Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
Chemical Engineering Technology is a 2-year diploma program that consists of four 15-week semesters.
In year one, you'll develop foundational knowledge and skills around oil and gas processing techniques, safety and computer applications. You'll also brush up and grow your math, physics, statistics and calculus abilities.
In the second year of the program you'll complete a 5-day training program at the world-class Energy Safety Canada Oil and Gas Production facilities in Nisku. You'll develop a real-world understanding of process theory while optimizing and troubleshooting working process equipment.
Throughout the program you can expect to learn to:
- Apply health and safety environmental practices
- Operate and troubleshoot process equipment
- Specify and size piping systems
- Interpret and adjust instrumentation and control systems
- Communicate effectively using written and oral skills and/or software applications
- Model professionalism in industry environments
Between years 1 and 2, you'll be assigned to a 3-week Field Placement with a refinery, government agency or exploration and production (E&P), pipeline or oilfield service company.
Career Outcomes
Industries
- Oil and gas production and refining
- Pipeline operations
- Petrochemical and chemical production operations
- Oil field service and supply
- Chemical sales
- Equipment design and fabrication
Median Starting Salary
The expected starting salary for individuals with a(n) Chemical Engineering Technology Diploma is $52,000.
This salary information was based on graduate data from the past 3 years and reflects annual salaries for graduates who claimed they were working more than 30 hours per week. Graduates who quoted salaries below $10,000 and above $200,000 per year have been excluded. Note that NAIT publishes the median salary instead of the average to minimize the potential of outlying salaries distorting the mean. Data represented here may differ from other data sources due to differences in definition or differences in timing.
Grad Employment Rate
Employment rates are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and do not guarantee future employment opportunities. Please note that data for newer programs may not be included within this report.
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Take your career planning to the next level
This program can be used as a step toward earning higher credentials and/or certifications.
Further education at NAIT
Once you complete your credential, explore the programs below to specialize further or develop management skills.
Other Opportunities
While enrolled in the program, you'll be eligible for student membership in the following professional associations:
Post-secondary articulation agreements within Alberta are approved by the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT). To view the details of specific agreements, please visit transferalberta.ca or contact articulations@nait.ca For questions regarding transfer agreements or to obtain a course description/outline that is no longer available on our website, please contact articulations@nait.ca.
Build your resume before you even graduate
Explore work experience opportunities that help grads get hired even sooner.
View Work Integrated Learning
Work Experience Placements
Students in this program gain valuable work experience with Work Integrated Learning (WIL). WIL is a form of experiential learning that integrates academic studies with relevant work-based learning. The WIL placement in this program is a Field Placement.
Field Placement
A Field Placement provides students with an intensive part-time or short-term hands-on practical experience in a setting relevant to their subject of study. Field placements may not require supervision of a registered or licensed professional and the completed hours are not required for professional certification.
| Duration |
3 weeks |
| Compensation |
No |
| International Students |
Co-op Work Permit required |
| Placement Identified By |
Student or Program Staff - students may be required to apply for WIL positions, or may be placed with an employer by the program. Please consult with program staff to learn more. |
| Student Interview Required |
Maybe |
Benefits of a Field Placement
- Understand more about career opportunities, expectations and requirements of the professional field
- Gain the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world environment
- Create networking opportunities in your chosen industry
- Develop and improve communication, interpersonal and employment skills
- Gain confidence in your professional skills
- Explore career options and program specialization within the industry
- Improve application for future positions by gaining industry experience and increasing your employability
Finding a placement
- Create a profile on NAIT's job board, Career Connect
- Create and maintain a current resume, cover letter and list of references
- Apply for positions on Career Connect
- Prepare for, and attend, employer interviews
- Coordinate and communicate with your WIL Coordinator
- Be flexible, professional, and participate fully in the recruitment process
- Be aware of the anticipated outcomes of the placement
- Notify the coordinator for your program once you have an employment offer and sign a WIL Agreement
Courses and Advanced Credit
Current and recently admitted students can find information and updates about their program on their My Program page in the MyNAIT Portal. To monitor your course progress and the courses still needed to graduate, visit your Academic Progress Report.
Advanced Credit
You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).
