On October 5, 2004, the Government of Alberta designated "Rig Technician" as a compulsory certification trade. This designation applies to the positions of Motorhand, Derrickhand and Driller on drilling rigs in Alberta. The program is being phased in over a three-year period, beginning with the registration of Motorhands in the spring of 2005.

Alberta's drilling industry is the first in the world to implement compulsory trade certification for drilling occupations. The CAODC believes that by establishing the Rig Technician trade, the drilling industry will:

• establish a career path and formalize a training program for motorhands, derrickhands and drillers;
• communicate to the public that rig employees are trained, knowledgeable tradespeople; and
• make the job site a safer place.

Today's rigs are highly technical work environments that demand a variety of skills. To meet this demand, drilling industry employees and management have developed high-quality training standards for the Apprenticeship Program. Apprenticeship training provides a combination of on-the-job training and technical (classroom) training. All apprenticeship programs have an in-class component offered through technical colleges. There, apprentices are given background knowledge that will assist them in their on-the-job training. This background knowledge will help the apprentice understand the "how" and the "why" behind many of their daily tasks.

Stoneham Drilling is proud to support the Apprenticeship Initiative.

For more information on certification visit www.tradesecrets.org