ASET offers tradespersons unique opportunity to grow their careers by earning CTech designations
13, Jan, 2025
EDMONTON, Jan. 13, 2025 – Alberta tradespersons have a unique opportunity to pursue new career avenues thanks to a program by the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET). The tradesperson to CTech pathway program enables a journeyperson, including Red Seal-certified, to apply for and earn the ASET designation of certified technician (CTech). That designation is a passport to multiple new career directions and destinations.
In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of this program, ASET is spotlighting it because it stands to benefit many tradespersons in the province who would like to expand their career options. Alberta was the first Canadian province to offer this program to tradespersons, which ASET pioneered and launched in January 2015.
A CTech is an applied science, information or engineering technology professional who performs routine technical procedures with occasional direct supervision and who may assume limited responsibility for any decision-making process. Typical activities include testing, troubleshooting, inspection, calibration, design drafting, quality control, maintenance, modeling, data compilation, estimating, sales, surveying, field supervision, technical sales, and teaching.
As an example of what they do, CTechs may perform laboratory tests, install cable and phone for infrastructure projects, monitor traffic to gather data for analysis, or serve as process operators in refineries and manufacturing.
The CTech designation is also the gateway to attaining a certified engineering technologist (CET) designation, which is highly sought after by employers of engineering technology professionals and is considered the gold standard designation within the profession.
Jarin Wildeman, a Red Seal-certified and Blue Seal-certified journeyperson millwright, learned about the tradesperson to CTech pathway program through the ASET website. He decided to apply for the CTech designation to achieve more professional credibility in his career. He began the application process in 2016, which took approximately a year and a half for him to complete.
“Earning my CTech designation and becoming an ASET member helped me in terms of the number of employers, recruiters and headhunters who reached out to me afterwards, requesting my professional expertise and offering me opportunities to join their companies,” said Wildeman. “Above all, my ASET designation has earned me the respect of other industry professionals who, in many past experiences, would not offer me the same respect when I held only the Red Seal-certified journeyperson credential.”
“ASET introduced the tradesperson to CTech pathway program to reduce barriers to certification and employment opportunities for applicants who may have experience in an applied science, information or engineering technology discipline within their designated trade,” said Melanie Leaf, ASET registrar and director of practice. “Having a CTech designation also means having an ASET membership, which has its privileges and benefits as well.”
ASET members have access to corporate and retail discounts, professional development opportunities, competitive insurance programs, and networking events throughout the year. They can also participate in ASET’s mentoring program and develop their own skills or guide an up-and-coming tradesperson.
About ASET
ASET is the professional self-regulatory organization for engineering technologists and technicians in Alberta. ASET currently represents over 17,000 members, including full-time technology students, recent graduates and fully certified members in 21 disciplines and more than 120 occupations across a multitude of industries.
Media Contact:
Michele Penz, Calico Communications for ASET
1.778.888.2249
calicocomm@telus.net