Herzing Skilled Trades

Updated January 2024

You’re smart to be thinking about becoming a gas fitter. Demand is steady, and it doesn’t take long to get the necessary training.

But you’re probably wondering what sort of job options you’ll have.

Gas fitter careers can take a variety of forms, depending on the type of certification you hold and the amount of experience you have. Certified gas fitters can also pursue opportunities in related trades like plumbing, HVAC, and appliance repair.

In this post, we outline the certification requirements, job options, and potential employers for gas fitters in Ontario.

Keep reading to find out where this trade can take you.

GAS FITTER CERTIFICATION: WHAT YOU CAN DO AT EACH LEVEL

To work as a gas fitter in Ontario, you must be certified by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).

Your job options are largely defined by the type of gas technician certification you hold. There are three levels: G3 (beginner), G2 (intermediate), and G1 (advanced).

As a G3, you can work on gas-fired equipment with an input of up to 400,000 British Thermal Units per Hour (BTUH). But you need a G2 or G1 holder to supervise you, so you can really only work as a helper.

A G2 certification allows you to work on your own. You need your G2 if you want to be allowed to function independently on a job site.

And with a G1, you’re legally allowed to work on all types of gas-fired equipment and appliances. You need a couple years of experience as a G2 to qualify for G1.

Note: You must pass an official TSSA exam at each level in order to move up. So, for instance, you have to pass the G3 exam before you can sit for the G2 one.

GAS FITTER CAREER OPTIONS

Once you complete gas fitter training and become certified, you have a range of career options.

Gas fitters can work on gas lines, meters, and regulators. They can also install and service furnaces, boilers, water heaters, gas-fired barbeques or fireplaces, hydronic heating systems, and more.

That means you can go after positions with:

☑️ Construction firms

☑️ Utility companies

☑️ Gas servicing companies

☑️ Appliance repair businesses

With experience (and the right certification), you can become a foreman or supervisor or even start your own business.

The latter is a popular option: the Government of Canada Job Bank says 22 per cent of gas fitters in Ontario are self-employed.

You can also branch out into other fields, like air conditioning/refrigeration. That’s what certified G2 gas fitter Neil Szabo plans to do.

“I am currently employed by a small company called Forge Mechanical. We do commercial, residential, roof tops, condos, A/C, heat, buried lines – everything.

I’ll be looking to apply to a 313A apprenticeship program next. That’s the refrigeration and air conditioning systems mechanic license.

Most companies want you to work on both heat and A/C, or even bigger systems. Getting the 313A opens up more job options. I will likely go on to get my G1 too, so I can teach one day.

Continuous training is a huge part of this trade. You have to keep learning.

That is what will give you the flexibility to go where you want, do what you want, and make the kind of money you want.”

GAS FITTER SALARIES

Gas fitter careers often come with healthy incomes.

According to the Job Bank, the median salary for gas fitters in Ontario is about $62,000. The highest-paid gas fitters in the province make over $79,000.

You can earn even more as a foreman or contractor. The Job Bank says gas fitter supervisors in Ontario make roughly $102,000 as a median salary. The top earners make more than $125,000.

THE CAREER OUTLOOK FOR GAS FITTERS

Gas fitters are in steady demand all over Ontario.

The provincial government expects employment of gas fitters to grow by 4 per cent between 2023 and 2027. As many as 500 jobs should open up over that timeframe.

Winston McKenzie-Plummer is a G1-certified tech with more than 20 years of experience in the gas trade. He says the future is bright.

“There are good job opportunities out there. Gas technician work is challenging, rewarding, and well paid.

Plus, don’t forget, we live in a country that starts with winter and ends with winter. Skilled gas technicians will always be in demand!”

WANT TO BEGIN YOUR GAS FITTER CAREER?

The first step is to get the right training.

Herzing College offers a TSSA-approved gas fitter course that covers both G3 and G2 training in just 36 weeks. Successful students can graduate as fully certified G2 gas fitters and be ready to start work.

Still have questions? An admissions advisor can walk you through all the details of the program and help you decide if it’s right for you.

Click below to explore the program and chat live with an advisor. We’re here to help!