Plumber/Gasfitter B

Program Eligibility

Applicant Assessment

Program applicants are assessed by the GNWT.  Service is accessed through a local career service centre. Anyone wishing to become a Plumber apprentice must:

• Be at least 16 years of age
• Be physically capable of performing the work involved in the Plumber/Gasfitter trade
• Have a genuine desire to become a good tradesperson
• Find a suitable employer who holds a Journey certificate in the Plumber trade or employs the holder of a Journey certificate in the trade and who is willing to hire and train the applicant.
• Meet either Option A or Option B of the Apprenticeship Program Entry Requirements.

Program Admission

Participants will be admitted to this program based on the eligibility requirements set by the GNWT.

Program Information

Aurora College provides technical training for two of the four levels that comprise a Plumber/Gasfitter apprenticeship.  Each level of technical training is 240 hours (eight weeks).

Curriculum requirements are set by the GNWT.

Participants must take the full level in its entirety.

Participants are exposed to the program concepts through lectures, discussions, demonstrations, independent study and group study.  They are then given opportunities for skill development through a series of practical applications.

Program Objectives

Level 1

The objectives of this level are to enable graduates to carry out the tasks required of a Level 2 apprentice in a responsible, competent and safe manner.  These tasks include:

1. Apply legislation, regulations and practices ensuring safe work in this trade.
2. Use hand and power tools common to the pipe trades. Construct and pressure test various types of piping system components use in the Pipe trades.  Describe pumps for piping systems.
3. Apply safe work practices according to Occupational Health and Safety Act (OH&S) legislation. Use oxy-fuel and arc welding equipment.
4. Develop and interpret single line pipe drawings. Apply sketching and drawing concepts.
5. Perform various calculations using both metric and imperial measurements, required to accurately determine information required in the field. This includes volumetric capacities for tanks and cylinders, 45° and 90° offsets for piping systems.

Level 2

The objectives of this level are to enable graduates to carry out the tasks required of a level 3 apprenticeship in a responsible, competent and safe manner.  These tasks include:

1. Install and service DWV and potable water systems in a single-family dwelling.
2. Perform various calculations including heat loss, heat transfer, buoyancy and other scientific fundamentals relating to temperature and heat transfer.
3. Install and service hydronic heating systems; install cooling systems and identify mechanical ventilation components with a hydronic system.
4. Install and service various types of specialty piping used in the pipe trades.  Recognize medical gas piping systems; install a branch into an operational system.
5. Calculate offsets for piping systems.  Locate piping and equipment from a set of drawings.  Perform rigging techniques.

Completion Requirements

Theoretical and practical assignments and written examinations are used to evaluate participant success.

School course marks are weighted based on a formula provided by Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification, Government of the Northwest Territories.

In order for a participant to pass their apprenticeship level schooling, they must achieve a school mark of 65% or greater, obtain a shop mark of 65% or greater and complete all school work.

A participant who fails technical training must repeat the training regardless of the result obtained on the level examinations administered by the GNWT.

Participants must achieve a mark of 70% in the GNWT-administered level examination in order to progress to the next level of technical training.

“An apprentice who is absent from a trade instruction course in which he or she is enrolled for more than 5% of the total time of the course may be terminated from that course by the supervisor and be subsequently scheduled to repeat the entire course.”

Article 20(1), NWT Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupations Certification Regulations

Document of Recognition