When Tucker was done reading “The Easiest Order To Write Your Power Engineering Exams” in the comments he asked, “Where did you get the credit to get the full steam time from 4th-1st within 3.75 years? Curious to know if there are any courses out there to reduce steam time for 2nd/1st. Thank you.”
This comment reminded me of when I was in that exact situation, looking for an approved online course to reduce my required firing time. It was/is difficult to find which Colleges or Universities are offering approved online programs/courses to reduce the required firing time to complete your certification.
Throughout 4th to 1st class I completed online Power Engineering distance learning courses to reduce my required firing time. Here is a summary of the courses I completed through each class to reduce my required firing time.
4th Class – NAIT program completion = 6 month required firing time reduction. 12 month required firing time to 6 month required firing time with completing an approved distance learning course. If tackling your 4th Class through distance learning it’s now a requirement to complete an approved course to qualify to take a 4th Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination. From the ABSA website: “Qualification for 4th Class Examination, a candidate must have successfully completed a 4th class course in power engineering satisfactory to the Administrator.”
3rd Class – NAIT Program completion = 6 month required firing time reduction. 12 month required firing time to 6 month required firing time with completing an approved distance learning course. From the ABSA website: “The Administrator may grant 6 months’ credit towards the work experience for the successful completion of a 3rd class power engineering course.”
2nd Class – NAIT Part A, SAIT Part B Program completion = 9 month required firing time reduction. 24 month required firing time to 15 month required firing time with completing an approved distance learning course. From the ABSA website: “The Administrator may grant 9 months’ credit towards the work experience required by the successful completion of a 2nd class power engineering course.”
1st Class – SAIT program completion = 12 month required firing time reduction. 30 month required firing time reduction to 18 month required firing time with completing an approved distance learning course. From the ABSA website: “The Administrator may grant 12 months’ credit towards the experience for successful completion of a course in power engineering satisfactory to the Administrator that leads towards a 1st Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination.”
Note: This is a summary of my experience while completing my Power Engineering examinations. The regulations have already changed for 4th Class. Make sure you check with your local jurisdiction for the regulations specific to your situation.
With Tuckers question in mind here is a list of all the Power Engineering distance learning courses across Canada I’m aware of.
The Power Engineering distance learning programs are separated by province, much like the Power Engineering Steam Labs & Your Complete List Of Power Engineering Programs posts.
If you’re looking for a summary of all the Power Engineering Training Courses available across Canada. You can read more about all of the 75 plus Full Time, Distance Learning, Exam Prep and Steam Lab available courses here Power Engineering Training Courses
If you’ve already completed a Power Engineering distance learning course(s), from one of the Colleges or Universities listed below, make sure you fill out the poll at the bottom of the post. The poll has been set up to enable multiple votes. I’ve voted NAIT & SAIT. It’ll be interesting to see where the majority of Power Engineers completed their distance learning courses.
Power Engineering Distance Learning Courses British Columbia
British Columbia Institute Of Technology “BCIT”
Location: Burnaby, British Columbia
Course Name: Power Engineering
Program: Firing time reduction for 4th Class Certification, 3rd Class Certification, 2nd Class Certification, 1st Class Certification.
Find out more information here: BCIT Power Engineering
Find out more information here: Power Engineering Distance Learning Brochure
Power Engineering Distance Learning Courses Alberta
Northern Alberta Institute Of Technologies “NAIT”
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Course Name: Power Engineering Computer Managed Learning Course
Program: Firing time reduction for 5th Class Certification, 4th Class Certification, 3rd Class Certification, 2nd Class Certification Part A.
Find out more information here: NAIT Power Engineering Computer Managed Learning Courses
Southern Alberta Institute Of Technologies “SAIT”
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Course Name: Power Engineering Certificate Of Achievements
Program: Firing time reduction for 5th Class Certification, 4th Class Certification, 3rd Class Certification, 2nd Class Certification, 1st Class Certification.
Find out more information here: 5th Class Power Engineering Certificate Of Achievement
4th Class Power Engineering Certificate Of Achievement
3rd Class Power Engineering Certificate Of Achievement
2nd Class Power Engineering Certificate Of Achievement
1st Class Power Engineering Certificate Of Achievement
Lakeland College
Location: Lloydminster, Alberta
Course Name: Power Engineering – Online & Blended Learning
Program: Firing time reduction for 4th Class Certification, 3rd Class Certification, 2nd Class Certification.
Find out more information here: 4th Class Power Engineering – Online & Blended Learning
3rd Class Power Engineering – Online & Blended Learning
2nd Class Power Engineering – Online & Blended Learning
Keyano College
Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Course Name: Power Engineering – Computer Managed Learning
Program: Firing time reduction for 4th Class Certification, 3rd Class Certification.
Find out more information here: Keyano College Power Engineering – Computer Managed Learning
Northern Lakes College
Location: Peace River, AB
Course Name: Power Engineering 5th/4th/3rd Class
Program: Firing time reduction for 5th Class Certification, 4th Class Certification, 3rd Class Certification.
Find out more information here: Power Engineering 5th Class
Power Engineering Distance Learning Courses Saskatchewan
Lakeland College
Location: Lloydminster, Alberta
Course Name: Power Engineering – Online & Blended Learning
Program: Firing time reduction for 4th Class Certification, 3rd Class Certification, 2nd Class Certification.
