Northern Lights College offers Piping Trades Foundation Certificate, a foundation in Trades programme in Dawson Creek, Canada. The programme runs for 19 weeks, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 8,807 per year (CAD 2,131 per year for local students).
This foundation program covers the technical training needed to enter the plumber and steamfitter/pipefitter trades, meeting the Skilled Trades BC level 1 learning outcomes for both at once. Completing it satisfies the level 1 training requirement for either trade. Students also take part in a 60-hour practicum placement spread over two weeks, exposing them to the daily tasks of apprentices and employees in the field. Finishing the program earns credit for 375 work-based hours toward either a plumbing or a steamfitter/pipefitter apprenticeship, depending on which trade a student chooses.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission follows Northern Lights College's program-specific requirements published on this program's own page. Applicants complete one of three pathways: Pathway A requires English — BC Language Arts 10, 11 or 12 (4 credits, minimum C+) or ENGL 030 or higher (C+), or IELTS 5.5 overall with no band below 5.0 — plus Math — BC Math 10 at C+ or Math 11/12 at C, or MATH 030 or higher at C+. Pathway B is ESTR 037 (Essential Skills for Trades, Intermediate Level) at a minimum 67%. Pathway C is completion of the POWER program. One month before the program starts, admitted students must provide proof of current Intermediate First Aid, H2S Alive, and Common Safety Orientation (CSO) certifications valid for the program's duration, or risk dismissal.
Application Details
Start Date:February 2027
Application Deadline:Northern Lights College uses one admissions calendar for domestic and international applicants alike, applying through EducationPlannerBC or in person. Applications open about eleven months before each intake: 1 October for the following Fall, 1 February for the following Winter, and 1 June for the following Spring. For the 2027 cycle the priority deadline is 30 September 2026 for Winter 2027 entry, 31 January 2027 for Spring 2027 entry, and 31 May 2027 for Fall 2027 entry (dual-credit applicants get until 24 October 2026 and 23 June 2027 respectively), with a tuition deposit due about a month after each priority date. NLC states international applicants already in Canada on a valid visa follow the same domestic deadlines; after the priority date, seats remain open, on a rolling basis, until each term's add/drop date. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
