This career option covers a wide variety of jobs related to
petroleum technology. Jobs typically provide technical support to,
and are supervised by, their professional engineer counterparts in
a particular discipline. Unlike professional engineering work,
technological work is highly specialized and not about broad
theories and principles. Technologists design devices and
equipment, decide which equipment to use on a project, determine
how to use it and supervise its installation and use.
If you have the following skills, interests and abilities a
career as an Technologist might be for you:
- Enjoy math, physics and
science.
- Understand basic engineering
principles.
- Able to understand and present
scientific data.
- Are detail oriented.
- Able to explain things clearly to
others both verbally and in writing.
- Demonstrate problem-solving
ability.
- Able to work on their own and as part
of a team.
Education
Academically, a two- to three-year technical or college diploma
in a related discipline from a recognized institution is required
for most of these technological jobs. In addition, certifiable
standards, as set by recognized Canadian technological
associations, must be met.
Individuals may be granted certification by provincial
associations of Canadian Council of
Technicians and Technologists (CCTT). Typical certifications
include:
- Certified Technician
(CTech)
- Certified Technologist
(C.E.T.)
- Registered Engineering Technologist
(R.E.T.)
- Registered Professional Technologist
- Engineering (R.P.T. (Eng))
Credentials are transferable across Canada since all provinces
use the same national standards for certification. The designations
are now recognized under the North America Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), making mobility between Canada and the U.S. possible. In
many cases, certified members may also transfer credentials
overseas.
Career Paths
Entry into this job family may be made at a junior or training
level without any previous experience. Advancement to more senior
levels of work is based on attaining work experience and
competencies.
At Work
- Many of the jobs in this career are
based in offices. Some positions, such as Mining Engineering
Technologists and Surveying Technologists, work primarily in the
field and sometimes in remote locations.
- Safety-sensitive positions have
stringent requirements related to being drug and alcohol
free.
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