The total cost of the Automation Technician Certificate Program is $1780. There are two payment options.

Option 1 - Full Registration: $1780

Students register and pay for the complete program at one time.

Option 2 - Pay-As-You-Learn Registration

Initial registration is $560 (includes all learning materials, laboratory simulation software, user guides and Module 1) and registration for each of the remaining 17 can be purchased singly or in groups at a later date.

Yes, our program is credit-bearing. George Brown College is a fully-accredited post-secondary institution operating under the authority of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in the Province of Ontario. The College received its Charter in 1967 and operates three campuses in Toronto, Canada with over 15,000 full-time and 64,000 continuing education students. All certificates, diplomas, and degrees conferred by George Brown College are done so under the power vested in its Board of Governors through the Government of Ontario. George Brown College is a member of the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CIC) which is Canada's higher education sector leading organization consisting of over 200 post-secondary institutions. 

Students entering this program must have a high school diploma with credits at, or above, the general level or hold an equivalent mature student status. An electronics background is helpful but not essential.

No, the Automation program is an open enrolment program with no predetermined time limits. That means you can start at your convenience and finish at your own pace.

The average completion time is approximately 32 weeks of part-time study. The flexible computer-based modules are designed to fit into your schedule, not ours, so you can work at your own pace to complete the program.

Yes, there are exams. The exams are written online using a computer-based testing package. A timed, 90 minute exam is taken to complete each module of the program.

You must obtain a 60% or higher to successfully complete each module of the program.

No, this program is offered entirely by distance education.

The Interactive Learning Package includes

• Lab simulation software
• Tutorial and Technical Support
• Access to additional online program resources
• Online Testing 

While enrolled, students receive technical and tutorial support from the program's Student Support Center. The Student Support Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am until 10:00 pm and Saturday & Sunday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm (EST) and can be contacted by calling 1-866-279-1457 or by email at support@gbctechtraining.com.We also have dedicated Discussion Forums, where students can direct specific questions to our online tutor, seek assistance from and interact with other students, and view tutorials and previous discussion threads about difficult program content.

Our program curriculum products are now available by direct download. Once a registration is confirmed, we will provide new students with a download link from which to download and install the web-based curriculum software.

The program uses LogixSim, a state-of-the-art simulator, which includes both 2D- and 3D-simulation software and features CircuitLogix, RoboLogix, PLCLogix, and 3DLab simulation products.

The program primarily prepares you for employment and/or further on-the-job training in a variety of positions in field including automation, process control, PLCs, robotics, and motor control. Typical job related activities may involve assembly, installation, maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, repair and upgrading of equipment and systems used in industrial processes.

Students must have access to a personal computer with the following minimum configuration:

• Intel Core i3, i5, i7, AMD Ryzen 3, 5, 7 or equivalent processor
• 4 GB RAM
• 500 MB of available disk space
• Windows 7 / Windows 8 /Windows 8.1 /Windows 10/ Windows 11
• 32 and 64 bit compatible
• Internet Access
• Email Account

Note: Our program software is strictly made for Windows Operating Systems and will therefore only run on Windows-based computers. It will NOT work on Apple computers running Mac Operating Systems such as Macbook, Chromebook computers running Chrome Operating Systems such as Google Pixelbook or any device running Linux Operating Systems.

Once enrolled in the Automation program, you are responsible for obeying and supporting an honor system that prohibits lying, cheating, or stealing in relation to the academic practices of George Brown College. The honor systems also required you to refrain from conduct that significantly impairs the welfare or the educational opportunities of others in the George Brown College community. You are expected to do your own work in all aspects of your program.

To receive a tuition refund, a student must provide the Distance Education Support Services Center with a written Request to Withdraw letter no later than ten business days after receiving the module materials. There will be a $20 administration fee charged, per module, to process the refund.

Please note that there is no refund on the program web-based curriculum material. Please also note that the textbook cannot be returned for a refund.

Allow 4 to 6 weeks for processing and mail delivery of tuition refund cheque. If you do not receive your tuition refund cheque within six weeks of submitting your Request to Withdraw letter please contact the Distance Education Support Services Center toll-free at 1-888-553-5333.

Please include the following information in a Request to Withdraw letter:
1.    Name
2.    Student Number
3.    Module Registration Number
4.    Reason for withdrawal
5.    Signature

A Request to Withdraw refund request letter should be faxed to the Distance Education Support Services Center at 416-415-4683 (ref: ) or mailed to George Brown College, Distance Education Support Services Center, PO Box 1015 Station B, Toronto, Ontario Canada, M5T 2T9.
 

The  Automation Technician Certificate program is eligible for  Better Jobs Ontario funding. If you are resident in Ontario, Canada, you may qualify for  Better Jobs Ontario support to receive skills training and funding.  For more information, please visit GBCTechtraining Better Jobs Ontario.