Free study guide · SOPEEC-aligned

The 1st Class Power Engineer Roadmap

The top ticket in power engineering: prerequisites and experience by province, the eight exam papers, online programs, and how to prepare for the long-answer exams.

By the BoilerIQ power engineering team, Winnipeg, Manitoba · Last updated October 2026

Try free 1st Class questions Build your 1st Class study plan →

How you get your ticket: 5 steps +

Hold your 2nd Class certificate. Every province requires it.
Build qualifying time, usually 30 months as chief or shift engineer at a large plant.
Take an approved 1st Class course, which cuts 12 months in BC and Saskatchewan.
Pass all eight papers: 1A1 to 1A4 and 1B1 to 1B4.
Apply for your certificate with your operating experience form.

Eligibility requirements

1st Class requires a 2nd Class certificate and about two and a half years in a senior role at a large plant in most provinces. Open your province for the details.

British Columbia

British Columbia 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	Technical Safety BC (TSBC) ↗
Prerequisite	2nd Class certificate or a corresponding Canadian credential.
Steam time	30 months (about 4,800 hours*) as chief engineer of a 2nd Class plant, or as assistant chief engineer or shift engineer of a 1st Class plant 36 months as a safety officer, or 45 months as assistant shift engineer of a 1st Class plant An approved 1st Class course cuts 12 months; a mechanical engineering degree reduces it to 12 months
Exams	1A1 to 1B4: eight exams, 3½ hours each, 65% to pass. Three attempts, 30-day wait after a failed attempt.
What you can operate	Chief engineer of a 1st Class plant or lower (a 1st Class power plant has more than 1,000 m² of boiler capacity) Person in charge of any refrigeration plant
Where you'll find these plants	Power generating stationsRefineries and upgradersPetrochemical plantsLarge pulp and paper millsMajor district energy systemsLarge industrial complexes

Alberta

Alberta 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	ABSA ↗
Prerequisite	A valid 2nd Class Certificate of Competency.
Steam time	Proof of operating experience in a power or heating plant, as set by ABSA Completing all eight 1st Class theory courses at an accepted school can earn up to 12 months of credit
Exams	Eight papers, 1A1 to 1B4.
What you can operate	Supervision of any type or capacity of power plant, heating plant or thermal liquid heating system
Where you'll find these plants	Power generating stationsRefineries and upgradersPetrochemical plantsLarge pulp and paper millsMajor district energy systemsLarge industrial complexesOil sands facilities

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK) ↗
Prerequisite	A valid 2nd Class certificate to write. Pass all eight papers, then qualify through one of TSASK's routes.
Steam time	30 months (4,800 hours) as chief engineer of a high-pressure plant over 5,000 kW (oilfield once-through boiler plant over 10,000 kW) 30 months as shift engineer of a high-pressure plant over 10,000 kW (oilfield over 15,000 kW) 42 months assisting in operating a plant of that size Graduate engineers: 15 months. An approved 1st Class course gives 12 months credit
Exams	1A1 to 1B3: long answer (answer 5 of 7), 3½ hours. 1B4: 100 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours. 65% each.
What you can operate	A boiler, boiler plant, oilfield once-through boiler plant or refrigeration plant of any capacity
Where you'll find these plants	Power generating stationsRefineries and upgradersPetrochemical plantsLarge pulp and paper millsMajor district energy systemsLarge industrial complexesPotash mines

Manitoba

Manitoba 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	Inspection and Technical Services (ITS) ↗
Prerequisite	2nd Class certificate.
Steam time	30 months (about 4,800 hours*) as chief engineer of a 2nd Class plant or shift engineer in a 1st Class plant 42 months as assistant shift engineer in a 1st Class plant Cut by 50% for graduate engineers or an approved 1st Class course
Exams	Eight 1st Class papers. Confirm the exact papers and format with ITS.
What you can operate	Chief engineer or shift engineer in any plant or class of plant (a 1st Class plant is high-pressure, over 10,000 kW)
Where you'll find these plants	Power generating stationsRefineries and upgradersPetrochemical plantsLarge pulp and paper millsMajor district energy systemsLarge industrial complexes

