Agricultural Equipment Technician Apprenticeship (Year 2 and 4)
About the Agricultural Equipment Technician Apprenticeship
Combine your love of agriculture with your desire to work with your hands and problem solve. Start your training to become an Agricultural Equipment Technician and you will learn to repair, overhaul and maintain agricultural equipment including tractors, tillage equipment, seeding equipment and harvesting equipment.
In this program, you will benefit from technical training with a significant portion of hands-on learning. You will spend eight weeks on campus every year, and a minimum of 1,500 hours on-the-job training.
Agricultural Equipment Technicians are employed by repair shops and organizations that own or lease heavy equipment used in the agriculture industry.
When you graduate, you’ll receive both a:
Journeyperson Certificate: This certificate not only acknowledges your expertise in your chosen trade but also grants you the legal authority to work in that trade.
Education Credential: This is a formal testament to your dedication and hard work. It confirms that you've successfully finished an Advanced Diploma in a post-secondary study program and highlights the time and effort you've invested in mastering your trade or profession.
Work-integrated Learning
Apprenticeship is a unique form of post-secondary education that blends hands-on work experience with classroom learning. On average, you will spend 80 per cent of your apprenticeship on the job, practicing your trade or profession, and 20 per cent in the classroom or lab through structured learning at RDP.
Further Study
At the end of the final year of the program, you will also be eligible to earn a Red Seal Endorsement on your Journeyperson certificate upon successful completion of the Red Seal Exam. The Red Seal Endorsement allows Journeypersons to work anywhere in Canada without additional training.
If you have a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, you are eligible to receive a Blue Seal Achievement in business competencies after completing the necessary requirements.
Program Content
During this program you will spend eight weeks on campus every year, and a minimum of 1,560 hours on-the-job training. Red Deer Polytechnic only offers Period 2 and Period 4 of the Ag Equipment Technician
Completion of Classroom Training
Students must achieve a weighted average of 65% with no section under 50% in both the theory and practical components of the classroom training as well as achieving a minimum grade of 70% on the AIT Provincial Exam for each period of classroom training.
Completion of a Journeyperson Certificate
The term of apprenticeship for an agricultural equipment technician is four years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1,560 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of classroom instruction each year.
Related Careers
Agricultural Equipment Technician
Journeyperson
Red Seal endorsement available
Service manager
Business owner
Contractor
Shop foreman
Mechanic
Service Technician
Meet the Faculty
At Red Deer Polytechnic we are proud of our faculty members and staff who are experts in their disciplines and subject areas.
Admission Requirements
How to become an Apprentice:
Ensure you meet Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) eligibility and entrance requirements for your desired skilled trade.
Apply for an Apprenticeship Education Program.
Register for classroom instruction.
Academic Requirements
Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) entrance recommended path requirements:
ELA 30-2
Math 30-3
Physics 30 or Chem 30 or Science 30
Related CTS courses
OR
Minimum Requirements:
ELA 20-2
Math 20-3
Science 10
OR
A pass on all five Canadian GED tests
OR
Successful completion of AIT’s entrance exam
Intake Details
Registration opens May 21, 2024
2nd Period
September 3, 2024 - October 25, 2024
- On campus delivery
- On campus time requirements
- Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
October 15, 2024 - December 20, 2024
- Blended delivery (theory components delivered online)
- On campus (shop/lab) time requirements
- Oct 23 - Oct 25 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- Oct 29 - Oct 31 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- Nov 6 - Nov 8 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- Nov 13 - Nov 15 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- Nov 18 - Nov 20 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- Nov 26 - Nov 28 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- Dec 4 - Dec 6 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- Dec 11 - Dec 12 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- Dec 17 - Dec 20 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- Dec 20 | 7:30am-3:30pm
January 6, 2025 - February 28, 2025
- On campus delivery
- On campus time requirements
- Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
March 31, 2025 - May 23, 2025
- On campus delivery
- On campus time requirements
- Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
May 5, 2025 - June 27, 2025
- On campus delivery
- On campus time requirements
- Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
4th Period
September 3, 2024 - October 25, 2024
- On campus delivery
- On campus time requirements
- Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
October 28, 2024 - December 20, 2024
- On campus delivery
- On campus time requirements
- Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
January 6, 2025 - February 28, 2025
- On campus delivery
- On campus time requirements
- Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
February 24, 2025 - May 2, 2025
- Blended delivery (theory components delivered online)
- On campus (shop/lab) time requirements
- Feb 26 - Feb 27 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- March 5 - March 6 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- March 12 - March 13 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- March 19 - March 20 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- March 26 - March 27 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- April 2 - April 3 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- April 9 - April 10 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- April 16 - April 17 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- April 23 - April 24 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- April 28 & 30 | 8:30am-3:30pm
- May 1 - May 2 | 8:30am-3:30pm
Program Cost
These costs are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year.
NOTE: Additional fees may apply. Red Deer Polytechnic reserves the right to cancel, postpone, combine classes, limit registration, and alter course content, instructors, dates, or times.
Fees are subject to change. The above fees do not include textbooks or modules.
For full fee information, view our Program Cost Estimates.
Full payment is required at the time of registration. Registration is processed on a first come, first eligible basis.
Required Texts & Materials
- Year 1: HET 100 AIT ILM Package
- Year 2: HET 200 AIT ILM Package
- Fundamentals of Medium Heavy Duty Diesel Engines (Wright)
- Fundamentals of Medium Heavy Duty Diesel Engines (Digital/PDF Book) (Wright)
- Year 3: HET 300 AIT ILM Package
- ILM Hydraulics II Coloured Graphics Package Hydraulics (Fundamentals of Service)
- John Deere Mobile Hydraulics Manual (Eaton)
- IPT's Industrial Hydraulics Handbook (Archer)
- Year 4: HET 400 AIT ILM Package
- Heavy Duty Truck Systems (W/O Access Code) (Bennett)
All Apprenticeship AST students MUST supply;
- Shop coveralls
- CSA-approved clear safety glasses
- CSA-approved steel-toed boots
Cancellation Policies
In all cases, a minimum fee of $150 will be withheld should you cancel your enrolment before the first day of class. To cancel call 403.342.3100 or 1.888.475.1101
- For training delivered face-to-face (on-campus) or hyflex, you will not receive a refund if you cancel your registration on or after the first day of class.
- For training delivered in our blended format (some online, some face-to-face) you can cancel up until 11:00 a.m. on the first day of your second week of class and receive a refund less the $150.00 cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after 11:00 a.m.
- If the Polytechnic cancels a scheduled Apprenticeship training period, all tuition and related fees will be refunded.
Waitlist Notification
If you are waitlisted for a course, we will email the personal email address on file at RDP when a seat becomes available
Financial Aid Options
Student life can be very expensive, and few individuals have enough money to pay up-front for their post-secondary education.