Transfer Credit
In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Transfer and Credit Options section, your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:
- You must have completed the course or program no more than 7 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
- You must have a minimum mark of C in the course(s) or program
Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition (PLAR)
Please see below for the list of courses that are available for PLAR credits in this program. Please click on the specific course for more information on the evidence that is required for each course.
Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.
Tuition & Fees
This content is specific to the selected Sep 02, 2025 intake.
The tuition and fee amounts are estimates based on current academic year's rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.
Books, Supplies & Program Fees (est.)
Level 1 Term 1: $1,000
Level 1 Term 2: $1,825
Level 2 Term 1: $425
Level 2 Term 2: $275
Scholarships & Awards
NAIT awards over $6 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 4,000 students each year, with the support of donors and the government. A variety of awards are available, including ones for academics, community involvement, equity/diversity grants, bursaries for financial need, program-specific awards and more!
Learn how to apply for awards
Admission Requirements
This content is specific to the selected Sep 02, 2025 intake.
Minimum entrance requirements
The specific academic requirements you must meet to be considered for admission. Where applicable, the minimum accepted Alberta high school courses are listed in round brackets ( ). Equivalent or higher-level courses are also accepted.
- Grade 12 Language Arts (English 30-2)
- Grade 12 Mathematics (Math 30-2)*
- One of:
- Grade 11 Chemistry (Chemistry 20), or
- Grade 11 Physics (Physics 20), or
- Grade 12 Science (Science 30)*
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
*See Recommended Courses for more information.
Additional requirements & considerations
Alternative entrance pathways
If you are missing one or more of the minimum entrance requirements, you may be eligible for an alternative entrance pathway. For any pathway listed below, English language proficiency is also a requirement.
- Successful completion of minimum 24 post-secondary credits or 8 post-secondary courses* within an accredited or recognized degree or diploma in a related field (engineering or engineering technology) with an Admission GPA of 2.0 based on the most recently completed 24 post-secondary credits.
*Please note that acceptance into the program does not guarantee transfer credits. Transfer credits evaluation will take place after the student is accepted into the program.
Recommended courses
The following course(s) are recommended, as they provide important background for your program's content. Recommended courses are not required for admission and will not affect your application.
- Math 30-1
- Physics 20 or Chemistry 20
Post-admission requirements
Although not required for admission, you must meet the following requirement(s) in order to progress in your program.
The following certificates may be required to obtain a field placement, per industry requirements:
• CPR and Standard First Aid Training: Can be obtained through NAIT Continuing Education
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG): Workplace might offer a specific TDG training, can be obtained through NAIT Continuing Education.
• H2S Alive Training: Can be obtained through approved industry providers.
• Common Safety Orientation (CSO): Can be obtained through approved industry providers.
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS): Typically workplace specific and offered by workplace, can be obtained through NAIT Continuing Education.
Driver’s License Recommendation
A valid driver’s license is required for most jobs in this industry, including summer employment opportunities. It is strongly recommended that students obtain a driver's license prior to, or upon, enrollment into the program.
Dates & Deadlines
International
Applications Open:
Aug 01, 2024
International
Applications Deadline:
Once the program is full
Domestic
Applications Open:
Oct 01, 2024
Application Deadline:
Once the program is full
Term Start Date:
Sep 02, 2025
Seats are limited - Apply early! Applications will remain open for at least one month from the open date. If the program/waitlist fill after that date, applications will close.
International Applicants
This program accepts international students.
PGWP Eligibility
This program does not meet eligibility criteria for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) field of study requirement. Students who applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024, are not affected by the new field of study rule and may be eligible for a PGWP.
While graduates are currently ineligible to apply for a PGWP, NAIT still welcomes international students to this program to gain valuable knowledge and skills to pursue your career goals, whether in Canada under another type of permit or in your home country or other international markets.
Learn more about PGWP and explore eligible NAIT programs.
Pathway to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Eligibility and $10,000 Award
International students who complete the Chemical Engineering Technology diploma and meet all GPA entrance requirements can transition into NAIT’s 2-year Bachelor of Technology in Management (BTech) degree program and recieve a $10,000 award to support your studies. Graduates of the BTech program are eligible to apply for a PGWP.
Learn about the BTech International Pathway
