Licensing guide · Alberta

How to Become an Instrumentation and Control Technician in Alberta

Last checked 5 sources checkedNOC 22312

Do you need certification?

Certification is voluntary

Instrumentation and control technician is a voluntary trade in Alberta. You can work in the trade without a certificate.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“you do not have to be certified if you are self-employed or work for an employer who is satisfied that you have the skills and knowledge expected of a journeyperson certified by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training”

From alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/instrumentation-a..., checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Voluntary certification See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 6 steps without a listed fee
  • Listed time: 48 months (only 1 of 6 steps state a time)

  1. Apprentices must find a suitable employer who is willing to hire and train apprentices.

    Source
    “Apprentices must find suitable employers who are willing to hire and train apprentices.”
    alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/instrumentation-a...

  2. You can register as an apprentice before meeting the entrance requirements, as long as you meet the registration eligibility requirements.

    Source
    “You can register as an apprentice before you meet the entrance requirements.”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/get-started/become-an-apprentice/eligibilit...

  3. Before enrolling in the first period of classroom instruction, you must meet the entrance requirements, which include specific high school courses you must have passed.

    Source
    “You must meet them before you enroll in your first period classroom instruction.”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/get-started/become-an-apprentice/eligibilit...

  4. Complete the 4-year apprenticeship term, which includes on-the-job training hours and weeks of classroom instruction in each year.

    Time: 4 years
    Time source
    “The term of apprenticeship for apprentice instrumentation and control technicians in Alberta is 4 years (four 12-month periods)”
    alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/instrumentation-a...
    Source
    “The term of apprenticeship for apprentice instrumentation and control technicians in Alberta is 4 years (four 12-month periods) that include a minimum of:”
    alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/instrumentation-a...

  5. A theory exam is required to complete each period of the apprenticeship program.

    Source
    “Theory exam required to complete each period”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/031

  6. Apprentices can choose the Red Seal exam option in the final period and can write it at their school after passing the final period exam.

    Source
    “Red Seal exam option in final period”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/031

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 1 step without a listed fee

  1. Submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.

    Source
    “Submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/031

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

No separate route for this group.

Source
“Submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.”
tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/031

Official page for this route

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.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

Experience

  • Applicants for the Trades Qualifier Work Experience Program must complete 72 months and 9180 hours of verifiable Instrumentation and Control Technician work experience.

    Source
    “Complete 72 months and 9180 hours of verifiable Instrumentation and Control Technician work experience.”
    tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/031

Other

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Instrumentation and control technicians trained in other provinces and territories can work in Alberta if they hold a certificate or license recognized by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board.

Source
“Instrumentation and control technicians trained in other provinces and territories can work in Alberta if they hold a certificate or license recognized by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board or have the skills and knowledge expected of a journeyperson certified in Alberta.”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/instrumentation-a...

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 22312, Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Alberta and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Alberta $29.70 $57.00 $67.85 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $31.00 $46.00 $65.78 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Alberta

Wages in every province and territory

Instrumentations and control technicians in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 11 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare instrumentation and control technician licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Instrumentation and Control Technician: Certifications in Alberta - alis alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/instrumentation-a... · fetched October 8, 2026
  2. Tradesecrets - Instrumentation and Control Technician tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/031 · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Tradesecrets - Meet Requirements tradesecrets.alberta.ca/get-started/become-an-apprentice/eligibilit... · fetched October 9, 2026
  4. Tradesecrets - Prior Learning Assessments tradesecrets.alberta.ca/get-started/become-an-apprentice/prior-lear... · fetched October 9, 2026
  5. Tradesecrets - Entrance Exams tradesecrets.alberta.ca/apprentice-services/prepare-for-an-exam/ent... · fetched October 9, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as an instrumentation and control technician in Alberta?

No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in Alberta. Certification is managed by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

Which exams are required?

Theory exam, Red Seal exam, Entrance exam.

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