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When you are in a hurry to get certified and start your gas technician career as quickly as possible, it might be tempting to rush through the Gas Technician 3 certification and enter the workforce with just that license. But why stop there when you can better your career with a just a few extra weeks of training and complete your Gas Technician 2 training as well?

Gas Technicians in Ontario

When you decide to pursue gas technician jobs in Ontario, you must complete training and achieve a 75% passing grade on your TSSA Gas Technician certification exams. There are two levels of licensing you can complete before entering the trade: Gas Technician 3 (G3) and Gas Technician 2 (G2). While college programs can take years to complete these two courses, private career colleges allow students to focus on only the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare for the TSSA exam. That means you are in school for less time and ready to work (and make money!) much sooner.

The Difference between G3 and G2

Of course, there is a significant difference between Gas Technician 3 and Gas Technician 2 licenses. To begin, if you attend the right private career college to get your skilled trades certification, you are looking at two vastly different timeframes. Your G3 license can be completed in just 5 weeks while it takes 12 weeks to complete your G2 license in Ontario. But even with your G2 taking twice as long, why stop at your G3? You can be fully certified in no time — just 4 months!

Gas Technician 3

The Gas Technician 3 course focuses on:

• Safety
• Fasteners, Tools and Testing Instruments
• Properties, Characteristics, and Safe Handling of Fuel Gasses
• Utilization Codes, Acts and Regulations, and Provincial Supplements
• Introduction to Electricity
• Technical Manuals, Specifications, Drawings and Graphs
• Customer Relations
• Introduction to Piping and Tubing Systems
• Introduction to Gas Appliances

At the end of your G3 training in Ontario, you will write a certification exam. Upon successful completion, you are licensed to assist in service and installation of propane and natural gas equipment under the supervision of a Gas Technician 2 or Gas Technician 1. Your G3 is the minimum required license for anyone installing or servicing propane or natural gas equipment and accessories in Ontario.

Think of your G3 license as a first step. It's an incredible achievement that you have it, and it can get you into the workforce quickly, but don't think of it as the end of the road. It's just the beginning!

Gas Technician 2

The Gas Technician 2 course focuses on:

• Advanced Piping and Tubing 
• Basic Electricity
• Controls (Mechanical and Electronic)
• The Building as a System
• Domestic and Non-Vented Gas Appliances
• Meters, Pressure Regulators and Fuel Containers
•  Domestic Gas Fired Refrigerators
• Conversion Burners
• Water Heaters and Combination Systems
• Forced Warm Air Heating Systems
• Hydronic Heating Systems
• Space Heaters and Decorative Gas Appliances
•  Venting Practices
• Forced Air Add-On Devices
• Air Handling Systems

At the end of your G2 Gas Technician training in Ontario, you will again write a certification exam. Upon successful completion, you are licensed to install and service propane and natural gas appliances and components without supervision on equipment up to 400,000 BTUs. Your G2 allows you to work more independently, without needing the supervision needed with your G3. 

When you compare the amount of experience and knowledge you gain by completing your G2, it is easy to see why it is worth it to continue your training for a few more months. You will still be done before traditional college courses and will have a skillset that is more valuable for employers, which means more opportunity and higher wages!

For more information on how to start a career as a Gas Technician, download our career guide! This resource will help you understand what it is to be a Gas Technician and how to kickstart a fulfilling career you'll love.