Instrument Technician

Instrument technicians install, maintain and repair the measuring and control instruments used in industrial and commercial processing. Also Known As: Instrument Repair Technician, Mechanic, Pipe Trades, Service Technician NOC Number(s): 2243 Minimum Education: Apprenticeship Trade

Duties
Instrument technicians work with a wide variety of pneumatic, electronic and microcomputer instruments that are used to measure and control variables such as pressure, flow, temperature, level, motion, force and chemical composition. In general, technicians: consult manufacturers' manuals to determine test and maintenance procedures use pneumatic, electrical and electronic testing devices to inspect and test instrument and system operation, and diagnose faults implement loss management practices consult with and advise process operators repair, maintain and adjust system components or remove and replace defective parts do risk assessments calibrate and maintain components and instruments according to manufacturers' specifications work with engineers on basic design install and maintain instruments on new or existing plant equipment and processes interpret and use appropriate CSA, ISA and API installation standards and practices train apprentices.

Working Conditions
Instrument technicians may work regular week-day hours or work shifts, and are sometimes on call at night and on weekends. Working conditions may change dramatically from one job to another. Instrument technicians working with manufacturing processes may be exposed to noisy, dusty, cold or unusually warm conditions, confined spaces, high places, radiation devices or laser equipment. There is some risk of injury particularly when processing dangerous chemicals or working with substances under pressure or at high temperatures. Instrument technicians may be required to lift or move items that weigh up to 20 kilograms.

Personal Characteristics
Instrument technicians need the following characteristics: the ability to pay careful attention to details good communication and reading skills manual dexterity patience good mathematical, scientific and mechanical abilities

the ability and desire to keep up to date with changes in technology.

They should enjoy solving problems and working with little direction or supervision.

Educational Requirements
To work in Alberta, an instrument technician must be ONE of the following: a registered apprentice an Alberta-certified journeyperson someone who holds a recognized related trade certificate someone who works for an employer who is satisfied that the worker has the skills and knowledge expected of certified journeyperson self-employed.

To register with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, apprentices must: have an Alberta high school transcript with at least English Language Arts 20-2, Math 30-3, Physics 30 and Chemistry 30, or equivalent, or pass the entrance exam. find a suitable employer who is willing to hire and train an apprentice. Most employers prefer to hire high school or post-secondary program graduates who have strong backgrounds in the chemical and physical processes involved in instrumentation. Courses in math, physics and chemistry are particularly important.

The term of apprenticeship is four years (four 12 month periods) that include a minimum of: 1,500 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of technical training in the first and second year 1,425 hours of on-the-job training and ten weeks of technical training in the third and fourth year.

High school students can earn credits toward apprenticeship training and a high school diploma at the same time through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). Applicants who have related training or work experience may be eligible for credit or certification. Instrument technician apprentices may take the interprovincial exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training to earn a Red Seal (certification recognized in most parts of Canada). Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at: Grande Prairie Regional College in Fairview Lakeland College in Vermilion the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton Red Deer College the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary.

For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.

Outside the apprenticeship program, the following post-secondary institutions offer related training: The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton offers a two year Instrumentation Engineering Technology diploma program. Entrance requirements include a Grade 12 English, Pure Math 30, and one of the following: Physics 30, Chemistry 30 or Science 30. The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary offers a two year Instrumentation Engineering Technology diploma program. The entrance requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent with at least 55 per cent in English Language Arts 301 or 30-2, Pure Math 30, Physics 20 and Chemistry 20 or Science 30. SAIT also offers related programs through Continuing Education.

Pre-employment programs for prospective apprentices and continuing education programs for journeypersons may be offered on an as needed basis by the institution(s) listed above or other schools. For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

Employment and Advancement

With industry becoming increasingly automated, instrument technicians are needed virtually anywhere there are control and metering systems. They are employed in the following industries: pulp and paper processing hydro power generation mining, petrochemical and natural gas industrial and commercial manufacturing industrial construction industrial instrument servicing.

Experienced instrument technicians may advance to supervisory positions, be employed as engineering technicians or move into company sales offices. Alberta certified journeyperson instrument technicians who have the supervisory or management skills required by industry may apply for an Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal by contacting Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Instrument technicians are part of the larger National Occupational Classification 2243: Industrial Instrument Technicians and Mechanics. In Alberta, 84 per cent of people employed in this classification work in the following industries: Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction Manufacturing Construction Wholesale Trade Professional, Scientific and Technical Services .

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including: trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above) location in Alberta employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions) occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that

never existed before) size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Salary
Journeyperson wage rates vary but generally range from $25 to $40 an hour plus benefits (2009 estimate). Apprentice instrument technicians earn at least 55 per cent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 65 per cent in the second, 75 per cent in the third and 85 per cent in the fourth. According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Industrial Instrument Technicians and Mechanics occupational group earned on average from $28.61 to $39.24 an hour. The mean wage for this group was $35.09 an hour.

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Related High School Subjects

English Language Arts; Mathematics; Science (Chemistry; and Physics); and Trades, Manufacturing and Transportation (Electro-Technologies)

Related Post-Secondary Field of Study

Engineering and Science Technologies; and Trades, Industrial and Related Training