Power Engineering Training, Examination, and Licencing Program

Effective October 1, 2009 power engineer examinations will be administered by Apprenticeship Manitoba. Click here for a list of commonly asked questions.

Eligibility Qualifications to Write a Power Engineer Exam and Syllabi

Click on the appropriate link for information about how to qualify to write a given level of Power Engineer examination to obtain a specific level on power engineering certification. This information is contained in the Power Engineers Regulation.

• First Class Eligibility Qualifications
• Second Class Eligibility Qualifications
• Third Class Eligibility Qualifications
• Fourth Class Eligibility Qualifications
• Fifth Class Eligibility Qualifications
• Refrigeration Class Eligibility Qualifications
• Special Boiler Operator Class, and

Click to the SOPEEC website for syllabuses and sample examination questions.

Schedule of upcoming Power Engineer examination dates and locations.

Power Engineer Training, Examination, and Licensing Program Applications and Forms

The following verification forms and applications related to Power Engineer training, examination and licensing are available for download.

• Application for Assessment and Examination Under the Power Engineers Act
• Power Engineers Certificate Exchange Application
• Power Engineers Certificate Reinstatement Application
• Refrigeration Plant Experience Verification Form
• Boiler Operating Experience Verification Form
• Trade Experience Statutory Declaration Form

How to Obtain a Standardized Power Engineers Certificate

Examinations are administered under Manitoba Regulation P95-40/92: The Power Engineers Regulation.

The following is the process to obtain a Power Engineers Certificate:

Power engineering application flow chart. (pdf)

1. All applicants must apply to be assessed to determine the level at which they may write the Power Engineer’s examination. The assessment form can be found on this website as well as the Winnipeg Branch of Mechanical and Engineering. Please forward all supporting documentation as necessary to ensure that you are assessed at the appropriate level. There is no fee for this service.
   
   A candidate for examination shall submit with his/her application references from the employer or employees in whose service he/she has acquired the required experience prescribed by the Regulation. The prerequisites for each type of certificate are listed later in this document.
   
   Where a candidate for examination is unable to produce the required verification of work experience reference signed by the owner or chief engineer of the plant where the candidate was employed, a statutory declaration may be accepted if it is made by the candidate declaring that he/she has obtained the required operating experience.
   
   Where any false or misleading statement is made in an application or in a reference or other evidence of qualifications submitted by or on behalf of a candidate, the candidate may, at the discretion of the Chief Inspector, be disqualified, and if the discovery of such false or misleading statement is made after a certificate has been issued such certificate may, at the discretion of the Minister, be cancelled.
   
   
2. The assessment will be reviewed and the applicable level for which the applicant can write will be communicated via mail. An application to write the assigned level of Power Engineer exam will be included with this letter. The application can found on this website, as well as the Winnipeg Branch of Mechanical and Engineering. Please note, no applications will be processed unless you have previously been assessed.
   
   
3. The applicant will complete the application to write the examination and will return the completed application, along with a $50 per paper fee. There is a $50.00 per paper fee for any examination, as specified in the Schedule of Fees section of the Regulation amended August 2005. Applications for examination will not be processed until the required fee is received. Note: There is no fee to be assessed at a power engineer level.
   
   
4. Once the completed Examination Application and fees are received by Mechanical and Engineering, the applicant will be notified by mail of their examination date.

Please note: An applicant for an examination who fails to appear at the designated examination time and place forfeits his/her examination fee unless a reason satisfactory to the Chief Inspector, for failure to appear is submitted in writing to the Chief Inspector within seven days after the designated examination date.

The fee payable for a Manitoba Certificate of Competency issued in lieu of a certificate of competency from another jurisdiction shall be the same as the fee specified in Schedule of Fees section of the Regulation.

Where any certificate of competency is lost or destroyed, a duplicate certificate of competency may be issued upon evidence being furnished to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector, that the original certificate of competency has been lost or destroyed. You must complete an application and submit the fee for the issuance of a duplicate certificate as specified in the Schedule of Fees section of the Regulation. Applications for duplicate certificates of competency are available from the Winnipeg Branch of Mechanical and Engineering: 500 - 401 York Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0P8 Phone 945-3373.

Where an application is refused by the Chief Inspector, the examination fee shall be returned.

5. The Examiner may examine the candidate's material to which he/she wishes to refer and the Examiner's decision as to whether the candidate may use such material shall be final.

All candidates writing Power Engineers' Exams will be allowed to bring the following material into the exam room:

• ASME Codes, except Sections VI and VII
• CSA B51
• CSA B52
• Steam Tables
• Reference Tables
• Provincial Acts/Regulations
• Four Figure Tables and Constants
• Cordless Non-Programmable Calculator
• Drawing Instruments as required
• Dictionaries will be supplied

6. When answering any questions involving mathematical calculations, the candidate shall show, in addition to the final answers:
   • The formula used
   • The various steps involved in arriving at the solution, and
   • All necessary explanations.

