Instrumentation and Control Technician
An Instrumentation and Control Technician installs, maintains, calibrates, designs and troubleshoots networking systems, process control and environmental protection equipment in a variety of industrial environments. Specifically, an Instrumentation and Control Technician:
- installs, maintains and configures control and process systems
- calibrates, commissions, configures, installs and troubleshoots all pneumatic, electronic, electrical, mechanical and analytical instrumentation devices
- calibrates and repairs analytical instrumentation that monitors or controls flow, level, temperature, pressure, acidity, conductivity and humidity
- services all process control communication networks
- sevices environmental and other analytical instruments
Red Seal trade
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. Generally, the time-frame to become competent in the trade of Instrumentation and Control Technician is 8,000 hours (approximately four years) consisting of 7,280 hours of on-the-job work experience and 720 hours of in-school training.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s Apprenticeship Training Standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade.
As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade
IN-SCHOOL TRAINING
An Instrumentation and Control Technician apprenticeship includes three levels of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:
- applied trade practices, procedures, trade standards and codes
- electrical theory and applied trade calculations
- electronic systems, computers and documentation
- instrumentation theory and process control fundamentals
- computer control systems
- analyical instrumentation, discrete control and applied circuts
- fluid power, pneumatic and mechanical devices and systems
- primary and final control elements- service, selection and theory
Depending on the training delivery agency, in-school training may be available in one of the following ways:
- block release (full-time, for a set number of weeks)
- day release (one day per week from September to June)
- part-time (night-school programs)
- alternative delivery (online, correspondence, etc.)
Instrumentation and Control Technician is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.
This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, the Ministry issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship.
This trade has a certifying exam. When the certifying exam is passed, Skilled Trades Ontario will issue a Certificate of Qualification in this trade. Because this trade is non-compulsory, this certificate does not have to be renewed, and the information of individuals practicing this trade will not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.
Certification issued by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority is required in order to perform work on devices connected to pressurized gas lines.
In Ontario, the trade is part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program—the national standard for the trade across Canada: www.red-seal.ca.