Chemical engineering technologists are involved in process design, plant engineering, environmental control, engineering sales and plant operations. They may work independently or under the supervision of a professional engineer.
NOC Number(s): 2211.1
Educational Requirements: 2 years post-secondary education/training
Employment Outlook: Employment turnover plus average occupational growth in Alberta
Duties | Working Conditions | Personal Characteristics | Education | Other Requirements | Employment | Salary | Other Information | Related Occupations

Duties

Chemical engineering technologists may work in engineering offices, sales offices and/or production facilities.

In engineering offices, they may work on process engineering, operation engineering, production engineering and/or project co-ordination. In general, they:

* do computer-based process simulations
* provide technical engineering support
* trouble-shoot problems and optimize operations
* prepare engineering drawings
* evaluate and prepare regulatory applications
* redesign process equipment.

In technical sales offices, chemical engineering technologists:

* act as liaisons between plant engineering personnel and equipment suppliers
* prepare quotes and technical documents
* co-ordinate projects.

In production facilities, they:

* operate process control equipment
* gather plant operating data for design purposes
* do feasibility studies
* co-ordinate production
* supervise construction activity.

Chemical engineering technologists may also:

* do environmental impact assessments and environmental audits, decommission facilities and do site reclamation work
* prepare cost estimates and construction schedules for production factilites
* assist in the design of new processes and production plants
* evaluate the economic and technical feasibility of modifying, replacing or installing new plant equipment
* trouble-shoot and solve problems to maximize production
* prepare process and instrument drawings
* operate complex plants and processes, and make process improvements.

Chemical engineering technologists use mathematics, engineering and physics to solve technical problems in a safe and cost effective manner. They may work in design or operate small scale models of equipment (prototypes) created to design or evaluate manufacturing processes or equipment.

Working Conditions

Chemical engineering technologists may work in office environments and/or industrial plant facilities. In production environments, they may work shifts.

Personal Characteristics

Chemical engineering technologists need the following characteristics:

* the ability to pay attention to details
* persistence and a desire to be accurate
* strong problem-solving skills
* the communication and interpersonal skills required to work in a team environment and possibly supervise others.

They should enjoy working with people, analyzing data and performing calculations to solve problems and taking a methodical approach to their work.

Educational Requirements

The minimum educational requirement for working as a chemical engineering technologist is a related two year diploma of technology.

* Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton offers a two year Chemical Engineering Technology diploma program. The minimum admission requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent with English 30 or 33, Math 30 (or at least 60 per cent in Math 33), and one of Chemistry 30, Science 30 or Physics 30. Normal colour vision is required. Priority will be given to students entering with Pure Math 30. Applicants presenting Applied Math 30 will be assessed, and upgrading may be required.
* Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary offers a two year Chemical Engineering Technology diploma program. The minimum admission requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent with English 30 or 33, Math 30 or 33, Chemistry 30, and either Physics 20 or Science 30 or completion of the Pre-Careers program at SAIT.

Graduates from both programs may be given two years of credit toward the Bachelor of Applied Petroleum Engineering Technology program offered by SAIT.

Keyano College in Fort McMurray offers a one year transfer program for the Chemical Engineering Technology program at SAIT. The entrance requirement is a high school diploma with at least 60 per cent in English 30, Math 30 or Pure Math 30, Physics 30 and Chemistry 30.

Post-secondary institutions may give students credit for prior learning. For information about mature student admission policies, check institution calendars or websites.

Other Requirements

The Alberta Society of Engineering Technologists (ASET) offers professional certification for graduates of the NAIT and SAIT programs who have two years of successful experience in industry. The recognized designations CET (Certified Engineering Technologist) and C.Tech. (Certified Technician) can be used only by members of ASET and other provincial associations in the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT).

In Alberta, Certified Engineering Technologists may also apply to ASET for the advanced RET (Registered Engineering Technologist) designation, which requires a minimum of four years of senior-level experience. RETs who wish to practice professional engineering independently may apply for the new Registered Professional Technologist (Engineering) credential, available from the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA). This credential allows technologists to accept final responsibility for work done in their approved scope of practice.

Employment and Advancement section revised FEBRUARY 2003

Chemical engineering technologists are usually members of operating teams that include engineers, other technologists and technicians involved in the operation of industrial plants, mills and refineries. They may also work in environmental consulting or chemical or equipment sales or as chemical process operators.

Typical employers include:

* tar sand and heavy oil extraction plants
* chemical, fertilizer and petrochemical production facilities
* oil and gas plants
* food processing companies
* pulp and paper companies
* technical sales organizations
* environmental engineering firms
* service and consulting firms.

Experienced chemical engineering technologists may advance to senior technical supervisor or staff supervisor positions. Some chemical engineering technologists take additional training and teach in technical institutes. Others work as technical writers or as salespersons for chemical products.

Chemical engineering technologists are part of the much larger "Chemical Technologists and Technicians" occupational group. In Alberta, over 75 per cent of people employed in this group work in the following industries:

* Manufacturing
* Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
* Public Administration
* Oil and Gas.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors, including:

* trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
* location in Alberta
* employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
* occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
* size of the occupation.

Over 2,000 Albertans are employed in the "Chemical Technologists and Technicians" occupational group, which is expected to grow 2.4 to 3.4 per cent each year from 2002 to 2007 in Alberta. It is forecasted that 40 to 70 new positions will be created each year in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. (Note: Since chemical engineering technologists form only a part of the larger occupational group on which this forecast is based, only a portion of the new positions created will be for chemical engineering technologists.)

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the "baby boom" generation retire over the next 10 to 15 years.

Other Sources of Information

Post-secondary institution calendars and websites (see "Educational Requirements" above)

Alberta Society of Engineering Technologists (ASET) website: www.aset.ab.ca

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