Offered by College of New Caledonia in Prince George, Canada, Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation Certificate is a foundation in Trades programme. The programme runs for 36 weeks, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition is CAD 3,200 per total for local students.
The Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation is a one-year, in-class certificate program at College of New Caledonia's Prince George campus that introduces entry-level skills common to the heavy mechanical trades before apprenticeship. Coursework covers wire rope and winches, hydraulic, air and alternate brake systems, diesel engines, electrical and mechanical systems, power train components, brakes, steering, suspensions, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, engines, and structural components of heavy machinery and commercial transport equipment. The program does not require an employer sponsor beforehand, providing entry-level practical skills and academic knowledge that prepare students to begin the apprenticeship pathway and giving them a competitive advantage when later seeking an apprenticeship placement. On completion, students receive credit with SkilledTradesBC for Level 1 technical training, which can lead toward apprenticeship and eventual Red Seal certification as a Diesel Engine Mechanic, Heavy Duty Equipment Technician, or Truck and Transport Mechanic. Admission requires English Language Arts 10 and Workplace Mathematics 10 at a minimum "C", or equivalents. The program suits individuals with an interest in repairing heavy machinery who enjoy hands-on problem solving and are comfortable working with equipment ranging from sophisticated electronics to heavy tracks and hydraulic components, across sectors such as transportation, forestry, mining, oil and gas, construction and agriculture.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission requires English Language Arts 10 and Workplace Mathematics 10 each at a minimum grade of C, or a recognised course equivalency; current high-school students may enrol through the Career Technical Centre programme, and seats are filled first qualified, first accepted, with a waitlist once capacity is reached. The page states no test-based English-language requirement of its own; applicants otherwise meet CNC's general levels of IELTS Academic overall 6.0 with no band below 6.0, PTE Academic overall 59 with no section below 55, CAEL overall 60 with no subtest below 60, CELPIP General with no section below 7, or Duolingo English Test overall 115 valid two years, per CNC's admission requirements; Academic Upgrading is available to applicants who need to meet the prerequisites first.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall
Application Deadline:College of New Caledonia runs first-qualified, first-accepted admissions with no single deadline for most programmes. Domestic and international applicants use the same process, though international students also go through CNC's international application page: applications for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 entry are open now, and applications for Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 entry open on 1 October 2026. Seats are assessed on a rolling basis and close once a programme fills or the term begins; CNC advises applying as soon as applications open, and international applicants typically get an offer letter within four to six weeks. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program) and the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Diploma are exceptions, each carrying a fixed 1 March application-and-documentation deadline. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
