Scholarship-Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC)-Gas Technician 3 Training in Toronto
Are you looking for a well-paying, in-demand job with good long-term prospects?
Do you like working with your hands – and your head?
Women Focus Canada’s mission is to end poverty in Canada by empowering women with resources, advocacy, and community support to achieve economic stability, personal and professional growth.
This scholarship for training in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) trade is an example of this support.
Requirements to apply:
- Identify as a marginalized Black or racialized woman
- Live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
- Able to work and study in Canada
- Able to attend training both online and in person in the west end of the GTA
- Demonstrate financial need
- Able to fully commit to training and meeting course attendance requirements
- Enthusiastic and motivated to pursue a career in the HVAC industry (see details below).
What is an HVAC Gas Technician 3?
Gas technicians (sometimes called gas fitters) install, maintain, and repair gas lines, meters, regulators, and appliances like furnaces, water heaters, stoves, clothes dryers, pool heaters, and fireplaces. They also troubleshoot issues, test for leaks, and ensure all work complies with safety regulations and codes. They work in residential, commercial, and industrial establishments and on construction sites.
Many gas technicians work in the construction industry as building equipment contractors. You can also get hired at a gas utility or gas servicing company, where you’d be installing and maintaining gas lines and equipment and converting units to natural gas. And 20-25% of gas technicians work for themselves, so there are definitely opportunities for people who want to become their own boss.
In order to become a gas technician in Ontario you have to be trained, pass an exam, and get certified. There are 3 levels of certification here: G3 – the starting level, where you are certified to work under supervision, G2 – the next level, where you are certified to work unsupervised on some systems, and G1 – the highest level, where you can work unsupervised on any system.
The Women Focus Canada HVAC Gas Technician 3 Scholarship will provide financial assistance and experienced support to help the successful applicant get trained and certified as a Gas Technician 3 – so they are on their way in this in-demand skilled trade
What skills are involved in being a Gas Technician?
You aren’t expected to have all these skills on day one! But do these skills match up with your natural talents and interests?
Some of the most important skills for gas technicians include things like:
- Focus, precision, and attention to detail
- Carefully following safety protocols, steps, and procedures
- Troubleshooting and problem-solving
- Reading and interpreting blueprints and specifications (to figure out the layout of an installation) – you will be shown how to do this
- Excellent customer service
- Good communication (written and spoken)
- Math (performing calculations that you will be taught)
Career Opportunities
On the plus side, the latest job outlook report from the Government of Canada shows good demand for gas technicians in Ontario over the next 10 years. The report also notes that 91% of workers in this field work full-time compared to 81% for all occupations.
The Job Bank awarded “gas technician” four out of five stars for employment potential in most areas of the province.
Challenges
Work can be physically demanding (long periods of standing, bending, crouching, kneeling, or working in confined spaces). Job sites are often noisy.
Some positions require “on call” and weekend work schedules. In the construction sector, it’s common for workdays to start early, often around 7 am and sometimes earlier, and conclude in the late afternoon.
Financial Opportunities
The Canadian government’s Job Bank reports the hourly wages for Gas Technicians to be:
- At the low end, gas technicians make $20.67 an hour or $43,000 a year.
- At the median, they make $32 an hour or $67,000 a year.
- At the high end, gas technicians make $38 an hour or $79,000 a year.
The higher your certification, the higher your earning potential – and it all starts with getting your G3 license, the goal of the Women Focus Canada HVAC Scholarship. And running your own business could definitely increase your earning potential.
So what do you think?
Does this sound like something you want to do as a career?
If so, click on the button below to provide your name and contact information so we know you are interested, and we can keep you up to date on next steps and the latest developments around the scholarship, including when and how to apply
And if not, stay tuned to this Women Focus Canada website and our social media for our latest programs to support women in Canada to have access to the resources, opportunities, and support you need to thrive!