Week 1
Section G
Boiler materials and terms; firetube and watertube boilers
The exam at a glance
Source: SOPEEC Reference Syllabus for the Fifth Class Power Engineer's Certificate of Competency, November 2022.
100
multiple-choice questions
One examination paper
3 h
to finish
About 1 minute 48 seconds a question
65%
to pass
Aim for 75% on practice mocks
16
syllabus sections, A to P
From boilers to electricity
How you get your ticket
- 01
Take a 5th Class course
The syllabus requires a 5th Class course from a technical institute before the exam.
- 02
Build qualifying time
Get the plant or boiler experience your province requires.
- 03
Study and practise
Follow the plan below and hit all five milestones.
- 04
Apply to write
Submit your application and fee at least 5 days before the exam date.
- 05
Write the exam
100 questions, 3 hours, 65% to pass. Bring picture ID.
Qualifying time and application rules vary by province. Check with your provincial boiler and pressure vessel authority before you plan your exam date.
Syllabus map
All 16 sections in one view. Tap a section to see what it covers. Section names follow the official SOPEEC syllabus; topic summaries are ours.
- Boilers and plant
- Science and codes
- Safety and trades
- Building systems
Log books, technical communication, and reading plant diagrams.
In your plan: week 13
Your province's Act and regulations, and an introduction to the CSA and ASME codes for power and heating boilers.
In your plan: week 13
Areas and volumes, simple machines, mechanics, thermodynamics, and steam and refrigeration properties.
In your plan: weeks 14–15
Fire classes and extinguishers, building safety, confined space entry, flammables, WHMIS, PPE, OH&S law, housekeeping, artificial respiration and CPR, safe work systems.
In your plan: week 16
Welding terms and inspection, hot water heaters, building water supply and sanitary drainage.
In your plan: week 17
Pump types, parts and operation, piping materials and connections, expansion, supports and insulation, steam traps, valves.
In your plan: weeks 9–10 and week 18
Materials and terms, watertube, firetube, cast-iron sectional, modular and electric boilers, and high pressure boiler basics.
In your plan: weeks 1–2
Steam and hot water boiler fittings, safety valves, gauge glasses and water columns.
In your plan: week 3
Fuels, combustion, draft and flue gas analysis, gas and oil burners, boiler and furnace explosions.
In your plan: week 8
Low water fuel cut-offs, feedwater controls, operating and combustion controls, programmable controls and safety interlocks.
In your plan: weeks 4–6
Start-up and shutdown, testing safety devices, cleaning, lay-up, hydro tests, tubes and stays, water chemistry.
In your plan: week 7 and week 18
Heat gains and losses, steam and hot water heating, convertors, ventilation, infrared and electric heat, humidification, electric controls.
In your plan: week 19
Refrigerants and CSA B52, compression systems, compressors, heat exchangers, cooling towers, basic air conditioning.
In your plan: weeks 20–21
Cycle controls, pre-start checks, operation and shutdown, metering devices and capacity control.
In your plan: week 21
Compressor types, parts and auxiliaries, operation and maintenance, thermoil systems, micro-turbine cogeneration.
In your plan: week 11 and week 22
Emergency generators, basic electricity, lighting, simple circuits, switches, fuses and electrical safety.
In your plan: week 23
Your study plan
About 170 hours in total. Pick the pace that fits your life; the order stays the same.
Week 1Week 24
- Weeks 1–3
Boiler types and fittings
Sections G and H: watertube, firetube, cast-iron and electric boilers; safety valves, gauge glasses, water columns.
- Weeks 4–7
Controls and boiler operation
Sections J and K: low water cut-offs, feedwater and burner controls, programmers; start-up, shutdown, maintenance.
- Weeks 8–12
Combustion, piping and valves
Sections I and F, plus thermoil from O: fuels, draft, burners; piping, steam traps, valves. Ends with the halfway mock.
- Weeks 13–17
Science, codes, safety and trades
Sections A to E: drawings and log books, Acts and codes, applied science, safety, welding and plumbing.
- Weeks 18–19
Pumps, water treatment and heating
Section F pumps, K water treatment, and L heating systems and comfort.
- Weeks 20–23
Refrigeration, air and electricity
Sections M, N, O and P: refrigeration and its controls, air compressors, electricity.
- Week 24
Final mock exams
Two full 100-question, 3-hour mocks. Score 75% or better on both, then book your exam.
