What is a Certified Applied Science/Engineering Technician?

A graduate of an accredited curriculum for applied Science/Engineering Technicians (or equivalent) who has completed two years of satisfactory practical experience in employment following graduation may be registered as an Technician.

The curriculum followed by the Applied Science/Engineering Technician will have been based upon a core of applied science including the principles of physics and chemistry and a core of technical and applied mathematics including algebra, geometry and trigonometry and differential and integral calculus to the extent that is required for the explanation of technical components of the curriculum. The curriculum will also have included the fundamentals of science and engineering applicable to a narrow specialty of engineering technology, taught in terms of the mathematics core, and probably invoking empirical rather than analytical solutions to technical problems.

The academic and theoretical portions of the technical curriculum will have been reinforced by suitable laboratory experiments and exercises amounting to not more than fifty percent of the total technical curriculum.

The occupational functions of an applied science/engineering technician will normally be related to a relatively narrow area of technical specialization. They may progress from the relatively simple tasks of the recent graduate to those of an acknowledged technical specialist.

The applied Science/Engineering Technician will normally receive direction from a technical supervisor, usually an applied Science/Engineering Technologist or an engineer.

The applied Science/Engineering Technician may carry a variety of non-routine fairly complex work processes involving a substantial number of operations in an area of technical specialization.

  • May assist design of equipment, systems or processes, including the interpretation of specifications and the preparation or modification of technical drawing;
  • May construct models and prototypes or operate pilot plants to test production methods, processes or equipment.
  • May trouble shoot complex equipment, production, test or construction problems, initiate corrective action and make recommendations and prepare reports;
  • May prepare estimates of time, quantities, material and labor requirements for such activities as manufacturing, testing, installation and construction and may be involved in conducting time and motion studies and in developing work standards;
  • May perform some of the duties of skilled tradesmen but not for sustained periods or on a continuing basis.

The applied Science/Engineering Technician examines their assignments, objectives and instructions; selects standard and non-standard procedures, techniques and equipment to effect solution of the assigned problem.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the designation for a Certified Technician is C.Tech.