u/FRANKWANG0909

Hi everyone,

I recently enrolled in BCIT’s 4th Class Power Engineering Part A online program and wanted to hear from people who have already gone through the pathway, especially those who completed the Power Lab portion.

I’m coming from a software/engineering background and considering Power Engineering as a long-term career transition. I’m almost 40, so I’m trying to get a realistic understanding of the process and job market before going too far down this road.

A few questions:

• How competitive is it to get into the BCIT Power Lab after finishing the online courses?
• Is there usually a long waitlist?
• After finishing the lab and getting steam time, how difficult was it to find your first job?
• Are graduates still finding work in BC reasonably well?
• What kinds of roles did people end up getting? (plant operator, building operator, refrigeration, etc.)
• Did age matter much for career changers entering the field?

I’d really appreciate honest feedback from people who actually completed the program or are currently working in the industry.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m almost 40 and recently registered for BCIT’s 4th Class Power Engineering Part A online program.

I come from an engineering + software background, and after spending years in tech, I’m exploring Power Engineering as a possible long-term transition into building operations / industrial systems / infrastructure-related work.

I’ve been reading a lot of mixed opinions online lately. Some people say there’s still demand, while others say the entry-level market has become extremely competitive, especially for people without steam time.

I’m hoping to get some realistic insight from people currently in the program or already working in the field.

A few questions:

• How competitive is it to get into the BCIT Power Lab after finishing the online courses?
• Is there usually a long waitlist?
• How difficult is it to get steam time / the full 4th Class ticket afterward?
• What’s the BC job market actually like right now for newcomers?
• Are employers open to hiring older career changers?
• Do employers care that the theory portion was completed online?
• Is refrigeration/ammonia experience becoming almost mandatory now?

I’m not expecting an easy path — just trying to understand the reality before going too far down this road.

Would really appreciate honest opinions and experiences.

Thanks!