Heavy Equipment Technician
Ontario College Diploma
4 Semesters / 2 Years
School of Skilled Trades
Key Details
Program Start Dates
September 2025
Please visit Ontario College Application Service to learn more about start dates.
Credential
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Program Duration
6 Semesters / 3 YearsProgram Contacts
Daryl Charette
Program Coordinator / Professor
daryl.charette@cambriancollege.ca
International Admissions
mailboxadmissions@cambriancollege.ca
Program Overview
Create your vision of how the world should be constructed
Our nationally-accredited program prepares you to become a working member of civil engineering teams across Canada that are responsible for building, maintaining, and restoring roads, bridges, buildings, water distribution systems, and pipelines. Make your vision a reality with courses focused on applying professionalism towards design, drafting, supervision of projects, interpretation of data, cost estimating, scheduling, asset management, project management, feasibility studies, surveying, and technical report writing.
You’ll gain hands-on experience in Cambrian’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) laboratories. You’ll use cutting-edge technology to learn surveying and drafting. Upon graduation, you qualify to work anywhere in Canada.
Program Highlights
Program highlights
- Nationally-accredited program through Technology Accreditation Canada (TAC)
- Learn from industry-experienced faculty in modern labs
- Common first and second year with Cambrian’s Civil Engineering Technician program
- Field trips to local civil engineering companies and completed work sites
- Hands-on experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)
- Opportunity to gain summer employment through the Infrastructure Opportunities Partnership (IOP) and Municipal Engineering Opportunities Partnership (MEOP)
- Grads may be eligible to join the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) and the Canadian Technical Employment Network (CTEN)
Admissions
Admission requirements
For graduates of the new curriculum (OSS): Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits) or equivalent or mature student status, including:
- Any grade 12 English (C) or (U)
- Any grade 12 mathematics (C) or (U) (MCT4C is highly recommended)
International Student Admissions
Are you an international student? Learn more about additional requirements.
Learn moreAdditional admission requirements
Recommendations
- Any grade 12 physics (C) or (U)
- Computer competency in relevant software
Academic Upgrading
Are you missing admission requirements? Strengthen your academic skills for free at your own pace through Academic Upgrading!
Program delivery
Program delivery
2025-2026
Fall term start
- Semester 1: Fall 2025
- Semester 2: Winter 2026
- Semester 3: Fall 2026
- Semester 4: Winter 2027
- Semester 5: Fall 2027
- Semester 6: Winter 2028
Program of Study
Program of study for 2025-26 Academic Year
Students are required to successfully complete an online Lab Safety course (in Moodle) when starting their program at Cambrian. This course must be completed prior to entering the labs (as identified in the table below) in the Schools of Skills Training, Engineering Technology and Environmental Studies.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CIV 1200 | Concrete & Asphalt 1 | 4 |
| CIV 2331 | Construction Technology | 4 |
| ENG 1002 | College Communications | 3 |
| MTH 1050 | Algebra I | 3 |
| SUR 1116 | Surveying I 1 | 5 |
| One General Education course. 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 22 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CAD 1001 | Engineering Graphics | 3 |
| ENG 1754 | Technical Communication | 3 |
| MCH 1205 | Mechanics | 5 |
| MTH 1250 | Algebra II | 3 |
| SUR 1220 | Surveying II 1 | 5 |
| SUR 1233 | Survey Field Methods | 2 |
| One General Education course. 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 24 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| CAD 1200 | Computer Aided Drafting II | 2 |
| CIV 2300 | Soil Mechanics I 1 | 4 |
| CIV 2302 | Civil Engineering Applications | 3 |
| CIV 2421 | Basic Hydraulics | 3 |
| MCH 2310 | Strength Of Materials I | 4 |
| MTH 2325 | Technical Math III | 3 |
| ENV 1027 | Sustainable Practices | 3 |
| Credits | 22 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| CIV 2431 | Municipal Planning | 4 |
| CIV 2403 | Structural Behaviour & Detailing | 4 |
| CIV 2404 | Computer Aided Structural Detailing | 3 |
| CIV 3500 | Special Projects 1 | 4 |
| CIV 3520 | Contracts Law & Specifications | 4 |
| One General Education course. 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 22 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| CIV 2410 | Soil Mechanics II | 4 |
| CIV 2430 | Municipal Services | 4 |
| CIV 3510 | Structural Design | 4 |
| MCH 2410 | Strength Of Materials II | 4 |
| CIV 3560 | Construction Project Management | 3 |
| TEC 3501 | Technical Report Research | 1 |
| CIV 3511 | Infrastructure Asset Management | 3 |
| Credits | 23 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| CIV 3600 | Foundations | 5 |
| CIV 3630 | Reinforced Concrete | 4 |
| CIV 3640 | Highway Design | 4 |
| GIS 3600 | GIS Applications | 3 |
| MTH 2332 | Applied Calculus | 3 |
| TEC 3601 | Technical Report | 1 |
| Credits | 20 | |
| Total Credits | 133 | |
- 1
-
Course with Lab Component
- 2
-
For more information regarding General Education courses, click here.
