Offered by Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Canada, Trades - Apprenticeship in Heavy Equipment Technician is a trades - apprenticeship in Trades programme. The programme runs for 4 years, delivered on campus. Tuition is CAD 1,256 per year for local students.
At a glance
Degree:Trades - Apprenticeship
Field:Trades
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: On Campus
Local tuition: CAD 1,256 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This apprenticeship leads to journeyperson certification, delivered in person at SAIT's Main Campus, with some intakes offering block-release or weekly alternating (WATS) scheduling that lets apprentices continue working while attending training. Program length varies from one to four periods depending on which of four specializations a student pursues: transport trailer mechanic, truck and transport mechanic (on-road), heavy-duty equipment technician (off-road), or the general heavy equipment technician designation, which is the full four-year path. The four-year stream requires a minimum of 1,500 hours of on-the-job training annually alongside eight weeks of classroom instruction each year. The program suits candidates with good vision, hearing, and sense of smell for diagnosing mechanical problems, strong mechanical aptitude, and comfort working in cramped or awkward positions, along with the physical strength and safety awareness the trade demands. Graduates work maintaining and repairing heavy equipment, trucks, trailers, and off-road machinery in industrial and transport settings. The Red Seal endorsement lets certified technicians work throughout Canada rather than being restricted to Alberta. This program does not accept international applicants, and apprentices train through Alberta's Apprenticeship and Industry Training system, which requires a sponsoring employer to provide the on-the-job training component of the apprenticeship.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Entry runs through Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AAIT) rather than SAIT's own admissions office. The minimum requirement is successful completion of English 20-2, Math 20-3 and Science 10, or a pass mark on all five Canadian GED or Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) tests, or a pass on AAIT's own entrance exam. AAIT recommends applicants instead hold an Alberta High School Diploma including English 30-2, Math 30-3 and Physics 20, Chemistry 20 or Science 20, plus related career and technology studies coursework. This is a registered apprenticeship: applicants must first secure an employer and a signed apprenticeship contract before attending SAIT's block-release or online technical training, which they book through MyTradeSecrets. SAIT's page for this trade publishes no English-language test score and no admission GPA; it is a course/exam bar set by AAIT, not a SAIT-competitive process.
Application Details
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through ApplyAlberta: for Fall 2027 entry applications opened 7 October 2026 and close 30 June 2027, while Winter 2027 entry (opened 4 March 2026) closes 23 October 2026 and Spring 2027 entry closes 30 April 2027. International applicants apply through SAIT's Virtual Admissions System; the Fall 2027 window opened 4 August 2026 but SAIT lists the international closing date as still to be announced, while the Winter 2027 international deadline is 30 October 2026. Some allied-health programs, including Respiratory Therapy and Medical Laboratory Technology, close earlier to allow time for entrance testing, though the exact 2027-cycle testing dates were not yet posted. Admission is not rolling: SAIT enforces firm published deadlines, though popular programs can close early and some domestic programs reopen after their deadline if seats remain. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
