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Online 4th Class Power Engineering

Energy

Contact Us

Jessica Amundrud
Energy Enrolment Specialist
 780 871 5429
 780 808 0006
Ask me your questions

Contact Us

Weiwei Li
Energy Academic Advisor
 weiwei.li@lakelandcollege.ca
 780 871 5498
 

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Schedule time with Jessica
LocationOnline
CredentialCertificate
Program Length1 year
Delivery MethodOnline

Go online to earn your 4th class power engineering certification.

Our online program is offered in two 16-week parts (A & B). Both parts are self-study and offered in the fall and winter each year. When you're done, you will be prepared to write ABSA's provincial exams.

960 hours (6 months) of steam time is also required and can be completed on your own or enrol in EN 131, a self-directed practicum course, and receive a Lakeland College Certificate in addition to provincial certification.

Lakeland advantages:
  • Our program is accredited by the Alberta government and recognized by the Alberta Boilers Safety Association (ABSA)
  • Lakeland offers an on-campus steam lab for certifying time.
  • If you need a math and physics refresher, first take our online pre-engineering & applied mechanics course.
  • After completing your first year, you have a direct path into your 2nd year of courses at Lakeland.
  • Instructor supported & eligible for student loans.

Requirements

  1. Proof of English language proficiency

Notes:

As you prepare for your start date, review this important information.

Enrolment is the final step after you've been accepted.

  • You will self-register in your courses.
  • You can expect an email from the Office of the Registrar beginning one week before registration opens. It will include instructions on how to self-register and pay tuition using My Lakeland.

If you completed relevant courses at another post-secondary institution, you may be eligible for transfer credit. Apply for transfer credit at least 2 months before classes start by completing the transfer credit form.

Review all of the other ways Lakeland does prior learning assessments.

When you complete Part A and Part B (EN 128 and EN 129) with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.3 you will be issued a letter of completion. This is a requirement to write the Alberta Boilers Safety Association (ABSA) provincial exam.

If you successfully complete the optional steam time practicum (EN 131), you will be awarded a Lakeland College Fourth Class Power Engineering certificate.

Online learning has advantages, especially if you are "learning while earning" or are simply too far away to commute to training.

What Lakeland College expects of you

If you are thinking about online learning with Lakeland College, here's what we expect from you. To:

  • have access to a computer and high speed internet
  • have a supported browser and browser tools
  • have computer and web skills in order to do course work
  • read and write in English as all of our courses are conducted in English
  • commit to at least 20 hours per week for this program
  • complete exams and quizzes within the timelines provided
  • register for your online course at least 2 weeks before the start date

Online requirements

Most Lakeland College online courses will use Lakeland's learning management system, Desire2Learn or Microsoft Teams.

You aren't limited to a particular type of computer or smart device. But, you do have to have particular browsers and other software.

Most web platforms require:

  • up-to-date web browsers including Chrome, Edge and Mozilla Firefox
  • enabled cookies
  • enabled JavaScript

If you aren't sure what any of those requirements are, do a quick systems check on the D2L page. It will tell you if your computer is set up properly.

Tips for online success

Time management is a critical part of taking an online course. Because you don't have a scheduled time to be in a classroom, you often must schedule time to work on the course. Here are some helpful hints. Power engineering is more demanding than some of our other courses.

  1. Commit at least 20 hours per week to your program.
  2. Pace yourself--often it's easier to complete an hour a day instead of cramming all the work into a single evening or weekend.
  3. Plan your work--Look over your assignments and create a calendar with deadlines. This road map will help you manage your time and get you to your destination.
  4. Know yourself--If you procrastinate, identify how you waste time and learn strategies to improve your time management.
  5. You can also check out our free online resources including Grammarly and online study skills.

More program details

2025-26 tuition and fees

Part Tuition and program fees Estimated books and supplies Mandatory fees
Part A $1,675 $1,298 $57.50
Part B $1,675 $1,298 $57.50
Our tuition and fees page has details about academic, application and mandatory fees and their cost breakdown per term.

Optional steam time

You may choose either EN 131 or QTRA 231 to complete your ABSA steam time requirements.

Refund policy

Once registration for an online course has been activated, there are no refunds.

To earn Lakeland's 4th class power engineering certificate you must take all 3 courses: EN 128, 129 and EN 131 OR QTRA 231.

This is a self-paced online course study of the Pan Global 4th Class Power Engineering material leading to provincial certification. The SOPEEC curriculum, which is used by all provincial power engineering regulatory bodies, has been used as a benchmark for the development of this course. Prerequisites: At present there are no prerequisites. However, it is strongly recommended the potential students have a good understanding of both math and physics. Pre/co-requisites: None 

This is an self-paced online course study, Part B, of the Pan Global 4th Class Power Engineering material leading to provincial certification. The SOPEEC curriculum, which is used by all provincial power engineering regulatory bodies, has been used as a benchmark for the development of this course. Prerequisites: At present there are no prerequisites. However it is recommended the potential student has a good understanding of physics and math. Co-requisites: none

This course is an evaluated power engineering/steam work experience leading to provincial certification. Work experience includes demonstrating safety procedures while working with boilers, pumps, compressors, prime movers, water treatment, air conditioning and refrigeration, and process controls. Practicum must be completed in a facility suitable under Power Engineering Regulation. Before registering for this course, students must have applied for 4th Class Part A government examinations. P/F. Prerequisites: EN 128 & EN 129. Co-requisites: None
  • A pass mark in EN 128 and EN 129 are required to write the ABSA provincial exams.
  • 65% is the passing mark for each course. This is also the Alberta Boilers Safety Association (ABSA) passing grade.​
  • Provincial exams will be booked on your own.

