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Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation Certificate

Northern Lights College

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Intake
  • Fall
Study Options
  • Work
    Experience
  • Training Type
    Foundation
  • Program Start Date
    September
  • Campuses
    Dawson Creek

    Resources

    Need more information about Dawson Creek?

    City of Dawson Creek
    Fort St. John

    Resources

    Need more information about Fort St. John?

    City of Fort St. John
  • Length
    34 weeks
  • Tuition Estimate
    (domestic students)
    $4,000
  • Book & Supplies Cost Estimates
    $1,900
  • Credential Granted
    • Certificate
    • Trades Foundation Program
  • Learning Method Options
    • Face-to-Face
    • Off-site

Learning Method Option:

  • Face-to-Face: Program is fully delivered in class with face-to-face interaction
  • Online: Program is fully delivered online
  • Blended (Face-to-Face + Online): Program is delivered using a combination of face-to-face and online learning
  • Off-site: All or part of program is delivered in a physical location away from regular classroom/campus

Looking for ways to fund your education? Check out NLC's financial aid and awards page.

Application Deadline Advice

Qualified applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Early application is recommended.

Verify dates and deadlines directly with NLC. 

Application Fee: $25 (domestic students); $100 (international students)

1) Program Admission Requirements

Academic (minimum grade needed in brackets)

There are four ways to enter this Program. Choose from ONE OF the following options. 

Option A: 

1. Completion of Grade 10 or equivalent

2. English

One of:

  • English 10 (C+)
  • English 11 (C+)
  • English 12 (C+)
  • NLC's ENGL 030 (C+)
  • Equivalent

3. Math

One of:

  • Apprenticeship and Workplace Math 10 (C+)
  • Math 11 (C)
  • Math 12 (C)
  • NLC's MATH 030 (C+)
  • NLC's MATH 031 (C+)
  • NLC's MATH 035 (C+)
  • Equivalent 

Option B:
Completion of ESTR 037 (Intermediate-Level Essential Skills for Trades) with 67% or higher

Option C:
Completion of the following sections of the Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT)*:

  • Reading Comprehension (11.0)
  • Number Operations (11.0)
  • Problem Solving (11.0)
  • Mechanical Reasoning (51/70, 6th Stanine or higher)

Note(*): Based on the results of your assessment(s), you may be required to participate in an assessment interview to determine your admissibility. Interview may be conducted via teleconference if necessary. 

Option D:
Successful completion of NLC's POWER (People Obtaining Workplace Employment Requirements) program

Admission Advice

1. Dual credit students may enter the program by submitting secondary school transcripts indicating successful completion of Grade 10, including at least a C+ in English 10 and Math 10. 

2. If you do not meet the above admission requirements, you can gain program entry by successfully completing appropriate assessments and/or upgrading courses. Feedback on the Assessments will be provided to help you make informed decisions about appropriate selection of upgrading courses. For more details, please contact a NLC advisor.

3. Once studying in the Program, students must provide safety equipment, including footwear having CSA safety-toe protection and CSA safety glasses with clear lenses.

4. For applicants to the Dawson Creek Program and who are over the age of 19 before the first day of class, a Criminal Record Check (Schedule B) is required. Costs associated with the Criminal Record Check will be paid by the college. 

4. The program is affiliated with the Industry Training Authority and School District 60, School District 59, School District 81 and School District 87.


 

2) Institution Admission Requirements

Applicants also have to satisfy NLC's institution admission requirements as listed below.

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English Language Requirements

Each program has its own admission prerequisites and English language requirements. Program-specific English language requirements for NLC's programs are detailed separately in each program profile in the EducationPlannerBC Program Search Database.

Domestic students (and students from English-speaking countries) applying to NLC's undergraduate-level programs must meet one of the following:

  • English 12 (B)
  • English Studies 12 (B)
  • English Literature (B)
  • English First Peoples 12 (B)
  • English 050 (B)
  • English 099 (B)
  • one university-level English course (C)
  • complete the NLC Writing Assessment for appropriate course placement
For international students applying to NLC's undergraduate-level programs , including students who received their secondary education in another language other than English, must meet one of the following:
  • IELTS = overall score of 6.0 or higher, with no band less than 6.0*
  • TOEFL iBT = overall score of 78
  • Canadian Academic English Assessment (CAEL) = 60 overall band
  • Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment (CLBA) = 8 in each section
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) = 57
  • Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) = 76
  • CambridgeMichigan Language Assessment (CaMLA) = 69
  • NLC's English for Academic Purposes (EAP) 060-level Certificate
  • An English course at the post-secondary level (C)
  • completion of a post-secondary credential that is assessed as equivalent to a similar program from a reputable Canadian institution with its own appropriate English Language requirement
  • complete the NLC Writing Assessment for appropriate course placement
Note (*): If you meet the English proficiency requirement using an IELTS score and have a writing band of 6.0 or less, you are required to complete NLC English 099 with at least a "B" grade in your first semester at NLC.