Ontario

Essay exams

Ontario 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) ↗
Prerequisite	TSSA recommends a 1st Class power engineering course before writing.
Steam time	4,800 hours as chief operating engineer in a 2nd Class plant, or as 2nd Class operating engineer in a 2nd or 1st Class plant At least 33% boiler operation; no more than 33% maintenance 3,360 hours after a full-time TSSA approved-for-time-reduction 1st Class program Exams and experience can be completed at the same time
Exams	Eight essay exams (1A-1 to 1B-4): answer 5 of 7 questions, 3½ hours each, 65%. Rewrites after 60 days.
What you can operate	1st Class Operating Engineer duties within the plant ratings in Table 8 of Ontario Regulation 219/01; confirm with TSSA
Where you'll find these plants	Power generating stationsRefineries and upgradersPetrochemical plantsLarge pulp and paper millsMajor district energy systemsLarge industrial complexes

Quebec

Own system

Quebec 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale ↗
Certificate	Certificat en mécanique de machines fixes, classe 1 (MMF-C1).
Prerequisite	Mandatory training: problem analysis and decision-making, combustion, laws, codes and regulations, steam and hot-water boiler operation, and thermodynamics. A lower-class certificate shortens the apprenticeship.
Steam time	At least 7,500 hours of apprenticeship under a certified journeyperson.
Exam	150 to 200 multiple-choice questions, about 7 hours in two parts, 60% to pass. Valid for 4 years.
What you can operate	Direct class 1 installations of any power level, and perform all tasks in class 4, 3 and 2 installations

New Brunswick

New Brunswick 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	Technical Inspection Services (Public Safety) ↗
Prerequisite	A 2nd Class licence held for two years.
Steam time	Six years of total practical operating experience, including at least two years in a facility larger than 700 therm-hours.
Exams	Pass the required 1st Class examinations.
What you can operate	Scope set in New Brunswick Regulation 84-175, section 12; confirm with Technical Inspection Services
Where you'll find these plants	Power generating stationsRefineries and upgradersPetrochemical plantsLarge pulp and paper millsMajor district energy systemsLarge industrial complexes

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	Labour, Skills and Immigration: Technical Safety ↗
Prerequisite	A current 2nd Class licence and trainee registration for 1st Class.
Steam time	The regulated practical hours for 1st Class. Confirm with Technical Safety (safetybranch@novascotia.ca).
Exams	SOPEEC 1st Class papers.
What you can operate	Plants are classed by total kW rating; 1st Class covers the largest plants. Confirm with Technical Safety
Where you'll find these plants	Power generating stationsRefineries and upgradersPetrochemical plantsLarge pulp and paper millsMajor district energy systemsLarge industrial complexes

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	Power Engineers Board of Examiners ↗
Prerequisite	A valid 2nd Class licence.
Steam time	At least 24 months since your 2nd Class licence as chief or shift engineer in a plant over 12,000 kW, shift or assistant engineer in a plant over 30,000 kW, or 12 months as plant supervisor in a plant over 12,000 kW.
Exams	PEI provincial 1st Class exam.
What you can operate	Chief or shift engineer in any registered plant
Where you'll find these plants	Power generating stationsRefineries and upgradersPetrochemical plantsLarge pulp and paper millsMajor district energy systemsLarge industrial complexes

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador 1st Class eligibility requirements
Regulatory body	Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division ↗
Prerequisite	2nd Class certificate, plus employment in a plant of adequate capacity verified by the chief engineer.
Steam time	5,000 hours as chief power engineer in a plant over 12,000 kW, or as shift engineer in a plant over 24,000 kW 7,000 hours as assistant shift engineer in a plant over 24,000 kW Up to 2,000 hours credit for an approved course; up to 1,000 hours for shutdown-plant time
Exams	SOPEEC 1st Class papers.
What you can operate	Not listed in the examination conditions; confirm with the Department
Where you'll find these plants	Power generating stationsRefineries and upgradersPetrochemical plantsLarge pulp and paper millsMajor district energy systemsLarge industrial complexes

* Hours are estimates at 160 hours a month, the rate TSASK and the Ontario guides use; regulators that state months may count hours differently. Workplace examples are typical, not regulatory. Last checked October 2026; confirm with your regulator before you apply.

Syllabus

1st Class is eight papers: four in Part A and four in Part B. Most are long-answer exams.

