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Agricultural Equipment Technician Directly to the left of this help icon you will see this work indoors and outdoors icon that represents where Agricultural Equipment Technician work most of the time. If the person in the icon is standing outside the building then the work is mostly outside. A person inside respresents mostly insde work and two people (one inside and one outside) represent the work has a bit of both. By clicking the Details buttons to the left will open the page and allow you to read more about becoming a Agricultural Equipment Technician. After you have spent some time reading and you would like to find out what schools are offering training for Agricultural Equipment Technician click the Yes, use this career in my Journey button.

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Automotive

Agricultural Equipment Technician

work indoors and outdoors

Agricultural Equipment Technicians service and repair the engines, transmissions, hydraulic systems, and electrical and electronic systems of agricultural equipment.

Is this a career that interests you?

  • Related School SubjectsDetails

    Math; Science; English; Physical Education

  • Field of StudyDetails

    Wholesale Trade Repair; Personal; Religious; and Other Services; Mining; and Oil and Gas Extraction; Construction; Transportation and Warehousing.

  • DutiesDetails

    Most agricultural equipment technicians:

    • Figure out how to fix on farm equipment by.
      • Talking to equipment owners to learn what is going wrong.
      • Looking at and listening to equipment in operation.
      • Using testing equipment.
    • Take broken units apart to repair or replace parts.
    • Reassemble, adjust, lubricate and test repaired units.
    • Assemble and adjust new agricultural equipment.

    This trade may specialize in:

    • Fixing combines, forage harvesters, tractors or other equipment.
    • Working on engines, transmissions, hydraulic systems, and electrical and electronic systems of farm equipment.
  • Working ConditionsDetails

    Location:

    • Indoors
      • Fully equipped service centres.
    • Outdoors
      • Service calls to farms.

    Hours:

    • Regular Work Schedule (Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm).
    • Longer hours during planting and harvest seasons.

    Heavy Lifting:

    • 20 kilograms and heavier.
  • PersonalDetails

    People working in this trade need the following characteristics:

    • Mechanical ability.
    • Good hand-eye co-ordination.
    • Able to lift heavy machine parts.
    • Able to read and understand technical information.
    • Work with very little supervision.
    • Work well with others.
    • Enjoy working with hands.
    • Know how to solve problems.
  • EducationDetails

    Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates.

    To work in this trade in Alberta, at least ONE of these must be true:

    • You are a registered apprentice.
    • You are an Alberta-certified journeyperson.
    • You have a recognized related trade certificate.
    • Your employer believes your skills and knowledge are the same as a journeyperson.
    • You are self-employed in this trade.

    To register as an Alberta apprentice you need to have:

    • English Language Arts 20-2 or equivalent.
    • Math 20-3 or equivalent.
    • Science 10 or equivalent.
      • Or able to pass the entrance exam.
    • An employer willing to train you.

    Apprenticeship term:

    • Work on your first year in grade 10-12 through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
    • 4 years.
    • 1500 work hours each year.
    • 8 weeks classroom training each year.
    • May take exam in final year to earn Red Seal and work throughout most of Canada.
  • Programs OfferedDetails

    Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at:

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

    Outside the apprenticeship program, the following Alberta post-secondary institutions offer related training:

    • Lethbridge College offers a one year Agricultural and Heavy Equipment Technician certificate program. Entrance requirements include English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2 and Pure or Applied Math 20, or equivalents.
    • Olds College offers one year certificate and two year diploma programs in Agricultural and Heavy Equipment. The entrance requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent with English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 and Pure or Applied Math 20, or equivalents.

    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.

    Agricultural implement companies sometimes provide short manufacturers' service courses to help agricultural equipment technicians develop skills for servicing particular lines of equipment.

  • AdvancementDetails

    Job Opportunities in this trade include:

    • Management or supervisory positions.
    • Manufacturer service representatives.
    • Purchase a dealership.
    • If you have supervisory or management experience in this trade, you may apply for an Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal by contacting Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

    Job openings are affected by:

    • Current employment rates.
    • People leaving existing positions.
    • Creation of new positions that never existed before.
    • Size of the occupation.
    • Time of year.

    Future Trends:

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

    Industries/Businesses employing people in this trade include:

    • Agriculture.
    • Wholesale Trade.
    • Other Services.
    • Mining.
    • Oil and Gas Extraction.
    • Construction.
    • Transportation and Warehousing.
  • SalaryDetails

    Journeyperson wage rates vary but generally range from $25 to $40 an hour plus benefits (2009 estimate) depending on the region. Apprentice agricultural equipment technicians earn at least 60 per cent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 per cent in the second, 80 per cent in the third and 90 per cent in the fourth.

    According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics occupational group earned on average from $24.31 to $38.22 an hour. The mean wage for this group was $31.41 an hour.

  • Other SourcesDetails