5th Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination — Information & Free Practice

About 5th Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination

5th Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination · CA

Key exam facts

Provider

ACI owns SOPEEC examination materials; SOPEEC maintains standardized examination content and banks. Adopting provincial/territorial jurisdictions administer the examination.

Format

One written multiple-choice knowledge paper; SOPEEC describes five answer options. Delivery varies by jurisdiction (BC lists digital in-person and remote exams). This four-option practice bank is an adaptation.

Exam questions

Total questions: 100.

Time limit

3 hours of examination time; SOPEEC describes this as the duration in most jurisdictions. Confirm local arrangements; check-in is not included.

Passing score

At least 65% of total marks allotted.

Exam fee

Fees depend on the examining jurisdiction, rather than a single national charge. British Columbia example, CAD plus GST per new exam or re-examination: 2026 digital in-person $193, remote $183; from January 1, 2027 $203 and $192 respectively. Charged according to examination date; qualification evaluation and certificate fees are separate.

Topics covered

• Administration and Mechanical Drawing

  • Log Books, technical communication and plant diagrams

• Act and Codes

  • An understanding of the applicable Jurisdictional Legislation and applicable regulations.
  • Introduction to CSA and ASME Codes for Power and Heating Boilers

• Applied Science

  • Areas and volumes of solids
  • Simple machines
  • Introduction to mechanics
  • Introduction to thermodynamics
  • Thermodynamics and properties of steam
  • Thermodynamics and properties of refrigeration

• Safety

  • Fire safety: classes of fires, types and operation of extinguishers
  • Building and occupant safety
  • Confined space entry
  • Safe storage of flammables
  • WHMIS classification of controlled products
  • Personal safety equipment
  • Occupational health and safety legislation
  • Housekeeping
  • Artificial respiration/acceptable methods; CPR; treatment for electric shock
  • Safe work systems
  • Labeling of Controlled Products
  • Material Safety Data Sheets

• Welding and Plumbing

  • Welding terms and inspection
  • Hot water heaters: operation and maintenance
  • Building water supply systems: operation, maintenance, safety
  • Sanitary drainage systems: repair, safety

• Pumps, Piping and Valves

  • Types of Pumps
  • Pump components
  • Pump operation and maintenance
  • Piping materials and connections
  • Piping: expansion, support, insulation and drains
  • Types and operation of steam traps
  • Introduction to valves: types and applications

• Boiler Details

  • Materials used in construction
  • Basic boiler terminology
  • Watertube, tubular, firetube, cast-iron sectional and modular heating boilers
  • Electric boilers
  • High pressure boilers: components, operation, maintenance, repair, inspections, knowledge of power plant auxiliary equipment

• Boiler Fittings

  • Basic fittings for steam heating boilers
  • Operation and testing of boiler safety valve, boiler gauge glass and water column
  • Basic fittings for hot water boilers

• Fuels and Combustion

  • Types of fuels, combustion principles, draft and flue gas analysis
  • Gas burners for boilers
  • Oil burners for boilers
  • Draft: natural, induced and forced
  • Boiler and furnace explosions

• Boiler Controls

  • Low water fuel cutoffs; operation and testing
  • Heating boiler feedwater controls
  • Heating boiler operating controls
  • Heating boiler combustion controls
  • Boiler programmable controls and safety interlocks

• Boiler operation, maintenance and water treatment

  • Hot water heating boilers: start-up, operation and shut-down
  • Steam heating and power boilers: start-up, operation, shut-down
  • Testing safety devices
  • Cause and prevention of boiler explosions
  • Boiler maintenance and preparation for inspection
  • Replacement of tubes and stays
  • Boiler cleaning
  • Boiler lay up
  • Boiler water treatment basic chemistry, monitoring and testing
  • Boiler hydrostatic testing and safety precautions

• Heating Systems and Human Comfort

  • Heat gains and losses
  • Steam heating equipment
  • Steam heating systems and operation
  • Hot water heating systems equipment and operation
  • Steam to hot water convertor
  • Ventilation fans and air filters
  • Infrared and electric heating
  • Humidification
  • Electric controls for heating systems

• Refrigeration and Air conditioning; Systems and Auxiliaries

  • Refrigerants; CSA B-52, safety
  • Compression Refrigeration Systems
  • Refrigeration compressors
  • Heat exchangers for refrigeration systems
  • Cooling towers
  • Refrigeration system auxiliaries
  • Elementary air conditioning systems and auxiliaries

• Refrigeration and Air conditioning Controls

  • Refrigeration cycle controls
  • Compression refrigeration system pre start-up checks
  • Compression refrigeration system operation and shut-down
  • Refrigeration system metering devices and capacity controls

• Air Compression

  • Types of air compressors
  • Components of air compressors
  • Auxiliaries used with air compressors
  • Operation and maintenance of air compression systems
  • Thermoil Systems
  • Micro-turbine Co-generation

• Electricity

  • Emergency generators: start-up, operation, shut-down, safety
  • Introduction to electricity
  • Lighting systems: incandescent, fluorescent
  • Electrical safety, simple circuits, switches and fuses

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and references

• SOPEEC Fifth Class Reference Syllabus

  pp. 4–8, sections A–P

• SOPEEC Fifth Class Reference Syllabus

  p. 2

• SOPEEC Fifth Class Examinations

  Fifth Class Examinations

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.