How to Become a Certified Technician in Alberta
Do you need a licence?
Title protected
Registration is needed to use the title Certified Technician or Certified Technician (C.Tech.) in Alberta. The work itself does not need a licence.
- Protected titles
- Certified Technician, Certified Technician (C.Tech.)
Show the source
“Under Alberta’s Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act [pdf] and ASET Regulation [pdf], you must register with the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET) to use the protected title Certified Technician (C.Tech.).”
From alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technician, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Title protected See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 5 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with ASET
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
-
Applicants in designated trades not on the eligible list must begin by successfully completing the PLAR pre-assessment program, provided they have the necessary technical experience.
Source
“Other designated trades not listed require the applicant to begin their ASET certification process by successfully completing the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) pre-assessment program”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/Journeyperson.... -
The applicant completes the competency summary logbook for their discipline in the online member portal.
Source
“These are informational documents; completion of the competency summary logbook is to be done in your online member portal.”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/Journeyperson.... -
The applicant must successfully complete the ASET Ethics Exam.
Source
“- Successful completion of the ASET Ethics Exam”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technician -
The Board of Examiners reviews the application once all application documents, including exam requirements, have been submitted.
Source
“Your application will not be reviewed by the Board of Examiners until all application documents (including exam requirements) have been submitted.”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with ASET
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 5 done
- 5 steps without a listed fee
-
Internationally educated graduates go through the same application process as all other applicants.
Source
“Internationally-educated graduates follow the same application process as all other applicants.”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-... -
The applicant obtains a credential assessment from one of the acceptable member services of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada.
Source
“For credential assessments for ASET, acceptable assessment services include one of the members of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (IQAS, WES*, ICAS, ICES, CES, MIDI).”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-... -
The applicant demonstrates English proficiency sufficient to responsibly practise the profession, for example by providing results from IELTS, CELPIP or PTE.
Source
“Applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language that is sufficient to enable the applicant to responsibly practice the profession.”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-... -
The applicant submits all application documents, including exam requirements, before the application can be reviewed.
Source
“Your application will not be reviewed by the Board of Examiners until all application documents (including exam requirements) have been submitted.”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-... -
After submission, the Board of Examiners review takes on average four to six months.
Source
“Once submitted, the average time for review is four–six months.”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with ASET
5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- ASET Technical Exam: $252
Source
“| ASET Technical Exam | $252\* |”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/ASET-Technical-Exam... - Application Fee: $180
Source
“| Application Fee | $180\* |”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/Non-Graduate.aspx
Requirements
Education
The applicant must have completed an accredited applied science, information technology, or engineering technology program or an equivalent.
Source
“- An accredited applied science, information technology, or engineering technology program or equivalent”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technicianJourneyman-route applicants must have obtained an occupation qualification level of QL5 or QL5a in a technical occupation within an applied science, information, or engineering/geoscience technology discipline.
Source
“- have obtained an occupation qualification level of QL5 or QL5a\* in a technical occupation that falls within an applied science, information, or engineering/geoscience technology discipline”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/Journeyperson....
Experience
The applicant needs at least 2 years of acceptable technical experience within the last 5 years.
Source
“- At least 2 years of acceptable technical experience within the last 5 years”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technicianJourneyman-route applicants must have at least two years of technical training and experience.
Source
“- have at least two years of technical training and experience; and”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/Journeyperson....
Residency
The applicant must work, or be seeking work, in Alberta or the Northwest Territories.
Source
“- Work (or seeking work) in Alberta or the Northwest Territories”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technician
Other
The applicant must provide 3 professional references.
Source
“- 3 professional references”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technicianThe applicant must successfully complete a competency report.
Source
“- Successful completion of a competency report”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technicianThe applicant may need to demonstrate proficiency in English.
Source
“- Demonstration of proficiency in English”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technicianThe applicant must prove they are legally entitled to work in Canada.
Source
“- Proof of legal entitlement to work in Canada”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technician
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The page says certified technicians registered and in good standing with a regulatory body elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for registration in Alberta, but does not state whether extra steps are required. Source
“Certified technicians who are registered and in good standing with a regulatory body elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for registration in Alberta.”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technician
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with ASET
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with ASET
Exams
-
ASET Ethics Exam
Source
“- Successful completion of the ASET Ethics Exam”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technician -
ASET Technical Examination
Source
“The ASET Technical Examination (formerly Certification Exam) is designed to test the entry-level skill and knowledge of engineering and applied science technologists”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/ASET-Technical-Exam...
Language tests
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | CLB | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS (General Training) | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Source“| IELTS (General Training) | C.Tech. - 5 C.E.T. - 6 |”aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-... |
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Source“| IELTS (Academic) | C.Tech. - 6 C.E.T. - 6.5 |”aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-... |
| PTE (Academic) | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | Source“| PTE (Academic) | C.Tech. - 50 C.E.T. - 58 |”aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-... |
| CELPIP-G | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | Source“| CELPIP-G | C.Tech. - 5 C.E.T. - 7 |”aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-... |
Exemptions: Applicants who are graduates of an academic program delivered in English are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement. Source
“Applicants who are graduates of an academic program delivered in English are exempt from this requirement.”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-...
Canadian experience
ASET recognizes work experience obtained outside of Canada. Source
“ASET recognizes work experience obtained outside of Canada.”
aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-...
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with ASET
Demand and pay
No Job Bank wage or outlook data for this occupation yet.
Certified technicians in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Title protected
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Certified Technician: Certifications in Alberta - alis alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/certified-technician · fetched October 10, 2026
- Journeyperson aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/Journeyperson.... · fetched October 10, 2026
- International Applicants aset.ab.ca/ASET/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/International-... · fetched October 10, 2026
- ASET Technical Exam aset.ab.ca/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/ASET-Technical-Exam... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Non Graduate aset.ab.ca/ASET/_CONTENT/Registration/Resources/Non-Graduate.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a certified technician in Alberta?
No. Only the title is protected in Alberta. Registration with the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta is needed to use the title Certified Technician or Certified Technician (C.Tech.).
Which exams are required?
ASET Ethics Exam, ASET Technical Examination.
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