Heavy duty mechanic training
Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Apprenticeship (Levels 1–4)
Facts checked 7 September 2026
Report a mistake·How we check facts
Part of the route toHeavy Duty Mechanic·Certificate
Apprenticeship technical training on diesel engines, transmissions, and hydraulic systems for large industrial machines.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
WorkBC training funding
Up to $7,500 tuitionIf you are out of work or underemployed, a WorkBC case manager can approve and pay for this training. Get approval before you pay.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
BC Access Grant
Up to $4,000 a yearFor low and middle income students in full-time programs under two years at public schools. Assessed when you apply through StudentAid BC.
Money for apprentices
EI, a $4,000 loan per level and a tax creditWhile you are at school for each level. The old federal grants ended in 2025.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- Recommended: Grade 12 graduation with Math 11 and English 12
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- Recommended: Grade 12 graduation with Math 11 and English 12
- High school graduation or mature student status
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC and employer sponsor (or Heavy Mechanical Foundation certificate)
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC or Heavy Mechanical Foundation certificate
- SkilledTradesBC apprentice registration
- Active employer sponsorship
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC or Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation certificate
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Register with an approved trade school (BCIT, College of New Caledonia, or Thompson Rivers University)
- Provide SkilledTradesBC apprentice number and employer sponsorship verification
- Enrol in annual 8 to 10 week training blocks
Step 5 of 8
Heavy duty mechanic training
⏱ 8–10 weeks per Level (4 Levels)- 4 levels of technical training (8 to 10 weeks each over 4 years)
- Heavy diesel engine rebuild, fuel injection systems, turbochargers, and electronic engine control
- High-pressure hydraulic systems, hydrostatic drives, pumps, valves, and steering circuits
- Heavy-duty transmissions, differentials, final drives, and undercarriage systems
- Advanced vehicle electrical systems, electronic diagnostics, air brakes, and emissions systems
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 5 schools in BC- British Columbia Institute of Technology — 10 weeks per level, 4 levels (About $1,200 per level)
- Camosun College — 39 weeks (Tuition not yet verified)
- College of New Caledonia — 30 weeks (About $4,500 for the whole program)
- Thompson Rivers University — 10 weeks per level, 4 levels (About $1,100 per level)
- Vancouver Island University — 36 weeks (About $4,700 for the whole program)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- Interprovincial Red Seal Examination
- SkilledTradesBC Certificate of Qualification
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Heavy Duty Mechanic
- Explore Heavy Duty Mechanic wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(5 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.