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Island Technology Professionals (ITP)

Island Technology Professionals (ITP) is a volunteer-run, independent certifying body for engineering/applied science technicians and technologists on PEI.

From left, Robert (Bob) Collier, Trent Collicutt, and Bryan Burt, Island Technology Professionals.

ITP represents 16 disciplines:

  • Architectural and Building
  • Biomedical
  • Bioscience
  • Chemical
  • Civil
  • Electrical
  • Electronics
  • Environmental
  • Geomatics and Survey
  • Industrial
  • Information Technology
  • Instrumentation
  • Mechanical
  • Mineral Resources
  • Petroleum
  • Renewable Resources

The association has about 130 certified members.

The organization represents the designations “CTech”, “CET” and “AScT” which are symbols of achievement in engineering/applied science technology. The designations are recognized across Canada through the efforts of the provincial associations that make up the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT).

PEI education options for engineering/applied science technicians and technologists

At the technologist level, Holland College offers Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Network Engineering Technology, Bioscience Technology, and Architectural Technology.

At the technician level, the college offers Construction Technology and Environmental Applied Sciences Technology programs. All programs are nationally accredited by the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB).

ITP President Bryan Burt is a graduate of Holland College’s Computer Engineering Technology and Information Systems Technology programs. He works with Network Operations at the provincial government’s Information Technology Shared Services. He is also the former Chair of CTAB, which accredits engineering technology and applied science programs at colleges across Canada.

“Technologists and technicians need two years of experience in their field to earn a CET, CTech or AScT designation. With those designations, they are eligible to apply for jobs posted at the Canadian Technical Employment Network.”

Work options

Technologists and technicians are employed at companies such as Maritime Electric, Eastlink, BIO|FOOD|TECH and with the provincial government.

Trent Collicutt is past President and current Executive Staff Officer with ITP. He is also the provincial representative for CCTT.

Trent is the Enterprise Infrastructure Solution Architect with the Provincial Government’s Information Technology Shared Services. He graduated from Holland College’s Computer Engineering Technology program in 1999, and then went on to the advanced Information Systems Technology program.

His on-the-job training with the province during college resulted in full-time employment. Trent has been employed there for over 15 years.

“The instructors in the Computer Networking Technology program are telling us their graduates are not having issues getting jobs,” says Trent.

Bryan says the majority of ITP’s members have a civil engineering technology or construction background. “They work with engineers and architects. Employers are looking for a lot of CAD specialists and industrial technicians.”

Promoting membership to ITP

Robert (Bob) Collier has an Electronics Engineering Technology background and spent 35 years with the Canadian Coast Guard in the technical services division, where he did maintenance and quality control.

He advanced to a superintendent role in Ottawa doing technical writing and purchasing national electronic systems. Since moving to PEI two years ago, he joined the ITP executive board.

“My role on the board is doing presentations to the public and encouraging Holland College students to apply to be members of ITP. I plan to set up a monthly gathering at a place of employment or other association. Attending these gatherings would help members network and find out what’s current with PEI companies.

“Also, we intend to let companies’ human resources departments know certification is a preferred qualification for technologists and technicians now, and ITP is the association to help with this process. Employers benefit by letting the public know they have certified people.”

Student membership benefits

Each year, ITP gives a Thesis Report Award to a student in each of the four technologist programs at Holland College. Also, the TD Meloche Monnex scholarship is awarded every January to a technician student.

“Students who come to our Annual General Meeting can meet with potential employers, and learn about projects in their field they may not be aware of,” Trent says.

Newcomers

ITP has met with the PEI Association of Newcomers to Canada to promote career pathways to the profession.

“When people move to Canada, we check on an international database of programs from other countries to compare them to ours.”

For more information about Island Technology Professionals, visit www.techpei.ca.

Jobs are posted on the Canadian Technical Employment Network at www.cten.ca.

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