New  field operations technician program to begin at NLC in fall 2024

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A new field technician operations program at Northern Lights College (NLC) will be available this year, thanks to a partnership between the post-secondary institution and Tourmaline Oil.

The program, focusing on hydrocarbon resources, will start as a year-long pilot project at the Fort St. John campus.

It will be an updated version of the school’s existing field technician program. However, it will feature a whole new curriculum developed from scratch. 

According to Rod Cork, acting dean of trades and apprenticeships for NLC, discussions regarding the changes to the program began around last spring.

Cork sees the program as the next step in an ever-evolving oil and gas industry.

“We had identified some industry engagement to update our program,” said Cork. “ A lot of the training in our aged program is now considered in the industry to be training for different roles.”

Given the region’s vital seat within the oil and gas industry, the program is seen as critical. 

According to WorkBC, in 2021, Northeast B.C. accounted for 12.9 per cent of the province’s total employment of oil and gas extraction workers.

The program will have flexibility, given the employment of some workers, adds Cork.

“All the learning modules will be separated into relevant sections,” said Cork. “Pipeline systems, for example, assembly, changing gaskets, doing digging and maintenance work, are all into one section.”

“Ideally, we’re looking at a 60/40 split between practical and theory.  Its beauty is that it can be tailored to cater to someone who has never been out to the oil field or someone who has a year under their belt and needs to come and do a module.”

The field technician operations program focusing on hydrocarbon will start at NLC in September 2024.