Verify with NLC directly

General Admission Requirements (All Students)

Admission into all programs at NLC is based on the order in which applicants successfully complete all admission requirements for the individual program. The program-specific admission requirements are detailed within each program profile for Northern Lights College (NLC) in EducationPlannerBC's Program Search Database.

Many programs have a maximum number of seats available therefore, you are encouraged to apply early and complete any requirements.

BC Secondary School (or equivalent)

Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who are applying for admission to Northern Lights College must meet one of the following:

Academic and Career Programs - You must have one of the following:

  • Completion BC secondary school or equivalent
  • Be lacking no more than two courses from BC secondary school graduation (if available, these must be completed while attending the college)
  • Be accepted by special arrangement in view of your experience, maturity or ability

Academic Upgrading Programs - one of the following:

  • Be at least 17 years old and have been out of school for at least one year
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Receive special admission for entry

Vocational and Dual Credit Programs - You must:

  • Completion of Grade 10 is required for most programs. However, some programs require Grade 11 or 12 with specific prerequisite courses (detailed in the program profiles for NLC in EducationPlannerBC's Program Search Database)
Verify details with NLC directly.

Out-of-Province

Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who are applying for admission to Northern Lights College must meet one of the following:

Academic and Career Programs - You must have one of the following:

  • Completion BC secondary school or equivalent
  • Be lacking no more than two courses from BC secondary school graduation (if available, these must be completed while attending the college)
  • Be accepted by special arrangement in view of your experience, maturity or ability

Academic Upgrading Programs - one of the following:

  • Be at least 17 years old and have been out of school for at least one year
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Receive special admission for entry

Vocational and Dual Credit Programs - You must:

  • Completion of Grade 10 is required for most programs. However, some programs require Grade 11 or 12 with specific prerequisite courses (detailed in the program profiles for NLC in EducationPlannerBC's Program Search Database)

Verify details with NLC directly.

BC Transfer Student

If you have completed some post-secondary studies at another institution, you can possibly earn transfer credits toward your program at Northern Lights College (NLC). The BC Transfer Guide allows you to check on the transferability of your courses taken at another BC post-secondary institution.

Transfer credit is not done automatically. Students are responsible for initiating the transfer credit process. To receive transfer credit, you must submit an official transcript with your Application for Admission or Readmission along with a Transfer Credit Application Form. A detailed course description/outline may also be required before credit can be evaluated. For more details, please contact a NLC academic advisor.

Out-of-Province Transfer Student

If you have completed some post-secondary studies at another institution, you can possibly earn transfer credits toward your program at Northern Lights College (NLC). 

Transfer credit is not done automatically. Students are responsible for initiating the transfer credit process. To receive transfer credit, you must submit an official transcript with your Application for Admission or Readmission along with a Transfer Credit Application Form. A detailed course description/outline may also be required before credit can be evaluated. For more details, please contact a NLC academic advisor.

Mature Student

For admission purposes, a mature student is one who is over the age of 19 years, and who has been out of school for at least one year. Adults are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet specified admission prerequisites, given that other factors (such as maturity and work experience) may be considered.

If you do not meet minimum educational requirements for a desired program, you may enter Career and College Preparation (Upgrading) programs to upgrade your skills for the program of your choice. Students must provide official secondary school or post-secondary transcripts to indicate successful completion of admission prerequisites for programs.

International Student

For details on International Student admission, please check here.

Other Student (including Special Consideration)

Not Applicable

 

How to Apply

For details on applying to Northern Lights College, please check here.

Training in a program like this one can lead to different careers. Related occupations are presented to show potential career options, not definite outcomes.

Follow the links to learn more about these careers on WorkBC's career profiles.

Next Up: Apprenticeship

Taking a foundation program can help you build the skills that employers are looking for, making you well-positioned to find an employment in the trade and begin an apprenticeship.

Your technical and work-based training hours acquired from the Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation Certificate program will be counted towards your next step in training as an apprentice. To progress as an apprentice, you will need to find an employer who will sponsor your apprenticeship and register with the Industry Training Authority (ITA). You will then be able to complete the work-based (on-the-job) training hours and next level(s) of the apprenticeship training of your chosen trade in:

For updated details regarding the Industry Training Program, please refer to the above links for respective ITA program profiles.