This applies to subjective First and Second Class exams only.

No credit shall be given for any questions where only the final answer is shown on First and Second Class exams only.

7. A candidate who is unable to write, and who is qualified to take an examination may employ a person to translate the examination if the person selected signs a statement on the form prescribed by the Chief Inspector stating that he/she is not an engineer, nor has any knowledge of the construction or operation of boilers, pressure vessels, engines, or other equipment to which the Act applies, and gives it to the person conducting the examination when the candidate takes the examination.
   
   Not withstanding the above mentioned section, in every case, candidates for examination respecting First and Second Class Engineers Certificates, must complete a written examination and the use of an amanuensis (person to help translate and write) is not permitted.
   
   
8. The person conducting any examination under this Regulation may declare a candidate to have failed an examination if:
   • formulae or other information not approved or authorized by the Chief Inspector have been added to or inserted into any published text of a book, table, regulation or code that is taken into the examination room.
   • a candidate looks at or refers to any material not approved or authorized by the Chief Inspector during the examination.
   • a candidate removes or attempts to remove any question or part thereof from any examination room.
   • A candidate copies from another candidate.
   • A candidate communicates with another candidate in any manner during an examination.

Any candidate who contravenes any provision of the above mentioned subsections during any examination may be disqualified by the Chief Inspector from writing any further examination for a period not exceeding 12 months from the date of examination, on which the contravention occurred.

9. The examinations shall consist of questions relating to the subjects contained in the current Reference Syllabus as established by the Chief Inspector for the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Refrigeration Class Certificates.
   
   
10. Picture ID will be required for candidates writing or challenging examinations.

The Pass Mark

A candidate must achieve at least 65% on every Standardized Power Engineers examination written. If two examinations are written on the same day, the passing grade is 65% for each paper: a higher mark on one paper will not be averaged with a lower one on another paper to produce an overall passing grade.

Re-examination

A candidate who fails to pass may apply to write again after 3 months (90 days) from the date of the original exam sitting.

Fees for re-examination are $50 per paper, as listed in the Schedule of Fees section of the Regulation.

Standardized Seals

Manitoba participates in the Standardization of Power Engineers Examinations Program.

The purpose of this program is to develop and promote the use of a uniform national standard for the qualification, examination and certification of power engineers. The consistency achieved through the use of standards helps to ensure the protection of the public through the safe operation of power and heating plants; helps to meet the needs of industry; and provides for the mobility of power engineers across any jurisdiction in Canada.

As of Autumn, 1999 Manitoba offers all levels of Power Engineering certificates in the Standardized format. Passing Standardized examinations qualifies a candidate for a Standardized Seal on her/his certificate. Standardized Seal certificates are recognized and accepted without further need of qualification in all Canadian jurisdictions that participate in the Standardization program.

Candidates Enrolled in a Day Program

When a candidate enrolls in a day program, he/she may earn a Manitoba certificate, but he/she must gain the required work experience before the gaining the Standardized Seal.

Third Class

When a candidate has received his/her Manitoba Third Class Certificate upon passing an approved day program in Third Class Power engineering he/she must attain the required number of hours to obtain a Standardized Seal on the Third Class Certificate before any papers in the Second Class Exam Series can be attempted.

When a candidate is the holder of a Manitoba Third Class Power Engineers Certificate and gains the required work experience for the Standardized Seal, he/she must surrender the Fourth Class Certificate to the Department before a Standardized Seal is issued to the Third Class Power Engineers Certificate.

Second Class

When a candidate has received his/her Manitoba Second Class Certificate upon passing an approved day program in Second Class Power Engineering he/she must attain the required number of hours to obtain the Standardized Seal on the Second Class Certificate before any papers in the First Class Series can be attempted.

When a candidate is the holder of a Manitoba Second Class Power Engineers Certificate and gains the required work experience for the Standardized Seal, he/she must surrender the Third Class Certificate to the Department before a Standardized Seal is Issued on to the Second Class Certificate.

Gaining the Next Certificate

If a candidate is the holder of a Fifth Class Power Engineers Certificate and obtains a Fourth Class Power Engineers Certificate he/she must surrender the Fifth Class Certificate to the Department before the Fourth Class Certificate is released.

If a candidate is the holder of a Fourth Class Power Engineers Certificate and obtains a Third Class Power Engineers Certificate he/she must surrender the Fourth Class Certificate to the Department before the Third Class Certificate is released.

If a candidate is the holder of a Third Class Power Engineers Certificate he/she must surrender the Third Class Power Engineers Certificate to the Department before the Second Class Certificate is released.

If a candidate is the holder of a Second Class Power Engineers Certificate he/she must surrender the Second Class Certificate to the Department before the First Class Certificate is released.

Power Engineer Examination Fees

There is a $50.00 per paper fee for any class examination, as specified in the Schedule of Fees section of the Regulation amended in August 2005. Fees for re-examination are $50 per paper, as listed in the Schedule of Fees section of the Regulation.