Northern Lights College

Northern Lights College is BC’s Energy College™, serving northern British Columbia in an area covering more than 324,000 square kilometres.

Since it opened in 1975 NLC has expanded and now has campus locations in Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, and Tumbler Ridge; along with access centres in Atlin, Dease Lake and Hudson’s Hope.

NLC is a member of British Columbia Colleges (BC Colleges), a group comprised of 11 colleges from all over the province. BC Colleges has a unique regional advantage and a long history of collaboration with industry, employers, communities and policy makers. This collaborative approach allows BC Colleges to graduate highly skilled workers who are equipped to support their families, build healthier communities and power the economy in all regions of British Columbia.

Northern Lights College is a Centre of Excellence for British Columbia in three key areas of training: Oil and Gas, Clean Energy Technology, and Aerospace.

NLC Programs are designed to provide the opportunity to obtain the necessary classroom education supplemented with appropriate practicum or hands-on opportunities to make a successful transition from student to employee. There are a number of options, depending on a student’s chosen career path such as a certificate, diploma, or associate degree. Certificate programs are usually one year in duration. Diploma programs take two years. Associate degrees take two years of study (60 credits), and can be used to transfer to the third year of degree programs at various provincial universities and university-colleges (dependent on transferability of courses and institution).

Some NLC programs are offered at specific campuses, while others are offered at more than one campus or delivered through one or more alternative delivery methods. NLC has videoconference facilities available at all campuses. Videoconferencing is utilized for a number of courses in different program areas. Some program areas are offered via online instruction, others through distributed delivery, and some through the use of mobile training facilities. As well, NLC has partnership agreements with several BC universities. These agreements allow for the direct transfer of credits earned at NLC toward degrees and other programming.

The wind energy sector is expanding steadily and the demand for trained technicians is strong. Students explore the theory of wind turbines and learn hands-on maintenance procedures to maintain turbine output. These skills prepare them to enter the field as wind turbine technicians, or to progress to higher levels of certification within the industry.

The ten-month program is taught in NLC’s Clean Energy Technology Centre of Excellence. Northern Lights College is one of two training facilities in western Canada and as part of this program students learn safety training and theory supporting wind turbines and the practical maintenance procedures required to maintain turbine output.

Safety training starts early in the program with students earning industry certified training experience in safety related areas of the field - including tower climbing and rescue, fall arrest, fire, and first aid training. Although students receive GWO (Global Wind Organization) certification early, NLC believes practicing tower safety and rescue help students become more proficient. Our thirty-metre training tower, located on campus, gives students the opportunity to practice these skills throughout the year. By the end of the program students will develop safe climbing habits and be capable to assist in or take charge of a tower rescue.

In addition to safety training, the course introduces level 1 foundation electrical training with students receiving their first-year electrical apprenticeship training as well as 400 hours toward their first-year electrician apprenticeship.

The second half of the Wind Turbine Maintenance Program focuses on the theory behind how wind turbines function, environmental concerns within the industry, construction and the mechanical portion of turbine maintenance.

Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to enter the field as Wind Turbine Maintenance Technicians, or to progress to higher levels of certification in the industry. The program is affiliated with Lethbridge College, Vestas America, RSC International and the Industry Training Authority.