March 18, 2026
Okanagan College was established in 1963. Today, with campuses located in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Salmon Arm, it serves about 17,000 students and is BC's second-largest trades school. The college designs a variety of courses and career development programs specifically tailored for experienced skilled trades professionals in BC, some of which are published on the TradeUpBC website.
The following are three recently published courses offered by the college to help BC's skilled tradespeople keep up with rapid workplace changes, prepare for the future needs of their profession, and/or support them in making a career change.
A Field Safety Representative (FSR) is a certified professional, primarily in the electrical industry, who oversees, inspects, and signs off on electrical work, and acts as the technical authority on related permit applications. At least one FSR is mandatory on any worksite where regulated electrical work is being performed, installed, or maintained.
This 60-hour, self-paced and online program prepares electrical journeypersons with Red Seal Certification in BC's construction and transportation sectors to pass the FSR certification exam and obtain their FSR designation. Note: Registrants have 90 days from the date of enrollment to complete the course.
Read more and sign up for the course here
Stainless steel is used for specialized applications requiring high strength, heat resistance, and aesthetic, easy-to-clean surfaces. It is welded to create durable, corrosion-resistant, and hygienic joints for food processing, marine, and construction industries.
Welding is an important part of the manufacturing trades and there is currently a shortage of skilled welders in British Columbia, as well as an increasingly high demand for specialized skills such as Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) and Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding.
This 30-hour, in-person and hands-on course will give trade professionals and fabricators advanced skills to weld, finish, and inspect sanitary stainless-steel systems that are used in healthcare, pharmaceutical, food, and beverage industries.
The next start date for the Food Grade Stainless Steel Welding course is May 25th at the Okanagan College Kelowna campus.
Begin your registration journey here
In British Columbia, anyone who operates a vehicle equipped with air brakes on a public highway must have an air brake endorsement (Code 15) on their driver's licence. This endorsement requires passing both a knowledge test and a practical pre-trip inspection.
This 16-hour, in-person course will provide transportation trades professionals with pre-trip inspection and theory training. Before starting the program, students are advised to download and review a copy of ICBC's Driving Commercial Vehicles booklet or pick one up from a local ICBC Driver Licensing Office.
This course has a variety of upcoming start dates in April, May, and June at Okanagan College's Kelowna, Penticton, and Vernon campuses.