Heavy Equipment Operator

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Credential

Certificate

Length

8 weeks

Delivery

In-person

International Student

Not Accepted

Launch your career in construction, mining, and industrial operations with Keyano College’s 8-week Heavy Equipment Operator Program. This hands-on training program prepares you for a career operating heavy machinery including excavators, bulldozers, graders, wheeled loaders, and articulating trucks.

Using Caterpillar computer modules and simulators, you’ll learn to operate complex equipment in a safe, controlled environment. Then, take your skills into the field with real-world, on-site machine training under expert guidance.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your skills, this program gives you the practical experience and safety knowledge to begin working immediately in high-demand roles.

  • Be at least 18 years of age by the course start date.
  • Satisfy at least one of the following educational or work experience criteria:
    • High school diploma (International credentials must be assessed as equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma)
    • General Education Development (GED) or Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC)
    • Minimum 10 years of work experience
  • Provide a valid unrestricted Class 5 driver’s licence (not GDL)
  • Provide a Driver’s Abstract (no suspensions, no more than two violations in the past 3 years)
  • Provide a successful Physical Demands Assessment (PDA) completed with DriverCheck. (Booking details will be emailed after we receive your application)

English Language Proficiency Requirement:

Fulfill the following minimum requirements (any one of the following):

  • CAEL - minimum score of 60.
  • CLBA - minimum score of 70.
  • Duolingo - minimum overall score of 95.
  • ELTS - minimum score of 5.5.
  • MELAB - minimum score of 60.
  • PTE (academic) - minimum overall score of 50.
  • TOEFL iBT - minimum score of 71, with no individual test score below 17.

Please refer to the College Credit Calendar for additional options to meet English proficiency requirements.

N/A

Tuition & Fees (2025–26)
Term Domestic Tuition & Fees
Total program cost $12,185.25 (GST included)

Please note:

A non-refundable application fee of $54 will be required for all applicants to the Heavy Equipment Operator program. Please review admission requirements before submitting your application. Fees will not be refunded even if applicants do not meet eligibility requirements.

Refunds, Withdrawals, and Deposits

For information about withdrawals, tuition refunds, program cancellations, and deposit policies, please refer to the Refund Policy page.

What You'll Learn As A Heavy Equipment Operator

Throughout the program, you will develop essential skills and gain knowledge in:

Truck icon

Heavy Equipment Operations

Learn to safely operate a variety of heavy equipment, including loaders, dozers, excavators, graders, and articulating trucks.

Simulator & Technical Training

Complete Caterpillar simulator exercises and computer-based operator training modules.

 

Safety vest icon

Industrial Safety & Site Procedures

Apply safe operating procedures using manufacturer specifications and industry safety standards.

Career Opportunities


Graduates of the Heavy Equipment Operator Program are prepared for opportunities in construction, mining, and industrial operations. Example career paths include:

  • Heavy Equipment Operator
  • Excavator Operator
  • Dozer Operator
  • Loader Operator
  • Articulating Truck Operator

Graduates may find employment in industries such as mining, oil sands, road construction, utilities, infrastructure, and municipal services.

Frequently Asked Questions

The program runs full-time for 8 weeks.

You must provide your own CSA-approved, steel-toed safety boots with an eight-inch upper and anti-skid grips, hard hat, safety glasses, reflective vest before the program begins.

You’ll operate a range of equipment including excavators, dozers, graders, loaders, and articulating trucks, both in simulators and real worksite conditions.

Yes. The program combines classroom instruction, simulator training, and hands-on equipment operation to build practical skills.

The Patrick Poitras Memorial Scholarship is awarded to the highest-achieving students in the Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) open-registration program.

Value: $5,000 

Number of Awards: 2 

Donor: Fort McMurray First Nation Group of Companies 

Eligibility: 

  • Enrolled in Keyano College’s HEO program
  • Reside in, or within 150 km of, Fort McMurray, AB (proof of residency required)
  • Not available to students in corporate training sessions commissioned by employers 

Once you have the relevant documents prepared, fill out the Heavy Equipment Operator Application. 

Learn more about Scholarships and Bursaries.

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