Steam Time

ABSA requires 960 hours/6 months of steam time at a properly rated facility to complete your 4th class certificate of competency. Your options for completing steam time are:

  • Find a placement on your own and enrol in EN 131. This practicum course enriches and guides your experience, allowing you to get the most out of your experience.
  • Complete our 5-week steam lab (QTRA 231) to get all the hours you need.

Completion of EN 131 or the steam lab will also allow you to receive a 4th class power engineering certificate from Lakeland College.

If you have questions about the steam time practicum or anything else about the program, please contact Weiwei Li:

The academic schedule found below includes refund information, deadlines, events and holidays. Most programs follow the same schedule, but any variations can be found here.

  • There are two intake dates every academic year - one in August and one in January.
  • You must apply and be accepted before you can register for courses.
  • Once accepted, you can expect an email from the academic advisor beginning 1 week before registration opens. It will include instructions on how to self-register to enrol and pay tuition using the Lumens platform.
    • You may enrol in Part A or Part B at either time.
    • Each course is 16-weeks long.
  • To complete the certificate you need to complete 6 months (960 hours) of steam time. This can be done through:

You may also complete the requred steam time on your own. Talk to the energy academic advisor to discuss your options.

Applications Open: Oct 2, 2024 Close: Aug 14, 2025

Course Registration Opens: July 2, 2025 Close: Aug 21, 2025. Fees due in full at time of registration.

Registration Day/Classes Begin: Aug 25, 2025. No refund after start date.

Last day to withdraw with "W" grade: Nov 3, 2025

Last day of classes: Dec 12, 2025

College Closed: Sept 30, Oct 13 and Nov 11, 2025

Applications Open: May 7, 2025 Close: Jan 5, 2026

Course Registration Opens: Nov 3, 2025 Close: Jan 8, 2026. Fees due in full at time of registration.

Registration Day/Classes Begin: Jan 12, 2026. No refund after start date.

Last day to withdraw with "W" grade: Mar 19, 2026

Last day of classes: May 1, 2026

College Closed: Apr 3-6, 2026

You will require a variety of books and supplies for your program.

Specifics are outlined in the drop-downs below.

If you have questions regarding books and/or supplies, please contact:

Weiwei Li, Academic Advisor

Notice: Pan Global Training Systems, our primary provider of textbooks and learning materials, has annouced its decision to wind down operations over the next three months. The Lakeland College bookstore has purchased textbooks equal to 70% of our student capacity. We expect this order to arrive mid-May.

For purchase inquiries, please email the bookstore or call 780 853 8409. For technical inquiries, please email Simon Stilgoe, chair of the energy department.

Required books are listed by publisher and approximate costs are noted for your budget.

Please note:

  • Pan Global is winding down its textbook and supplies sales. The Lakeland College bookstore will be stocking texts with the initial supply arriving in mid-May.
  • eBooks may be purchased as an alternative. The facultyrecommends hard copies as highlighting and annotations are far easier to make and the books are easier to reference while taking online quizzes.
  • All codes and regulations must be hard copies.
  • Sponsored students - if your sponsor is paying for your books, please contact the Lakeland Bookstore at 780 871 5726 to have your books ordered and ready for pick up.

Pan Global - is halting textbook sales. Textbooks will be available at the Lakeland Bookstore. Please see above.

  • 4th Class Power Engineering: Pan Global Edition 3.0 or newer, i.e., 3.5 Edition, $1,250 Part A1, A2, B1, B2 Note: No text older than 3.0 may be used.
  • Current Academic Supplement (2.0 Edition). $74
  • 2018 Pan Global ASME Academic Extract Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (Vol. 1). $324
  • Extract of CSA Standards B51:19 and B52:18 $300

Alberta Kings Printer

  • Safety Codes Act ISBN 9780779836628 $8
  • Power Engineers Regulation 85/2003 ISBN 9780779805839 $6
  • Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation 169/2006 ISBN 9780779790067 $6
  • Pressure Welders Regulation 169/2002 ISBN 9780779835867 $6
  • Pressure Equipment Exemption Order 56/2006 ISBN 9780779818402 $4

  • non-programmable scientific calculator (check ABSA approved calculators)
  • Webster's New World College Dictionary 5th edition: Editors of Webster's New World College Dictionary ISBN  9781328859440
  • 30 cm ruler and or drawing templates
  • binders/paper/pens/whiteout/highlighters and other standard stationery supplies
  • laptop/notebook either Windows or Mac - MS Office 365 is supplied free of charge

Lakeland options

If plan to go on to higher classifications at Lakeland, there are a couple options available.

Lakeland offers lots of energy-related professional development and continuing education programs. Check our professional energy training page for additional options.

Related programs

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Process and Power Engineering

3rd class power engineer

3rd Class Power Engineering Certificate