Part A

11A1 Applied Thermodynamics and Plant Cycles
21A2 Principles of Applied and Fluid Mechanics
31A3 Applied Engineering Technologies
41A4 Power Plant Operations

Part B

11B1 Legislation and Codes for Industrial Equipment
21B2 Safety, Loss and Environmental Program Management
31B3 Inspection, Maintenance and Repair Practices
41B4 Business and Workforce Management

Paper names as listed by TSASK and Technical Safety BC. Full syllabus: sopeec.org.

Where to study

1st Class is almost always studied online while working. Start with "Online, any province", then check your regulator for experience credit.

Online, any province

3 courses

ONLINE

BCIT

British Columbia Institute of Technology. 1st Class Part A and Part B online, about 10 months each part.

On TSBC provider list · ABSA accepted

BCIT PROGRAMS ↗

ONLINE

SAIT

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. Eight online courses (A1 to B4) with instructor support, up to 3 years to finish.

ABSA: up to 12 months credit after all 8 courses

SAIT PROGRAM ↗

ONLINE

NAIT

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. 1st Class by distance learning.

ABSA accepted

Online

The province directs 1st Class students to out-of-province correspondence or online training. See "Online, any province".

Program lengths and fees change each term. Last checked October 2026; confirm with the school and your regulator before you enrol.

Exam

Exam format

Eight papers · mostly long answer · SOPEEC standard format

8 papers

1A1 to 1A4, 1B1 to 1B4

5 of 7 long answers

1A1 to 1B3, 3½ hours each; 1B4 is 100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours

65% to pass

On each paper. Aim for 75% in practice

Code books allowed

Bring approved codes and your Act. Practise finding answers fast.

Formats as published by TSASK. Ontario: all eight TSSA exams are essay format (answer 5 of 7, 3½ hours); rewrites after 60 days. BC: 3½ hours per exam, three attempts, 30-day wait after a failed attempt. Quebec uses its own class 1 exam.

Before you book

Three checks before you pick a date

Apply early

Send your application to your regulator well before the exam date.

Aim for 75%, not the pass mark

Pass two full timed mocks at 75% first.

Learn your code books

Know where answers are so you're fast on the day.

Not sure when to book?

Pick a target date and weekly hours, and get a week-by-week plan for each 1st Class paper.

Build your 1st Class study plan →

Try a question from our bank

A 30 t railway car moving at 12 km/h collides with a 20 t car at rest. They couple together. What is their common velocity?

Try more free 1st Class questions →

What to bring

Check your regulator's list before exam day

1st Class power engineer FAQ

How many exams are in 1st Class?

Eight papers: 1A1 to 1A4 and 1B1 to 1B4. Under the SOPEEC standard, 1A1 to 1B3 are long-answer exams (answer 5 of 7 questions in 3½ hours) and 1B4 is 100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, with a 65% pass mark. In Ontario all eight are essay exams.

How much experience do I need for 1st Class?

Usually 30 months after 2nd Class as chief engineer of a 2nd Class plant or shift engineer of a 1st Class plant (BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan). Ontario requires 4,800 hours, or 3,360 after an approved program. An approved course cuts 12 months in BC and Saskatchewan.

Where can I study 1st Class?

BCIT, SAIT and NAIT offer 1st Class by distance learning and are on ABSA's accepted list. SAIT gives up to 12 months of ABSA experience credit after all eight courses. TSSA offers no 1st Class training program in Ontario.

What can a 1st Class power engineer operate?

Any plant. In Manitoba and PEI, chief or shift engineer in any plant; in Saskatchewan, any boiler, oilfield once-through boiler or refrigeration plant of any capacity; in Alberta, any type or capacity of power plant, heating plant or thermal liquid heating system.

How do I prepare for long-answer exams?

Practise writing full solutions under time: five answers in 3½ hours is about 40 minutes each. Show formulas, units and steps, since method marks count.

Is BoilerIQ official?

No. BoilerIQ practice material is SOPEEC-aligned and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SOPEEC or any provincial regulator.

Start today

Try free SOPEEC-aligned 1st Class questions, or build a week-by-week study plan.

Try free 1st Class questions 1st Class study plan →Previous class: 2nd Class roadmap ←

BoilerIQ practice material is SOPEEC-aligned and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SOPEEC or any provincial regulator. Always confirm exam and certification requirements with your provincial jurisdiction.