Steamfitter/Pipefitter (Pre-Employment)

Program Description

The Steamfitter/Pipefitter (Pre-Employment) Diploma program is a provincially-accredited apprenticeship program that was developed by government and approved by the Provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Board. The program provides students with a wide range of skills that are needed to work as a first-year apprentice, including those related to safety, blueprint reading, piping and tubing fundamentals, piping (including copper, plastic, brass), piping valves, low pressure steam, heating systems, pipe layout/fitting fabrication and pipe template development as well as many others. Most courses are designed in such a way that students spend time divided equally between the classroom and one of our three Steamfitter/Pipefitter shops.

Please note that due to the nature of this career, employees are required to tolerate regular physical activity during the course of their work day. If you have any medical concerns, please contact your admissions officer to ensure you are aware of the requirements of the occupation and to determine if you are eligible for accommodations in this program.

Apprenticeship Training

The Steamfitter/Pipefitter (Pre-Employment) program is an apprenticeship trades program. Courses completed at Academy Canada meet the requirements to become a first-year apprentice. Once this training is completed and the graduate obtains their first position in the trade, s/he must register as an Apprentice with the Department of Education. Government will then cover the costs associated with regular advanced training as the apprentice gains experience and works towards completing their Journeyperson exam. Passing this examination will result in receiving Red Seal Certification.

Program Courses

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
• Standard First Aid
• Safety
• Tools and Equipment
• Rigging
• Bracket, Support, Hanger, Guides and Anchor Fabrication
• Blueprint Interpretation
• Introduction to Fuel Brazing and Cutting
• Pipe and Tubing Fundamentals
• Pipe and Tube Bending
• Steel Piping
• Copper Piping
• Plastic Piping
• Piping Valves
• Hydronic Heating 1
• Low Pressure Steam
• Pipe Template Development
• Pipe Layout & Fitting Fabrication
• Introduction to Electric Welding and Cutting
• Introduction to Apprenticeship
• Introduction to Essential Skills
• Math Essentials
• Steamfitter Pipefitter Math Fundamentals
• Communication Essentials
• Workplace Essentials
• Computer Essentials

Employment Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the Steamfitter/Pipefitter (Pre-Employment) program, graduates may be eligible for employment (depending on specific hiring practices) in maintenance departments of paper mills, offshore platforms, mining factories, plants, and similar organizations. Opportunities also exist for self-employment. Steamfitters and pipefitters lay-out, assemble, fabricate, maintain and repair piping systems carrying water, steam, chemicals and fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating, and other process piping systems. A small sample of Academy Canada’s excellent employers include:

• Air Tite Sheet Metal
• Atlantis Plumbing
• Bradley Mechanical
• Capital Crane
• Flint Energy
• Garland Systems
• M&M Offshore
• Marystown Ship Yard
• St. John's Dockyard
• Waydex Services