Hands-on, industry-relevant training
Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology is a two-year diploma program consisting of four 15-week semesters. Studies include
- fluid mechanics
- petroleum chemistry
- fuel and hydraulic systems
- electricity and electronics
- fleet maintenance
- communications
- leadership
The training is divided equally into theoretical and practical learning. Local industrial field trips will be taken.
Train at NAIT
Students can expect to spend, on average
- 30 hours per week attending classes over the course of a semester
- 10 to 12 hours per week studying and completing class assignments
Training is provided at NAIT Main Campus in Edmonton. Some training is also delivered in the NAIT HET Building (11940 - 109 st NW), just north of Main Campus. Labs are fully equipped with mock-ups and training aids, which students disassemble, inspect and reassemble.
International Students
International applicants should please note the following:
- Study Permit: Admission into this 2-year credit program may qualify you for a study permit.
- Working in the Skilled Trades in Alberta: Graduates of this program may qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. However, study permit or work permit holders may not be eligible to indenture with Alberta Industry Training (AIT) upon completion of this program. Indenturing with AIT is a requirement to work as a technician in Alberta. Learn more about who can indenture.
International applicants seeking permissions to take this program can contact a NAIT academic advisor – international focus to discuss options.
International Students
International applicants should please note the following:
- Study Permit: Admission into this 2-year credit program may qualify you for a study permit.
- Working in the Skilled Trades in Alberta: Graduates of this program may qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. However, study permit or work permit holders may not be eligible to indenture with Alberta Industry Training (AIT) upon completion of this program. Indenturing with AIT is a requirement to work as a technician in Alberta. Learn more about who can indenture.
International applicants seeking permissions to take this program can contact a NAIT academic advisor – international focus to discuss options.
Career Outcomes
Job Opportunities
- Automotive Technician Apprentice
- Heavy Equipment Technician
- Millwright Apprentice
Industries
- Large firms, planning preventative maintenance programs
- Sales
- Purchasing
Median Starting Salary
The expected starting salary for individuals with a(n) Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology Diploma is $56,000.
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.
Download report
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.
Apprenticeship
Graduates will generally apprentice as heavy equipment technicians. Occasionally, they may apprentice as automotive technicians or millwrights, or enter larger firms, planning preventive maintenance programs.
During the four semesters of Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology program training, graduates will apply to Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to challenge period exams for the Heavy Equipment apprenticeship program. Those who become indentured apprentices may be granted credit toward any of the possible heavy equipment technician specialties with type and amount of credit determined by their employer.
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.
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Work Experience Placements
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 2 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
Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.
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
International Applicants
This program accepts international students.
PGWP Eligibility
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requirements. Students must still meet all other PGWP eligibility requirements, including full-time and in-person study requirements.
International Apprentice Pathway
You can register as an apprentice in a skilled trade after you graduate. Be aware that:
- Apprentices who have not completed their journeyperson certificate cannot apply for Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Completing the required hours to become a journeyperson will take longer than three years, so it cannot be done during your PGWP.
- Graduates of NAIT's trade diploma programs may qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) through Express Entry.
This is a compulsory certification trade. To work in a compulsory certification trade, a person must either hold a recognized trade certificate or be a registered apprentice in the trade. Compulsory certification trades usually involve work where public and worker safety needs to be closely monitored.
Questions? Talk to an International Recruitment Specialist
Learn more about PGWP and explore eligible NAIT programs.
