Asphalt Paving/Laydown

Asphalt Paving/Laydown Technician (APLT) Apprentice Program

What is it?

The Asphalt Paving/Laydown Technician (APLT) program consists of three (3) weeks of in-school training followed by work-based practical experience within industry. Individuals completing both components of the program will receive a provincial Certificate of Qualification with an endorsement for the qualifying equipment from the Industry Training Authority.

Why would I want to enroll in this program?

In an informal survey of paving companies carried out by the BCRB&HCA, it found that on average, for every 11 employees working, 1 job is vacant. The average contractor reports that they must recruit and train 3-5 new paving workers each year. Paving contractors throughout the province have reported shortages of skilled workers and difficulties in recruiting, training, and retaining asphalt paving/laydown technicians.

Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) projections indicate that all major occupational groups for road building and heavy construction will experience positive employment growth to 2011. Because of provincial initiatives such as the Gateway Program and the 2010 Winter Olympics, road building and heavy construction are among the few industries that continue to experience growth in British Columbia.

How is the program structured?

Several training facilities located around the province will be available to offer in-school training.

Week One

Asphalt – Core Theory Module

This module reviews important information regarding:

Paving equipment safety, types and operation, equipment inspections, systems, equipment maintenance cycles, work planning, transportation of the equipment, interpretations of grades and stakes, environmental protection, aggregates and drainage, and erosion control.

Weeks Two through Three

Asphalt – Core Equipment Lab Module

These modules cover the equipment systems and operation of five pieces of Asphalt Paving/Laydown equipment, including:

  • Asphalt Paver
  • Asphalt Screed
  • Compact Roller
  • Rake and Lute
  • Milling and Reclamation Machine

All modules must be successfully completed to receive credit for the in-school requirement.

Work-Based Practical Industry Training

Once the apprentices have successfully completed the in-school modules, they will be required to achieve between 250 – 400 hours of logged equipment time; in addition, they must achieve the necessary competencies for the individual equipment type they have chosen to be endorsed on. Competencies are specific to the endorsement type, and the hours required for each endorsement are as follows:

Asphalt Screed400 hours
Asphalt Paver300 hours
Compact Roller300 hours
Milling and Reclamation Machine300 hours
Rake and Lute250 hours

Students not able to achieve specific competencies necessary for endorsement will be granted permission to seek those competencies through an Industry Training Authority designated training provider.

The apprentice can be endorsed on multiple equipment types and will be permitted to log hours and competencies on multiple machine types at the same time.

Apprentices who complete all required hours and competencies, signed off by an approved supervisor and/or training provider with sponsor attestation will be granted their Certificate of Qualification with an endorsement for the machine type specified.

Are there pre-requisites for the APLT Program?

Program Challenge Requirements
150% of documented endorsement hours of directly related work experience and sponsor attestation required to challenge the Provincial Asphalt Paving/Laydown Technician endorsement examinations. See Registration Info page for further Challenge information and Application.

Interested? Need More Information?

Please email customerservice@itabc.ca