Power engineering is a career choice with many different options for employment and great potential for career advancement. If you are looking for a rewarding career working with industrial equipment and machinery, we can help you get there.
Please Note: The power engineering technology diploma is a competitive entry program. Meeting minimum published admission averages does not guarantee admission to the program. Applying as early as possible and maintaining high averages in the required high school courses will make you a more competitive applicant.
Medicine Hat College is redesigning the online display of programs and courses and some content on this page may no longer be accurate. For official program information, please refer to the current academic calendar.
Learn about tuition and fees or download a program planning guide.
Power engineers supervise, operate and maintain machinery and boilers that provide power, heat, refrigeration and other utility services to industrial and commercial facilities. They are responsible for the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of industrial equipment such as boilers, steam and gas turbines, generators, gas and diesel internal combustion engines, pumps, condensers, compressors, pressure vessels and related controls. In large industrial or building complexes, they may also be responsible for heating, air-conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, fire systems and building control systems.
Medicine Hat College offers a two-year Power Engineering Diploma program where students are taken to the second class level and able to write the first part of their second class exams upon graduation. This makes students more desirable to employers and opens the door to many more job options. Our power engineering building boasts a modern, state-of-the-art lab which provides an actual plant environment so that we can provide you with the practical experience required by leading companies.
We also offer small lab groups, allowing you ample hands-on operating time. If you enjoy controlling and operating manual and automated systems, analyzing information and solving problems, and having clear rules and organized methods for your work, power engineering may be a good fit for you. People drawn to this field tend to have a mechanical and electrical aptitude, good eye-hand co-ordination and an ability to work well with others in a team environment.
The working conditions vary considerably, from being stationed in a control room environment, to power generating stations in industrial plants or buildings. Career satisfaction and excelling at one’s job are some of the greatest rewards in the field of power engineering. The job market is at a peak and in recent years students from our program have experienced a 95 percent employment rate upon graduation, and usually earn above average wages.
Graduates of this program will find employment opportunities with:
High School
High school diploma and a minimum 60% standing in
Mature Student
Even though a high school diploma is not required for program admission, some employers may require it.
First Year Block 1: PLAB 116 First Lab PLAC 111 Field Placement* POWE 141 Introductory Mechanics & Thermodynamics POWE 142 Safety POWE 143 Introduction to Boilers Block 2: PLAB 117 Second Lab POWE 146 Introductory Prime Movers & Types of Plants POWE 147 Introductory Electricity and Instrumentation POWE 148 Refridgeration and Air Conditioning Block 3: PLAB 118 Third Lab POWE 151 Intermediate Mechanics and Thermodynamics POWE 152 Metallurgy POWE 153 Codes and Drawings POWE 154 Intermediate Electricity and Instrumentation
Second Year Block 4: PLAB 219 Fourth Lab POWE 260 Intermediate Boiler POWE 261 Intermediate Prime Movers POWE 262 Water Treatment & Special Equipment Block 5: POWE 265 Advanced Boilers POWE 266 Advanced Pumps & Water Treatment POWE 270 Advanced Codes POWE 271 Plant Installation & Management POWE 272 Advanced Mechanics POWE 280 Advanced Thermodynamics POWE 281 Advanced Metallurgy Students are responsible for: You are responsible for the cost of obtaining safety certification in Standard First Aid with CPR, H2S Alive, and Confined Space Entry before being eligible for PLAC 111 (Field Placement). Copies of these safety certificates must be on file with the PLAC 111 instructor by the date stated in the course outline.
Power Engineering courses require a current version of PanGlobal Training System textbook sets for the 4th Class, 3rd Class and 2nd Class (Part A1, A2 & A3).
Students can purchase the required course PanGlobal Training System textbook sets through the MHC Bookstore by either in-store ordering or by e-mail MHCBookstore@mhc.ab.ca.
To successfully complete this program you must:
You can explore short-term education abroad opportunities in countries such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Ecuador. Visit the International Mobility Program section to find out more.
Medicine Hat College distributes over $300,000 in scholarships and bursaries each year. Applying online is easy!
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There are several options to assist you in funding your education at MHC. Find out what option is best for you.
Vince studied Power Engineering at MHC and is now the Chief Steam Engineer at Canadian Fertilizers in Medicine Hat. He says "looking back at my College experience, I am grateful that I was able to get a highly relevant and high quality education, in my home town, that allowed me to have a gainful and fulfilling career."
He says "looking back at my College experience, I am grateful that I was able to get a highly relevant and high quality education, in my home town, that allowed me to have a gainful and fulfilling career."
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