Fleming College

Build on your expertise as an Environmental Technician through an additional year of study, and develop even more competence in preventing environmental problems, resolving environmental issues, and providing education to the public.

Your hands-on environmental training will be an excellent complement to your in-class courses. In the Environmental Technology program, you will learn advanced environmental principles and applications. You'll also complete a two-week work placement where you will gain valuable work experience - and employment contacts that can become invaluable when you start looking for a job. In addition, high level skills in field ecology and specialized wetland evaluation training are delivered, to further increase your career prospects.

Students are eligible for a number of environmental certifications, including:

• ECO Canada, including Environmental Professional (EP) and Environmental Professional-in-Training (EPt).
• The CET (Certified Engineering Technologist) through OACETT (the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists
• Certified Environmental Site Assessor (C.E.S.A.) with the Association of Environmental Site Assessors of Canada (AESAC).
• Students may also have the opportunity to assist researchers in Fleming College's Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT) The nationally-accredited CAWT develops innovative water and wastewater treatment technologies through applied research, education and demonstrations.

You'll have plenty of hands-on experience through the use of our specialized facilities, and you will work with others as a team during the field school off-campus, as well as participate in a multitude of class field trips to both outdoor settings and industrial/municipal facilities. Textbooks are not enough when it comes to preparing capable technologists for the field. Your two-week placement will put your skills to the test.

You've got to enjoy working outdoors, and previous experience working for or volunteering with environmental organizations of any kind is an asset. You should also possess:

• good oral and written communication skills
• research skills
• technical writing skills
• attention to detail
• analytical ability
• flexibility in work environment
• interest in the outdoors and in protecting/improving the environment

Employment in this environmental discipline often involves wearing specialized equipment (such as chest waders) to carry out specific tasks, lifting (such as outboard motors), working with pumps and motors, walking in rough terrain to conduct wetland evaluation, marsh and forest bird surveys, and working in inclement weather, such as during oil spill cleanup, winter and rainy conditions.

Employers include government ministries/departments, regulatory agencies, environmental consultants, non-governmental or non-profit organizations, and urban/rural planners.

Our graduates have found themselves in a wide range of environmental careers, such as:

• watershed technician
• Ministry of Environment area manager
• Manager of environmental services (private consulting firm)
• environmental technologists
• environmental officers
• special environmental "Compliance Sector" team members
• groundwater technician
• industrial and municipal water/wastewater plant operators
• landfill site technologist
• land restoration technologist
• soil/terrain specialist
• water quality technician

The additional year of study will likely mean higher starting salaries and increased employment opportunities in comparison to the two-year Technician diploma. The employment level is consistently very high with recent graduates finding work across Canada and around the world in the public and private sectors.

You can apply for entry to semester one of the Environmental Technology program and/ or semester one of the Environmental Technician program. The curriculum is the same for the first two years of these programs.

To progress to semester 5 of the Environmental Technology program you must have successfully completed (and passed) all courses in semesters 1, 2, 3 and 4.

In addition, plan on spending about $450 for books, supplies and field schools.

The Indigenous Perspectives Designation (IPD) is an option available to students in this program. To qualify for an IPD, you must take and successfully complete a series of required Indigenous Studies courses as well as participate in a minimum of four approved co-curricular Indigenous events or experiences. Your transcript will indicate the IPD upon graduation, a designation that provides you with a comprehensive understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, traditions, and contributions to our shared society within the context of your program of study. The IPD provides a valuable skill set sought after in today's employment sector.