Heavy Equipment 

Operator

Heavy Equipment Operators are coordinated and decisive experts, whose focus on safety make them a perfect fit to operate the essential machines that move earth and  excavate resources.  

As a Heavy Equipment Operator, you’re a careful and confident professional who is completely at home operating a wide range of machines including bulldozers, backhoes, loaders, excavators—and more.  

On any day, you could also be excavating rock and ore at a mine, running dredging equipment to deepen waterways, or clearing brush and stumps for roads or new construction.  

What You'll Learn

  • How to run bulldozers, backhoes, loaders and graders 
  • How to run dredging and pile-driving equipment  
  • How to operate heavy paving equipment for building roads 
  • How to assess safety for yourself and site workers  
  • How to do pre-operational checks and clean, lubricate and refill equipment 

Key Job Skills

  • Coordination and monitoring 
  • Essential heavy equipment knowledge  
  • Job control and engineering basics  
  • Environmental awareness, protection and enhancement 
  • Operation of haul trucks, loaders, dozers, excavators, graders and other equipment 

Technical Training

To get certified, you will need to sign up for technical training at an approved training provider in addition to on-the-job training. 

Visit Trades Training BC and EducationPlannerBC for a comprehensive list of what programs are available in your trade at public and non-public schools. 

For a list of all approved non-public training providers, visit this page.

Technical Training 4 weeks over 1 year
General Skills
Attentive Calm Confident Coordinated Decisive

Note: Training Provider designation applications are not accepted at this time. For questions or support, please contact designation [at] skilledtradesbc.ca.

 

Program Updates

Please note that the Forestry equipment endorsements (Feller/Buncher, Wheel Skidder, Track Skidder, Dangle Head Processor, Grapple Yarder & Log Loader) are unavailable pending further consultation. 

The Exam Breakdown for the Certificate of Qualification is available and shows the approximate percentage of weighting per General Area of Competency (GAC).

Completion Declaration Forms:

Program Information

Program Profile

Occupational Description

Heavy Equipment Operators operate heavy machinery such as heavy articulating rock trucks, loaders, excavators, backhoes, dozers and graders. These machines are used universally for all manner of heavy construction including earth moving, road building, mining, forestry, and mega projects. Heavy Equipment Operators may also be responsible for the basic maintenance of equipment, safety around equipment and the compliance of markers, grades and stakes.

View Profile

Road Builder & Heavy Construction Foundation Information and Resources

The Road Builder and Heavy Construction Foundation program is intended to serve as a pre-employment program for individuals who wish to enter the road building and heavy construction industry.

Challenge the Trade

If you have significant work experience in a trade but have never been certified in Canada, you may apply to challenge the certification. Learn more about How to Challenge a Skilled Trade.