Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation

There are a number of physical activities involved in training for a skilled trade, please review the physical activities of the program and the recommended student characteristics as listed below. Okanagan College strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience disability related academic barriers (including mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), please contact Accessibility Services at your campus so that you can privately discuss options.

Physical activities of the trade:

• Lift and carry tools, equipment, supplies and materials weighing up to approximately 20 Kgs.
• Lift, carry, hold and operate hand, air and power tools from below grade to above shoulders
• Stand on concrete and asphalt for extended periods of time
• Bend, stoop, kneel and crawl to perform various tasks
• Working indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions

Recommended student characteristics:

• Good general health and respiratory condition
• Capable of doing physical work
• Physical strength and stamina compatible with the handling of heavy equipment and materials Ability to tolerate noise and vibration
• Good manual dexterity
• Satisfactory eyesight, line, form and depth perception
   

Textbooks

The current total cost of the textbooks is approx. $1165.

5% GST is not included in price. Price is subject to change.

Textbooks available online only at the OC Campus Store.

The booklists on OC Campus Store website will be updated 3 times a year (January, April and mid-August).
Please check back with the Campus Store 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!

If you have any questions regarding the booklist, please call OC Campus Store, 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.

It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.

Required supplies

• A Windows 11, 10 or 8 laptop or Chromebook (OS 88 or higher) with camera capable of loading Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor for assessments
• Coveralls
• CSA-approved steel-toed work boots
• Safety glasses
• Binder
• Diary (200 pages, minimum 8x5 inches)
• Pencils, pens, eraser, ruler
• Set of mechanic gloves
• Lock for locker
• Calculator to write exams, preferably one of the following: Sharp EL-520W, EL-520X, EL-531X

Government-issued picture ID (driver’s license, photo ID or valid passport) is required to write the provincial and national exams; student ID cards are not acceptable.

Applicants who have not satisfied the Math admission requirement within the last seven years, and/or do not meet the English admission requirement, must write the TEA Math and/or English test. Both of the assessments are online, multiple-choice and timed. Applicants are allotted 1 hour to complete each section (2 hours for both). A practice assessment and study resources are offered to all applicants who register to write the TEA.  Calculators are not allowed while completing the Math section; applicants who are observed to use a calculator of any sort, will receive a grade of zero.  Applicants who do not achieve the minimum passing requirement on their initial attempt, are offered a second attempt, at no additional cost, after a two-week study period.

Please ensure you write the assessment, and any required re-writes, prior to the deadline for admissions requirements, provided by the Registrar’s office. For more information or to register for the Trades Entrance Assessment, click here. Further questions can be directed to the Trades and Apprenticeship office at trades@okanagan.bc.ca.

Please note: Applicants who successfully completed the ABLE test at Okanagan College, within the two years prior to application for admission shall have their results accepted as equivalent to the Trades Entrance Assessment. 

The textbook list above was current at the time it was posted and may be used for initial planning purposes. Please check back with the bookstore 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!

Textbooks available online only at OC Campus Store. If you have any questions, call 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.

It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.