Photo: Students working on appliances at Herzing College

Think the world doesn’t need any more appliance service technicians, because people just throw out broken units and buy news ones? 

Think again! Sure, in some cases, a broken appliance may be cheaper to replace than fix. But many of today’s high-tech “smart” units do not fall into that category. 

And there is huge demand for technologically advanced major home appliances. Market research shows sales are up and expected to keep climbing in the years ahead. 

“The Canadian home appliances market is recording growth numbers and is largely driven by the innovation in the appliances...  

The products with multi-utility, smart features, that look simple yet more fashionable than the usual ones are gaining more significance and wide appreciation by consumers.” 

These “multi-utility, smart” machines need highly skilled appliance service technicians for maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair. 

Companies like Whirlpool Canada can’t find enough service technicians with the right skills to service these highly evolved appliances.  

And that’s exactly why we launched our Appliance Service Technician program in partnership with Whirlpool Canada. 

Curious about the training? Check out our student reviews and the best features of this course.

Quick summary: Find out exactly what plumbing pre-apprenticeship training involves, the main benefits to students, and whether it's truly worth the investment.

If you’re interested in becoming a licensed plumber, you’ve probably begun looking at programs, training, and apprenticeship options. 

Chances are, you've heard about plumbing pre-apprenticeship training and are wondering whether it's worth the time and money.

Can't you just go ahead and apply for an apprenticeship without doing any training? You'll learn everything you need on-the-job, right?

Not exactly. 

The truth is, plumbing pre-apprenticeship training is incredibly important for anyone hoping to become a licensed plumber.

Why? Because you need basic skills to actually land a plumber apprenticeship (your first step toward certification).

Most companies don't just hire people right off the street, with no background or experience in plumbing whatsoever!

The skills you learn in a solid pre-apprenticeship program will make you a better apprentice and ultimately, a more successful plumber.

Let’s take a closer at plumbing pre-apprenticeship training. Find out what to expect in class and if this program is worth it for you.

Photo: Gas Technician students at Herzing College

If you’ve landed on this page you must be considering becoming a Gas Technician—or adding a Gas Technician certification to your current skillset.  

And like any intelligent person, you’re looking at the training and licensing process and wondering, is this worth the time and money? 

Is there demand for Gas Technicians? How tough is the exam? How long does the whole process take? What are the main benefits of getting certified? 

That’s exactly what we’re covering in today’s post. 

Find out if Gas Technician training makes sense for you, plus helpful info on how to get started. 

There are a few different types of appliance technician courses. Some focus only on electrical appliances. Others prepare students to work on gas-fired units. And there are courses that offer a combination of both electrical and gas appliance training. 

The skills you learn will depend on the type of appliance technician course you choose. 

In this post, we’ll walk you through the main skills taught in our electrical Appliance Service Technician course. 

We cover what to expect in training, the skills you need to succeed in this trade, and some helpful info on certifications. 

Neil Szabo surrounded by HVAC and gas technician study materials at his home in Toronto

Neil Szabo did not start out wanting to become a Gas Technician. In fact, he spent almost two decades working in television before deciding it was time for a change.

He looked at all the options, and settled on Gas Technician training as the quickest, most efficient route to a satisfying and well-paid career.

Now he's a G2 certified technician with a full-time job at a great local company. 

It's been an action-packed journey of training and growth. Neil says he's learned more in the last few months than he did in the previous several years!

And it all started with Gas Technician training at Herzing College Toronto. Neil graduated from the program in May 2020 and has been thriving in the trade ever since.

This week we caught up with Neil to find out how things are going at work and what he's up to now.

Thinking about enrolling in an HVAC program this year? Ontario has excellent job growth in HVAC right now, so you're on the right track in terms of career opportunities.

But what else should you know up-front, before you invest in training?

For example, is your goal to become a certified HVAC technician? If so, you'll need to land an apprenticeship, complete mandatory courses, and take a certification exam.

You will also need your Gas Technician license. You won't get far in HVAC without it!

Plumbing students doing the hands-on portion of their training at the Herzing College campus

When Covid-19 hit Ontario and the lockdown began, schools and students faced some major challenges.  

If you want to become a certified HVAC technician, getting an HVAC apprenticeship is your first step. HVAC technician is a regulated trade in Ontario, so completing an apprenticeship isn't optional.

It's part of a 5-year process of classroom training and on-the-job learning that prepares you for certification.

You need a total of 8,280 apprenticeship hours before you can challenge the exam and become a certified journeyperson in the trade. The good news? Apprentices get paid, so you can earn while you learn.

But competing for good HVAC apprenticeship jobs isn't easy. How do you get an edge?

Certified Electrician instructor, Lakeram Ramkaran at the Herzing College Toronto campus

Lakeram Ramkaran has been teaching Herzing's Pre-apprenticeship Electrician training since the beginning of 2020. But his experience as an Electrician goes way back, all the way to Guyana, where he learned how to build circuits as a young boy.

Like so many Torontonians, Lakeram immigrated to Canada looking for new opportunities. He re-trained to meet Canadian electrician certification requirements, passed the exam, and became a Master Electrician.

He also earned certification as an Ontario teacher in 2011, setting him on the path to a career in skilled trades education.

10 years later, Lakeram is helping train the next generation of electrician apprentices. A veteran of the trade with 15 years of practical experience, Lakeram is the ideal person to answer our questions about becoming an Electrician.

Updated January 2021

Good electricians will always be in demand. Talented “sparkies” are respected for their intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and technical knowledge.

However, it takes several years of training and hard work to become an electrician. And life on-the-job isn't always easy.

Do you have what it takes? Is this the right trades career for you? 

In this post we put together the most common pros and cons of becoming an electrician.  Salary, working conditions, certification requirements, job safety, cost of training—we cover it all. 

Find out if electrician is a good fit for you, and what steps to take next.