
Aircraft Maintenance Technician
Credential
Diploma
Delivery options
Full-Time
- International students eligible
Tuition and fees
2023-24: $12,224.63
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Fees include all mandatory fees: Activity fee, Health & Dental, Student Association fee, Education Technology fee, Development fee.
- Fees listed are for the 55-week portion of the program offered by Okanagan College. Fees for the remaining 18 weeks are payable to Northern Lights College (NLC). Please contact NLC for details.
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All amounts are approximate and are subject to change.
Program details
If you have any questions about how a course or program is delivered, you can check the Trades website, email the Department Chair or email the Trades & Apprenticeship office:
Apprenticeship: apprenticeship@okanagan.bc.ca
Foundation and General Interest: trades@okanagan.bc.ca
This 4 semester 2 year diploma program (76 weeks) is offered in partnership with Northern Lights College (NLC) in Dawson Creek, B.C. The first 3 semesters (55 weeks) of training take place at Okanagan College Aerospace Campus in Vernon B.C. The final semester (18 weeks) takes place at Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek. The diploma is conferred by Northern Lights College. All curriculum and entrance requirements at Okanagan College align with the AMT program at Northern Lights College.
The program is designed to take a student with little or no previous experience in the aircraft maintenance trade and supply him/her with the necessary skills to seek employment in that industry as an apprentice Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. The curriculum follows Transport Canada's guidelines and upon successful completion of the program, Transport Canada will grant graduates 18 months of experience credits toward the 48-month experience requirement for an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer license. Graduates also receive a diploma for Aircraft Maintenance Technician from Northern Lights College.
Apprenticeship technical training credit for Levels One through Four will be granted upon successful completion of this program. Apprenticeship practical training credit may also be granted by the employer as a result of prior practical experience.
Training provided is applicable to both rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) and fixed wing aircraft, covering a wide range of subjects with emphasis on practical training. Some of the major subjects taught include aviation law, theory of flight, powerplants (turbine and piston), airframe structures and systems, hydraulics, electrical and avionics systems.
Canadian Armed Forces Accreditation Certification Equivalency is approved, fast track your career in the Armed Forces with this program.
There are a number of physical activities involved in training for a skilled trade; please review the physical activities of the program and the recommended student characteristics as listed below. Okanagan College strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience disability related academic barriers (including mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), please contact Accessibility Services at your campus so that you can confidentially discuss options.
Physical activities of this trade:
- Activities require lifting and carrying tools, supplies, materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds
- Lift, carry, hold and operate hand, air and power tools from floor to above shoulders
- Stand on concrete and asphalt for extended periods of time
- Not limited to drilling, cutting, filing, sanding, sewing, painting, riveting, shearing, hammering, shoring, jacking, sawing, nailing, lifting, sweeping, cleaning and towing large aircraft
- Learn and work in both indoor and outdoor venues, through all seasonal challenges
- Activities may be required to work in awkward, uncomfortable positions for extended periods of time
- Use of solvents, cleaners, paints, adhesives
- Working around loud, moving aircraft
- Working at heights that exceed 6 feet
Recommended student characteristics:
- Good general health and respiratory condition
- Strength and stamina to handle physical work
- Ability to tolerate loud noise and vibration from riveting tools
- Ability to work around loud, moving aircraft
- Comfortable working at heights exceeding 6 feet.
- Good manual dexterity to manipulate small nuts, bolts, fittings and components
- Eye sight; must be correctable to 20/20 with good line, form and depth perception
- Good manual dexterity
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Hearing; able to work in a hazardous environment and recognize the dangers of jet engines running and propeller driven aircraft dangers recognizable by sound, as well as be able to communicate complicated instructions in high-noise environments
- Demonstrate an attitude of safety in the workplace at all times
Required textbooks and supplies for students taking the Aircraft Maintenance Technician program (total $462.13):
- Aircraft Electricity and Electronics - $133.99
- Aviation Mechanics Handbook - $16.29
- A & P Airframe Textbook/Workbook - $84.29
- A & P Technician Powerplant Textbook/Workbook - $84.29
- A & P Technician General Textbook/Workbook - $79.49
- Aircraft Spruce Catalog - $9.99
- Aircraft Inspection & Repair AC 43.13 - $23.79
- Logbook - $30.00
5% GST is not included in price. Price is subject to change. Textbooks available at OC Campus Store – Vernon by contacting 250-545-7291 ext. 2242 or ordering online.
Other required supplies:
- Okanagan College Coveralls (mandatory) $80. Note, price is approximate.
Optional textbooks (total $87.96):
- Aircraft Technical Dictionary $26.49
- A & P Powerplant Test Guide $20.49
- A & P Airframe Test Guide $20.49
- A & P General Test Guide $20.49
Applicants who have not satisfied the Math admission requirement within the last seven years, and/or do not meet the English admission requirement, must write the TEA Math and/or English test. Both of the assessments are online, multiple-choice and timed. Applicants are allotted 1 hour to complete each section (2 hours for both). A practice assessment and study resources are offered to all applicants who register to write the TEA. Calculators are not allowed while completing the Math section; applicants who are observed to use a calculator of any sort will receive a grade of zero. Applicants who do not achieve the minimum passing requirement on their initial attempt, are offered a second attempt at no additional cost after a two-week study period.
Please ensure you write the assessment, and any required re-writes, prior to the deadline for admissions requirements provided by the Registrar’s office. For more information or to register for the Trades Entrance Assessment, click here. Further questions can be directed to the Trades and Apprenticeship office at trades@okanagan.bc.ca.
Please note: Applicants who successfully completed the ABLE test at Okanagan College within the two years prior to application for admission shall have their results accepted as equivalent to the Trades Entrance Assessment.
Admission requirements
The following admission requirements align with the admission requirements established by Northern Lights College.
- B.C. secondary school graduation, or equivalent, or 19 years of age and out of secondary school for one year as of the first day of classes.
- English requirement:
- English 11 with minimum 60% or alternatives or English 12 with minimum 60% or alternatives.
- B.C. Communications 11 or Communications 12 with minimum 60% is acceptable.
- Or a minimum of 83% on the Trades Entrance Assessment (TEA) reading comprehension test. Test scores are only good for two (2) years.
- Math requirement:
- A minimum of 60% in one of:
- Pre-calculus Grade 11
- Principles of Mathematics 11
- Applications of Mathematics 11
- Foundations of Mathematics Grade 11
- Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics Grade 11
- Workplace Mathematics 11
- Adult Basic Education MATH 011
- Adult Basic Education MATH 084 and MATH 085
- Adult Basic Education IALG 011
- A minimum of 60% in one of:
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- Or a minimum of 63% on the Trades Entrance Assessment (TEA) mathematics test.
- Test scores are only good for two (2) years.
- Applicants who have not satisfied the math requirement within the last seven (7) years must write the TEA mathematics test and must receive a minimum of 63%.
- Or a minimum of 63% on the Trades Entrance Assessment (TEA) mathematics test.
Program outline
Term 1
Term 2
Components
Notes:
Additional information
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