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Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (NOC 2243)

Job titles

  • apprentice industrial instrument mechanic
  • apprentice instrument mechanic
  • control technician, nuclear generating station and heavy water plant
  • View all job titles

Nature of work

Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics repair, maintain, calibrate, adjust, and install industrial measuring and controlling instrumentation. They are employed by pulp and paper processing companies, nuclear and hydro power generating companies, mining, petrochemical and natural gas companies, industrial instrument and other manufacturing companies, and by industrial instrument servicing establishments.

Fields of interest

  • Carrying out tests or trials, process control
  • Making or building things, constructing, doing repairs, and performing installations
  • Working in transportation and maintenance
  • Working with your hands

Main duties

  • Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Consult manufacturer's manuals, circuit diagrams and blueprints to determine tests and maintenance procedures for instruments used for measuring and controlling flow, level, pressure, temperature, chemical composition and other variables in manufacturing and processing
  • - Inspect and test operation of instruments and systems to diagnose faults using pneumatic, electrical and electronic testing devices and precision measuring instruments
  • - Repair and adjust system components, such as sensors, transmitters and programmable logic controllers, or remove and replace defective parts
  • - Calibrate components and instruments according to manufacturers' specifications
  • - Perform scheduled preventive maintenance work and complete test and maintenance reports
  • - Install control and measurement instruments on existing and new plant equipment and processes
  • - Consult with and advise process operators.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (NOC 2243)

Employment requirements

  • * Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • * Completion of a four- or five-year apprenticeship program in industrial instrument repair or Completion of a two-year college program in industrial instrumentation technology and several years of work experience are usually required for trade certification.
  • * Instrumentation and control technician trade certification is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and territories, except in Quebec.
  • * Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified instrumentation and control technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Skill type

  • Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

Skill level

  • Technical

More information

  • * The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility. Additional information from Emploi-Québec: Under the Agreement on Internal Trade, a worker holding certification in a regulated trade has access to interprovincial labour mobility, whether or not the worker’s certification bears a Red Seal endorsement.
  • * Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Job titles - Classified elsewhere

Professional associations

  • Ordre des technologues professionnels du Québec (OTPQ)
  • 606, rue Cathcart, suite 505
  • Montréal, QC
  • H3B1K9
  • Toll free: 1-800-561-3459
  • Phone: 514-845-3247
  • Fax: 514-845-3643
  • Email: info@otpq.qc.ca