Building Systems Technician

Note:  Admission to this program is currently suspended.

There’s a lot of technology at work in today’s commercial and institutional buildings, from energy efficient boilers to complex HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning). Building systems require regular, skilled maintenance—mechanical and technical. That’s why building systems technicians are always in demand. It’s a job that requires good problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.

Building Systems Technician is a one-year certificate program offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Regina Campus. You’ll receive comprehensive training in maintaining and operating electrical, ventilation, refrigeration and water treatment systems.

Most courses include practical activities to develop your troubleshooting skills. Time in a working facility will give students a real life experience during the second semester work placement. It’s a great way to use what you’ve learned in class and labs in a real-world setting. It’s also a way to develop contacts for possible future employment.

Certification Opportunities

Industry certifications are important to your career mobility and earning power. So, in addition to developing your knowledge and skills, Saskatchewan Polytechnic helps you prepare for industry certification exams. You’ll have an opportunity to write the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK) exams:

• 5th Class Power Engineering (5th Class Power Engineering qualifies the certificate holder to operate equipment at the Fireman Boiler Operator level)
• Refrigeration Engineer (Refrigeration Engineer qualifies the certificate holder to operate equipment at the Refrigeration Plant Operator level)

Personal study is recommended before you write any industry certification exam.

Your Career

The Building Systems Technician certificate combined with industry certifications will open a lot of different doors. Graduates are working in building systems maintenance and operation in medium to large buildings (apartment blocks, hotels, malls, schools, health facilities, etc.). You could work in boiler and refrigeration plants, perform maintenance crew work or take charge of a building. Potential employers include building owners, property management companies and government agencies.

Potential Careers

• Regina

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 with a minimum of 60% in Workplace and Apprenticeship Math 30 or 60% in Foundations of Math 20 or 60% in Pre-Calculus 20*
• English Language Requirement

Note

Although First Aid and CPR are not admission or graduation requirements, many employers will require them prior to commencing your work experience; therefore, you are encouraged to obtain this certification prior to program commencement or as soon as possible after program commencement.

*Previous Saskatchewan mathematics requirement also accepted:

• Math A30

Alternative Admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

• 250 Arithmetic
• 247 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics
• 250 Reading
• 245 Writing

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission Method

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

2021/22 Academic Year

$7,805

Semester 1

BLDG 113

Building Applications 1

4

CODE 103

Legislation Codes and Safety

3

COMP 172

Introduction to Microsoft Word and Excel

1

ENGP 107

Power Lab 1

4

HEAT 100

Heating Systems

3

MAIN 109

Building Systems Maintenance

3

MATH 104

Applied Mathematics

3

TCOM 105

Communications for Technicians

2

THER 182

Thermodynamics and Mechanics

2

Semester 2

BLDG 114

Building Applications 2

4

BLDG 115

Consumption and Waste Management

4

BLDG 116

Energy Management

4

BLDG 117

Building Automation

4

CLTR 200

Culture and Diversity

2

ENGP 106

Power Lab 2

4

PROJ 287

Project Management

2

SEM 101

Technology Seminars

1

Semester 3

ENRG 100

Renewable Energy

3

PROJ 109

Capstone Project

2

RFRG 104

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems

4

WORK 108

Work Experience

0

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.See links below to more information about PLAR and detailed PLAR candidate guides for the Arts and Sciences courses in this program. To discuss PLAR for other courses in this program, contact us at 1-866-467-4278 and ask for the Program Head of this program.

• Candidate Guide (Department of Arts and Sciences courses)
  • communications, mathematics, sciences, social sciences
• More about PLAR

Transfer Credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

More about scholarships

• Personal Readiness

• Women in Trades and Technology

• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Power Engineering Technology
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Related Courses

• Fireman Boiler Operator
• Power Engineering, Fifth Class
• Refrigeration Plant Operators
• Refrigeration Engineers