Accredited training providers of OBT 3 and OBT 2 must update training programs and study materials and submit them to TSSA for review

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has updated the Oil Burner Technician 3 (OBT 3) and OBT 2 curricula to align with the latest CSA B139 Code, which TSSA will adopt in the coming months. 

Accredited training providers (ATPs) of the OBT 3 and OBT 2 programs are required to revise their program and materials to align with the updated curricula and submit them to TSSA by February 28, 2026, for approval.

Key changes include the addition of introductory modules from the Gas Technician curriculum and content related to portable generators and biofuel. The revised curriculum and a summary of changes are as follows: 

• Oil Burner Technician 2 (OBT2) Curriculum
• Oil Burner Technician 3 (OBT3) Curriculum
• Summary of Changes to Oil Burner Technician 2 (OBT2) Curriculum
• Summary of Changes to Oil Burner Technician 3 (OBT3) Curriculum

TSSA will implement the new exams to align with these changes starting June 1, 2026. Training providers are required to implement the updated curricula to ensure their training programs prepare students for the new exams.

TSSA will send an invitation for a virtual meeting in the coming weeks to address any questions ATPs may have. If there are questions during the interim, please reach out to certificationandexaminations@tssa.org.

This news was shared with OBT 2 & 3 accredited training providers.

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is extending the deadline for accredited training providers (ATPs) of the Fuels Safety curriculum to submit variance applications and provide these supplementary information for non-compliant laboratories. The new deadline is September 30, 2025, which has been extended from July 1, 2025. 

The extension provides ATPs of the Fuels Safety curriculum more time to assess their laboratories for non-compliances with the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, or its associated regulations and Codes, develop mitigation plans, and submit a variance application.

As a safety regulator administering technical safety regulations and providing safety oversight of training institutions that train and certify tradespeople, TSSA requires that non-compliant laboratories or laboratory equipment must receive a variance, even if they have passed their most recent inspection and audit.

To facilitate compliance, TSSA is waiving the fee for variance applications submitted by September 30, 2025. Variance applications must include a list of non-compliances identified in the laboratory or training area, the relevant Code for which the lab does not meet the compliance requirements, and the safety mitigations to achieve compliance with the Code. For instructions on how to submit a variance application, please refer to the December 16, 2024, communication.

Why Non-Compliant Labs Are Not Exempt from Variance Applications

Accredited training laboratories operate under different circumstances from commercial and industrial equipment installations. Due to these differences in risk profiles, TSSA has historically allowed ATPs of the Fuels Safety curriculum to operate non-compliant laboratories. 

Under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, and its associated regulations and Codes, laboratories are not exempt from compliance and are required to apply for a variance. In recognition of the historical practice, TSSA is extending the deadline for variance applications and waiving the fees for variance applications submitted by September 30, 2025.

ATPs are responsible for understanding the regulatory requirements outlined in the Regulation, Code and Code Adoption Document and must achieve regulatory compliance by the end of their next audit cycle.