Appliance Service Technician – National Occupational Analysis (NOA)

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The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) recognizes this NOA as the national standard for the occupation of Appliance Service Technician.

Occupational Analyses Series

Disponible en français sous le titre : Technicien/technicienne d'entretien d'appareils électroménagers

NOC: 7332

Designation Year: 1994

Red Seal Exam Self-Assessment Guide – Appliance Service Technician

Use this self-assessment tool (PDF, 849 KB) to rate your own understanding and experience with the tasks of the trade that are on the Red Seal examination.

General Information

Scope

“Appliance Service Technician” is this trade’s official Red Seal occupational title approved by the CCDA. This analysis covers tasks performed by appliance service technicians whose occupational title has been identified by some provinces and territories of Canada under the following names:

Appliance Service Technician Provincial Titles
Title NL NS PE NB QC ON MB SK AB BC NT YT NU
Appliance Service Technician x x x x x x x x x

Appliance service technicians repair and service consumer related appliance products including, but not limited to:

  • central vacuum systems
  • clothes washers
  • cooking ventilation systems
  • dehumidifiers
  • dishwashers
  • electric clothes dryers
  • electric fireplaces
  • electric freezers
  • electric ranges
  • electric refrigerators
  • electric water heater
  • gas clothes dryers
  • gas ranges
  • humidifiers
  • ice makers
  • microwave ovens
  • residential air conditioners
  • waste compactors
  • waste disposers
  • water coolers
  • window and portable air conditioners

Appliance service technicians identify appliance concerns by performing diagnostic procedures with testing equipment. Based on their assessment, they provide work and cost estimates to the customer. They may provide installation and maintenance services. They disassemble appliances, repair, remove and replace components, and reassemble appliances. They recover refrigerant gases and transfer the gases into approved storage containers for disposal according to jurisdictional regulations. Appliance service technicians may be called to demonstrate the use and care of the appliance to the customer.

Appliance service technicians may specialize in certain types or brands of appliances. They may be self-employed or employed by retail and manufacturer repair departments, utility companies or appliance service shops. Technicians may be supplied with service vehicles. The work environment may vary considerably because most of the work is in customers’ homes.

Key attributes for people entering this trade are communication, organizational and problem-solving skills. The physical considerations of the work include bending, kneeling and moving large appliances. If safety procedures are not followed there is an increased risk of physical injury due to electrical shocks, cuts, burns and muscle strain.

Appliance service technicians may consult and coordinate with other tradespeople such as refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, electricians, gas fitters and plumbers.

With experience, appliance service technicians may move into technical training, sales or supervisory positions. They may also work in their own appliance service business.

Occupational Observations

Manufacturers are using new technology and upgrades such as induction cooking technology, variable speed compressors and fans, and multiple evaporators for independent cooling zones.

The incorporation of steam into appliances such as washers, dryers, dishwashers and ranges is becoming more common and may offer improved cleaning and baking performance. Some manufacturers’ workshops specialize in specific technological requirements for the repair of these new products.

Self-diagnosing appliances assist the technician in informing them where to focus their diagnosis. Appliances are becoming more integrated with electronic technology.

Appliance components are more disposable, making component replacement more common than component repair.

Advances in technology are resulting in an increased need for post-certification training of technicians on a continuous basis.

It is important that technicians have good customer communication and critical thinking skills in order to perform the diagnosis of appliances.

Essential Skills Summary

Essential skills are needed for work, learning and life. They provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.

Through extensive research, the Government of Canada and other national and international agencies have identified and validated nine essential skills. These skills are used in nearly every occupation and throughout daily life in different ways.

A series of CCDA-endorsed tools have been developed to support apprentices in their training and to be better prepared for a career in the trades. The tools can be used independently or with the assistance of a tradesperson, trainer, employer, teacher or mentor to:

Tools are available online or for order.

The essential skills profile for the appliance service technician trade indicates that the most important essential skills are document use, oral communication and decision making.

The application of these skills may be described throughout this document within the competency statements which support each subtask of the trade. The following are summaries of the requirements in each of the essential skills, taken from the essential skills profile.

Acknowledgements

The CCDA and ESDC wish to express sincere appreciation for the contribution of the many tradespersons, industrial establishments, professional associations, labour organizations, provincial and territorial government departments and agencies, and all others who contributed to this publication.

Special acknowledgement is extended by ESDC and the CCDA to the following representatives from the trade and apprenticeship bodies or national organizations that nominated them:

This analysis was prepared by the Workplace Partnerships Directorate of HRSDC. The coordinating, facilitating and processing of this analysis were undertaken by employees of the National Occupational Analysis (NOA) development team of the Trades and Apprenticeship Division. Mike Krill for the host jurisdiction of Alberta also participated in the development of this NOA.

Comments or questions about National Occupational Analyses may be forwarded to:

Trades and Apprenticeship Division
Labour Market Integration Directorate
Employment and Social Development Canada
140 Promenade du Portage, Phase IV, 6th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0J9
Email: redseal-sceaurouge@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca