Continuing Education

Foundation Drill Rig Operator

The Foundation Drill Rig Operator program at NAIT was developed in partnership with the International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC) and provides you with the knowledge, skills and abilities required to safely and successfully operate a foundation drill rig for industrial, commercial or residential projects.

Until now, formal training has not been available for foundation drill rig operators. But as more regulatory bodies and employers identified the need for formalized training, we developed this program to meet the needs of industry and to improve safety and efficiency on your worksite.

There are no academic prerequisites to start this program.

Courses

Quick Facts

Credential: Certificate Achievement

An approved non-credit program that has a formal summative assessment component, has mappped program or course outcomes, and is subject to a regular quality curriculum review process.

Campus: Main

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at NAIT's Main Campus in Edmonton. View map

Delivery Modes:

  • Online - All your class activity will be delivered online.

Delivery Times:

  • Varies by Class - Delivery times varies by class. See Courses and Advanced Credit to view course scheduling details.

Outcomes

In our Foundation Drill Rig Operator program, you will gain fundamental knowledge and skills that result in the following 3 key benefits:

  • Safety – Learn to identify and minimize potential risks. We will show you how to prepare for an emergency and what to do to keep yourself and those around you safe.
  • Credibility – The training you receive will make you a better operator and give you, your employer and your clients confidence in your abilities.
  • Employability and job security – Differentiate yourself from other operators by representing your improved safety, efficiency and dedication to continued personal and professional growth.

These hours must be monitored, recorded and signed off by your mentor and sponsor company.

Certification

To obtain the Foundation Drill Rig Operator Certificate of Achievement, you must:

  • successfully complete all Foundation Drill Rig Operator Level I and Level II courses

Career Opportunities

Foundation drill rig operators may find work in: 

  • industrial, commercial and residential construction
  • mining, geotechnical and core drilling
  • aerial and underground cabling
  • boring
  • bridge and structure construction

Basically, wherever construction is underway, a foundation drill rig operator is required for the project.

Required attributes

As a foundation drill rig operator, you must be a capable decision-maker who is prepared to work independently when necessary. You will need to enjoy being part of a team and able to remain seated for long stretches of time.

To be successful in this trade, you’ll need:

  • coordination and manual dexterity
  • good vision
  • the ability to lift weight in excess of 25 kilograms
  • the ability to work as part of a team
  • to communicate with ground crews verbally and with hand signals

Contact

For inquiries related to the Foundation Drill Rig Operator program, please email continuingeducation@nait.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions

Registration

Funding Options

Courses, certificates and transfer credits

Technology Requirements

Delivery Methods

  • Face to Face: Where: In-person meetings. When: Course is scheduled at a specific time for students to attend. Face-to-face instruction at all class meetings. Location may be on campus or at a worksite.
  • Blended: Where: Mixture of in-person & online components. When: Course is scheduled at a specific time for students to attend. Combination of face-to-face and online components at specific times. Some online components may be accessed online anytime.
  • Hyflex: Where: Choice to attend in-person or online meetings. When: Course is scheduled at a specific time for students to attend. For each class, students choose to attend in-person with the instructor or online at a specific time.
  • Remote Live Delivery: Where: Online with instructor. When: Course is scheduled at a specific time for students to attend. Instruction is delivered at set times online. Students do not come to campus.
  • Remote On-Demand Delivery: Where: Online anytime. When: No set class meetings. Coursework is accessed on-demand and online. While there are no set class meetings, there may be set due dates and deadlines for some activities. Students may interact with peers through virtual tools.
  • Remote Independent: Where: Online anytime. When: No set class meetings. Coursework is accessed on-demand and online, with no instructor support. While students choose when to do coursework, there may be set due dates and deadlines. 
  • Work Placement: Where: In-person meetings. When: Work is scheduled at a specific time for students to attend. Onsite work integrated learning. Location at a worksite.
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