Power Engineer Licence Qualifications

In order to operate a power, heating or refrigeration plant under the authority of the Power Engineers Act and Regulations, a valid power engineer or refrigeration licence of the appropriate class is required.  In PEI, all power engineer and refrigeration licences are issued within a five-year cycle. All licences must be renewed when the current five-year cycle ends December 31, 2019.

Please note: A Power Engineer Licence will not be issued without approval of the Chief Boiler Inspector. If you are seeking a new (first-time) licence, contact the Chief Boiler Inspector at the address below.

The summary of licence class qualifications and employment capacity is offered below for information purposes only. For detailed, accurate information, please refer to the Power Engineers Act and Regulations.

Fourth-class licence

To qualify for a fourth-class licence, a candidate must have completed

• Minimum  12 months’ experience in installation, operation and repair of boilers, pressure vessels, pressure piping and related equipment;
• An upgrading course in power engineering fourth class as required by the board; and
• A full-time course in power engineering fourth class at any recognized trade school or university.

The holder of a valid fourth-class licence may be employed as:

• Chief engineer of a registered:
  • heating plant not exceeding 12,000 kilowatts
  • power plant not exceeding 7,000 kilowatts
  • refrigeration plant not exceeding 597 kilowatts;
• Shift engineer of any registered:
  • heating plant
  • power plant not exceeding 12,000 kilowatts
  • refrigeration plant; or
• Assistant engineer in a registered power plant not exceeding 30,000 kilowatts.

Third-class licence

To qualify for a third-class licence, a candidate must hold a valid fourth-class licence and, since the issue of that licence, have completed an upgrading course in power engineering third class as required by the board. In addition, the candidate must meet one of the following:

For a period of one year operated:

• As chief engineer or shift engineer in a fourth class heating plant or power plant that requires a minimum of 8 hours’ supervision in a 24-hour period;
• As assistant shift engineer in a fourth-class heating plant or power plant that requires a minimum of 8 hours’ supervision in a 24-hour period; or
• Operated two or more fourth-class plants that required one visit every 24 hours for one year.

Or

For a period of three years:

• Operated a fourth-class plant that required one visit every 24 hours;
• Operated a refrigeration plant, and has 520 hours’ experience operating a heating or power plant as a fourth-class engineer;
• Operated a 50 Mw gas turbine plant, and has 520 hours’ experience as a fourth-class engineer in a heating or power plant; or
• Worked as a boiler and pressure vessel inspector, and has 520 hours’ experience operating a heating or power plant as a fourth-class engineer.

The holder of a valid third-class licence may be employed as:

• Chief engineer of any registered:
  • heating plant
  • power plant not exceeding 12,000 kilowatts
  • registered refrigeration plant not exceeding 597 kilowatts;
• Shift engineer of any registered:
  • heating plant
  • power plant not exceeding 30,000 kilowatts
  • refrigeration plant; or
• Assistant engineer in any registered plant.

Second-class licence

To qualify for a second-class licence, a candidate must hold a valid third-class licence and have, since the issue of that licence, minimum 24 months’ experience in aggregate or any combination of the following:

• Chief engineer or shift engineer in a registered power plant having a rating greater than 4,000 kilowatts;
• Shift engineer or assistant engineer in a registered power plant having a rating greater than 7,000 kilowatts;
• Assistant shift engineer in a registered power plant having a rating greater than 30,000 kilowatts.

The holder of a valid second-class licence may be employed as:

• Chief engineer of  any registered:
  • heating plant
  • power plant not exceeding 30,000 kilowatts
  • refrigeration plant; or
• Shift engineer of any registered heating plant, power plant, or refrigeration plant.

First-class licence

To qualify for a first-class licence, a candidate must hold of a valid second-class licence and have, since the issue of that licence, minimum 24 months’ experience in aggregate or any combination of the following:

• Chief engineer or shift engineer in a registered power plant having a rating greater than 12,000 kilowatts;
• Shift engineer or assistant engineer in a registered power plant having a rating greater than 30,000 kilowatts;
• Employed, for a period of 12 months, as plant supervisor in a registered power plant having a rating greater than 12,000 kilowatts.

The holder of a valid first-class licence may be employed as chief engineer or shift engineer in any registered plant.

Biomass operator licence

To qualify for a low-pressure biomass operator licence, a candidate must successfully complete an industry-based training program for the operation and maintenance of low-pressure biomass boilers approved by the board of examiners.

Please note: The licence is specific to the low-pressure biomass boiler the licence holder will be operating.

Refrigeration class B licence

To qualify for a Refrigeration class B licence, a candidate must have:

• Minimum  12 months’ experience (at least 3 of which are in operation) in the installation, operation and repair of industrial refrigeration systems; or
• Minimum 6 months’ experience in the operation of an industrial refrigeration plant having a kilowatt rating greater than 74.5 kilowatts.

The holder of a valid refrigeration class B licence may be employed as:

• Chief engineer of a registered refrigeration plant not exceeding 597 kilowatts; or
• Shift engineer of any registered refrigeration plant.

Refrigeration class A licence

To qualify for a Refrigeration class A licence, a candidate must hold a valid class B licence and have, since the issue of that licence, minimum 12 months’ experience in aggregate or any combination of the following:

• Chief engineer or shift engineer in a registered refrigeration plant having a rating greater than 74.5 kilowatts; or
• Shift engineer or assistant engineer in a registered refrigeration plant having a rating greater than 895 kilowatts.

The holder of a valid refrigeration class A licence may be employed as chief engineer or shift engineer of any registered refrigeration plant.

Recognition of equivalent training and experience: A person having special engineering training in a recognized university or having completed a course in power engineering satisfactory to the board, or having experience in the construction or repair of boilers, may be granted such time in lieu of practical operating experience as the board deems fair and reasonable. 

Who can I contact about a Power Engineer licence?

Steve Townsend (Chief Officer Boiler, Pressure Vessel, LP Gas, Plumbing and Home Heat Tank)
J. Elmer Blanchard Building
31 Gordon Drive
Charlottetown, PE  C1A 6B8
Telephone: (902) 368-5567
Fax: (902) 368-5526
Email: srtownsend@gov.pe.c