Fees
Tuition Cost
Important Notice
Fees presented are estimates based on projections for future academic year(s) of study. Actual fees charged may differ from what is published here. A full detailed listing of all fees is available in myCambrian and updated annually no later than May 1 for the following academic year. Students in Academic Upgrading are responsible for any fees listed on their invoice each term.
Tuition and ancillary fees
Please see our fees page for the breakdown of tuition and mandatory ancillary fees by program and semester for both domestic and international students.
Books and supplies
Books and supplies may be required at the course level over and above what is estimated above. Please consult your professor/instructor and course outlines for further information.
College may be more affordable than you think!
Have you said, “school can wait another year”? Don’t sacrifice your future any longer – you can do it!
Whether it’s fear, financial reasons, or something else that is impacting your decision to start school, we’re here to listen to you and help in any way we can!
Work-integrated learning (WIL)
Take your education beyond the classroom!
Cambrian programs blend academic learning, hands-on training, and community involvement opportunities to help you achieve your ultimate goal – your dream career. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios within and outside of the classroom through work-integrated learning. Whether it be a capstone project, co-op, practicum, preceptorship component, or placement, you’ll benefit from a practical, job-related experience before you graduate.
Work-integrated learning (WIL) resources
Your program may give you the opportunity to gain practical work experience through a capstone project, co-op, practicum, preceptorship component, or placement. Before starting your program it’s important to understand the differences between the opportunities as well as the requirements.
Field of Study
School of Engineering Technology
Imagine a career in a cutting-edge laboratory or inside a mine 5,000 feet below the ground or on-site constructing a skyscraper. At Cambrian, learning isn’t confined to textbooks. From chemical and civil engineering to mechatronics, mechanical, and more, at our School of Engineering Technology, you’ll gain the skills you need to bring a wide range of engineering theories to life.
Specific program pathways
College or university degree opportunities
If you are a graduate of this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian’s college and university agreement details for further information.
Career Outcomes
Need a career coach?
Explore how this program can lead to a great career! Cambrian’s Career Coach platform is a user-friendly, online tool that provides up-to-date and comprehensive labour market data to help you explore career options, salary expectations for the Greater Sudbury region, and more!
See where you'll be learning!
Minimum technology requirements
Success in this program requires that you come equipped with some program-specific technology requirements.
Minimum technology requirements
The Civil Engineering Technician and Technology programs make use of various advanced industry software applications that require a moderately high-performance computer. Where the software will operate at the “minimum” specifications (listed below), poor (slow) performance and some limitations may occur during some operations. The “recommended” specifications listed should allow for smooth operation with sufficient performance and reasonably advanced use for up to 3-5 years if well maintained.
It is suggested that prospective students start to shop early, watch to take advantage of sales on outgoing models, and consider ignoring unnecessary features such as touch-screens and AI/Copilot+ PCs to save money.
Many college and industry-standard software applications and technologies are not available or compatible with Apple/Mac computers that students are strongly discouraged from using in these programs.
Where (basic) computers (or devices) are required for course content, grades, information and resource access immediately; heavy program computer use with applications begins at the start of the 2nd semester in January.
- Laptop computer with a webcam, mouse, and a reliable internet connection. Numeric keypad recommended.
- Operating System: 64-Bit MS Windows 11
- Processor (CPU): Minimum: 2.5-2.9GHz (base)
- Recommended: 3+ GHz (base) with 4+ GHz (turbo)
- Intel preferred (higher Gen and GHz as priority over number of cores)
- Graphics (GPU): Minimum: 2GB dedicated VRAM with 29GB/s bandwidth + DirectX 11 compliant
- Recommended: 8GB dedicated VRAM with 106GB/s bandwidth + DirectX 12 compliant
- Dedicated Graphics Card (NVIDIA preferred), not integrated with CPU
- Display Res. & Size: 1920×1080 (or greater) with true colour & 15 inch (or larger preferred)
- Memory: RAM: Minimum: 16GB
- Recommended: 32GB
- Disk Space: Minimum: 256GB (with 50+ GB free space)
- Recommended: 512GB (or greater)
- Solid State Drive (SSD) storage is strongly suggested.
Please note, use of a computer with stronger capabilities is advised; if not the recommended (or greater) specifications, then as much as may be reasonably afforded. If you have any questions about these technology requirements, please email info@cambriancollege.ca or call (705) 566-8101, ext. 7303.
Bring your own device (BYOD)
Cambrian College has implemented a BYOD principle to both enrich the student learning experience in and out of the classroom and to ensure flexibility!
Ready to take the first step?
Start gaining the highest level of skills at Cambrian now – and you’ll be ready to take advantage of the many career opportunities waiting for you just around the corner. The future is yours!
Have Questions? We are here to help.
If you have any questions about programs, funding, OSAP, deadlines, student services, or anything else, reach out to our support team and we are happy to help!
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