Find out more information here: 4th Class Power Engineering – Online & Blended Learning
3rd Class Power Engineering – Online & Blended Learning
2nd Class Power Engineering – Online & Blended Learning
Power Engineering Distance Learning Courses Manitoba
Red River College
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Course Name: Power Engineering
Program: Firing time reduction for 5th Class Certification, 4th Class Certification, 3rd Class Certification.
Find out more information here: Red River College – 5th Class Power Engineering
Red River College – 4th Class Power Engineering
Red River College – 3rd Class Power Engineering
Power Engineering Distance Learning Courses Ontario
Location: Ontario, Canada
Course Name: Power Engineering Training Services
Program: Firing time reduction for 4th Class Certification, 3rd Class Certification, 2nd Class Certification, 1st Class Certification.
Find out more information here: 4th Class Power Engineering Training Services
3rd Class Power Engineering Training Services
2nd Class Power Engineering Training Services
1st Class Power Engineering Training Services
Power Engineering Distance Learning Courses Quebec
Does the rest of Eastern Canada, not offer distance learning Power Engineering programs? Do you know of any? Let me know in the comments below.
Power Engineering Distance Learning Courses Prince Edward Island
…
Power Engineering Courses Newfoundland
…
Power Engineering Courses Nova Scotia
…
Power Engineering Courses New Brunswick
…

If you haven’t completed a distance learning Power Engineering course, click the blue “View Results” below, to see where Power Engineers have completed theirs. Multiple votes have been enabled for this poll.
Note: I imagine this list will evolve over time as more Power Engineering distance learning courses are offered. If you are aware of any other courses throughout Canada that are not on the list, let me know in the comments below, with the website link and I’ll add them. I imagine there is as, I have a hard time believe none of the Universities or Colleges offer such a course in Eastern Canada.
Check out Cambrian College in Sudbury Ontario for Second Class. Also http://www.pwrengtraining.ca …. I’m not sure of their validity but worth a look.
I checked out Cambrian College and couldn’t find anything for online distance learning programs. I believe they have three different full time Power Engineering programs which is impressive. I have those listed here https://www.powerengineering101.com/complete-list-power-engineering-programs/
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll definitely check them out and see which jurisdictions approve their course.
Thanks Porter.
Cambrian college does offer their program now online, however I believe it is without any time reduction. Classes are streamed online and work material is online
Hi Joe,
Thank you for the heads up. I’ll check this out and update my list.
Robbie
I’m thinking of doing correspondence through NAIT. Do you need to get the textbooks like SAIT requires you to or is everything online?
John,
When I completed my 4th, 3rd, and first half of 2nd Class NAIT correspondence course from 2011-2012 I was required to purchase the textbooks. I’d imagine that’s still the case as I haven’t heard of Pan Global having approved online textbooks or E-books.
Ya you’re right. Thanks for the reply! How did you manage to complete your 3rd in 6 months? I just registered for the 3rd class A correspondence course. They give you a 52 weeks but I would love to finish both A & B as quick as you did. Any tips?
John,
It was definitely a lot of studying in a short amount of time to complete my 3rd Class in 6 months. One thing that helped me was having friends each working on their 3rd class at the same time. We’d all study together and have a competition amongst ourselves who could do better on the Part B exams when we wrote them.
I see that NAIT is still offering online courses. However I cannot find any info that it will help reduce the steam time in Ontario (I’m in Toronto). I tried to contact TSSA but have no response so far. Do you have any clue?
I need to update the links to the Lakeland College websites under the Power Engineering Distance Learning Courses Alberta & Saskatchewan for the following:
4th Class – https://web.lakelandcollege.ca/academics/continuing-edu/course/con_ed03081201.aspx
3rd Class – https://web.lakelandcollege.ca/academics/continuing-edu/course/con_ed03081202.aspx
Thank you.
Looking to do forth class power engineering online in Ontario. Is there anywhere to do this that know of? Or can I register to SAIT/NAIT and complete from Ontario? Currently living in Calgary but moving to Ontario this fall. Any help is appreciated. Thanks David
hi
i am from manitoba and preparing for class 4 examination. I did it previously i got 63%.
I have to do next attempt.
I am very confident about clear 4-A , i am planning to join any online course for 4-B .
can someone please help me out to choose online course , which college is better to understand and learn course . Do they provide online tutorials for learning .?
thanks.
How do you get your steam time if doing the course online?
Most power engineers are already working at a facility where they can or have obtained their steam time. Others purchase steam labs from SAIT & NAIT to get their hours. Here is a post you might find interesting: https://powerengineering101.com/a-list-of-4th-class-power-engineering-jobs/
Can u get study in any province and allowed to work in other provinces or not
Hello,
I am a 3rd class power engineer in New Brunswick who recently graduated from a two year power engineering program and I am currently working on my 2nd class papers. I am wondering if it is possible to take anyone of these distance learning programs in another province and have it reduce my steam time here in NB? Any clarification on this matter would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Does anyone know the difference between the NAIT and Lakeland online courses? I’m deciding which one to take.
Hello Blair,
I personally took my distance learning through NAIT to reduce my steam time for 4th Class Power Engineering. We have no experience with Lakeland College online courses to provide a solid recommendation either way.
To your success,
Robbie
Power Engineering 101
https://powerengineering101.com/reviews/