My study planner
Pick a start date and a pace. You get a dated plan for every week. Tick each week off as you finish it.
Pace
About 7 hours a week.
Week 2
Section G
Cast-iron, modular and electric boilers; high pressure boiler basics
Week 3
Section H
Boiler fittings: safety valves, gauge glass, water column
Milestone 1: Boiler basicsWeek 4
Section J
Low water fuel cut-offs and feedwater controls
Week 5
Section J
Operating and combustion controls
Week 6
Section J
Programmable controls and safety interlocks
Week 7
Section K
Start-up, shutdown, testing safety devices, cleaning, lay-up, hydro tests
Milestone 2: Controls and operationWeek 8
Section I
Fuels, combustion, draft, burners, furnace explosions
Week 9
Section F
Pump types, components and operation
Week 10
Section F
Piping, expansion, supports, steam traps and valves
Week 11
Section O
Thermoil systems
Week 12
Review
Review weeks 1 to 11, then a 50-question timed mock
Milestone 3: Halfway mockWeek 13
Sections A, B
Log books, plant drawings, the Act and the codes
Week 14
Section C
Areas, volumes, simple machines and mechanics
Week 15
Section C
Thermodynamics; steam and refrigeration properties
Week 16
Section D
Safety: fire, confined space, WHMIS, PPE, CPR, safe work
Week 17
Section E
Welding, hot water heaters, water supply and drainage
Week 18
Sections F, K
Pump maintenance and boiler water treatment
Week 19
Section L
Heating systems, ventilation and humidification
Week 20
Section M
Refrigerants, compression systems and compressors
Week 21
Sections M, N
Heat exchangers, cooling towers, AC and refrigeration controls
Week 22
Section O
Air compressors: types, parts, operation
Week 23
Section P
Emergency generators, electricity and lighting
Milestone 4: Science, safety, systemsWeek 24
Mocks
Two full 100-question, 3-hour mock exams
Milestone 5: Exam readyYour plan is saved in this browser only.
Five milestones to exam day
Each milestone has a simple test. Don't move on until you pass it.
- 1Week 3
Boiler basics
Boiler types and every fitting on a steam and hot water boiler.
You're ready when: you can name each fitting on a firetube boiler and say what it does.
- 2Week 7
Controls and operation
Controls, safety devices, start-up, shutdown and maintenance.
You're ready when: you score 70% or better on the J and K section quizzes.
- 3Week 12
Halfway mock
Everything on boilers, combustion, piping and valves.
You're ready when: you score 70% or better on a 50-question timed mock.
- 4Week 23
Science, safety, systems
Science, codes, safety, trades, heating, refrigeration, air, electricity.
You're ready when: you pass every section test at 70% or better.
- 5Week 24
Exam ready
All 16 sections under real exam timing.
You're ready when: you score 75% or better on two full 100-question mocks.
Where should you start?
Tick what you can already do with confidence.
Exam-day checklist
Every item must be shown to the examiner. No other reference material is allowed.
0 of 7 items ready
Study tips that work
- 1
Study in 25-minute blocks on shift
Short blocks fit around rounds. Do one lesson, then five practice questions, then stop.
- 2
Aim for 75%, not 65%
Real exams feel harder than practice. A 10-point margin covers nerves and unfamiliar wording.
- 3
Learn your code books early
You can bring codes into the exam. Practise finding answers in them, so you are fast on the day.
- 4
Walk your own boiler room
Find every fitting and control you study. Seeing it in the plant makes it stick.
Frequently asked questions
One paper of 100 multiple-choice questions, with 3 hours to finish. You need 65% to pass.
Yes. The SOPEEC syllabus says you must complete a 5th Class Power Engineering course from a technical institute before writing. BoilerIQ is a study and practice companion, not a replacement for that course.
Plan on about 170 hours. That is 24 weeks at around 7 hours a week, 12 weeks on a fast track, or 48 weeks part time.
Picture ID, a non-programmable calculator, pens and pencils, drawing instruments, approved code books and your jurisdiction's Act. The formula handbook, steam tables and refrigeration tables are normally provided. Phones and other electronic communication devices are not allowed.
The syllabus points to the Safety Codes Act and Power Engineers Regulations, and the rules differ by province. Ask your provincial boiler and pressure vessel authority.
No. BoilerIQ practice exams are SOPEEC-aligned, built to match the syllabus, but are not affiliated with or endorsed by SOPEEC.