Licence & Air Brakes Preparation
Earn commercial driver licence prerequisites and air brake endorsement
Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate Program
Complete hands-on heavy equipment training program
Civil Construction Hire & Ground Disturbance Orientation
Secure job on construction site and complete utility safety orientations
Supervised Seat-Time & Machine Mastery
Log 1,000+ hours of seat-time on excavators and earthmoving machinery
Experienced Heavy Equipment Operator
Operate independently on heavy civil projects and GPS-guided equipment
Commercial Driver Licence & Air Brakes Preparation
Earn commercial driver licence prerequisites and air brake endorsement
Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate Program
Complete hands-on heavy equipment training program
Civil Construction Hire & Ground Disturbance Orientation
Secure job on construction site and complete utility safety orientations
Supervised Seat-Time & Machine Mastery
Log 1,000+ hours of seat-time on excavators and earthmoving machinery
Experienced Heavy Equipment Operator
Operate independently on heavy civil projects and GPS-guided equipment
This is the overview. For the courses to take, the entry rules, the exams and the schools, open the full route.
See the full route, step by step →THE JOB
What the job is like
Pay and outlook from WorkBC.
Work takes place in outdoor construction sites, open quarries, remote forestry roads, and highway expansion zones, as well as enclosed, climate-controlled machinery cabs equipped with joystick controls and digital monitors.
Be mindful of working near high-voltage underground gas pipelines, electrical cables, and moving traffic and follow all required safety procedures.
Specialize in fine-tolerance grading using 3D satellite modeling and automated machine control.
Supervise multi-machine excavation operations, schedule material haulers, and direct ground personnel.
JOBS
Find jobs
Live postings on the big job boards, searched for this job in British Columbia.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Common questions
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