The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) oversees the certification and examination of operating engineers and operators to confirm their qualifications. These activities ensure that all operating engineers and operators in Ontario have the skills and knowledge to safely manage, operate and maintain registered power plants.
The following links are information around examination schedules and registering for an exam followed by specifics around Operating Engineer specific certification.
Application Process Guidelines |
| Each type of Operating Engineer (OE) certification has specific guidelines for candidates to follow in order to successfully apply for and obtain their required certification. |
4th Class Operating Engineer Certification |
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Notice for Examination Candidates writing 4th Class power/operating engineering certification examination (posted February 1, 2023). Effective March 1, 2023: The 4A and 4B power engineering examination paper will change to 100 questions with a 3 hour time limit. The syllabus and passing grade to complete the 4A and 4B examination will not change. There will be no difference or changes in the syllabus, as outlined in the Certification and Examination Guide.
For information about certification and examination requirements, view the 4th Class Operating Engineer Examination and Certification Guide. |
3rd Class Operating Engineer Certification |
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Notice for Examination Candidates writing 3rd Class power/operating engineering certification examination (posted February 1, 2023). Effective March 1, 2023: The 3A-1, 3A-2, 3B-1 and 3B-2 power engineering examination paper will change to 100 questions with a 3 hour time limit. The syllabus and passing grade to complete the 3A-1, 3A-2, 3B-1 and 3B-2 examinations will not change. There will be no difference or changes in the syllabus, as outlined in the Certification and Examination Guide. View the 3rd Class Operating Engineer Examination and Certification Guide to learn about the certification and examination process. |
2nd Class Operating Engineer Certification |
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Notice for Examination Candidates writing the 2nd Class Part A Paper 3 (2A3) power/operating engineering certification examination (posted January 1, 2023). Effective March 1, 2023: The 2A3 power engineering examination paper will only be administered in multiple-choice format. This transition is the continuation of an initiative to move towards multiple choice examinations at the 2nd class level. The syllabus, passing grade and time permitted to complete the 2A3 examination will not change. The amount of questions on the examination has been set at 100. There will be no difference or changes in the syllabus, as outlined in the Certification and Examination Guide, and all examinations completed in the essay style format will remain valid towards 2nd class certification, so long as they have not expired (i.e. exceeded five years as outlined in the Director's Order). For the Certification and Examination Guide effective May 1, 2021, please view the 2nd Class Operating Engineer Certification Guide. For the Certification and Examination Guide effective January 31, 2022, please view the 2nd Class Operating Engineer Certification Guide. |
1st Class Operating Engineer Certification |
| View the 1st Class Operating Engineer Examination and Certification Guide to learn about certification and examination requirements. |
Refrigeration Operator Class "B" Certification |
| View the Refrigeration Operator Class "B" Operating Engineer Examination and Certification Guide to learn about the application and examination process. |
Refrigeration Operator Class "A" Certification |
| For information about certification and examination processes, view the Refrigeration Operator Class "A" Operating Engineer Examination and Certification Guide. |
Compressor Operator Certification |
| To learn about the application process, view the Compressor Operator Examination and Certification Guide. |
Steam Traction Operator Certification |
| View the Steam Traction Operator Examination and Certification Guide for information about the application process. |
Application Forms |
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To apply for a request for certification, reinstatement or an out-of-province assessment, you must submit the following forms: To apply for a duplicate Operating Engineers certificate, you must submit the following form |
Certificate Reinstatement Process |
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As outlined in Ontario Regulation 219/01: Operating Engineers, operators must apply for reinstatement if they have failed to renew their certificate of qualification within 12 months of the expiry date. The TSSA assesses all applicants on an individual basis and requires an applicant to undergo a written examination to qualify for reinstatement. For help completing the application process, view the Operating Engineers/Operator Certification Reinstatement Guide. |
Non-SOPEEC Practical Experience Assessment Process |
| In accordance with Ontario Regulation 219/01: Operating Engineers and the Standardization of Power Engineer Examinations Committee (SOPEEC) Policy for evaluation of practical experience of Foreign Qualified or International Power Engineers, Naval Marine Engineering and Marine Engineering Qualifications for Power Engineering Certification, applicants who have relevant experience from a Non-SOPEEC jurisdiction are eligible to apply for assessment through the process outlined in the Non-SOPEEC Practical Experience Assessment Certification and Examination Guide. |
Training providers |
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Training providers must be accredited by the TSSA before they are eligible to provide or offer a training program to the public. In order for an individual/organization to become accredited, they must submit an Application for Accreditation as an Operating Engineers Training Provider and meet all of the requirements outlined in the Operating Engineers/Operator Training Provider Accreditation Policy. To find an accredited training provider for operating engineers/operator certifications, view our Training Provider Directory. |
Contact(s)