Education · 1 of 4

The path

Learn to drill, work as a helper, then earn the blasting certificate.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   The usual minimum. Math and shop help. A driver's licence is expected; a Class 1 or Class 3 licence is a plus on construction.

2. 2

   Driller or heavy equipment operator

   6 to 18 months

   Drillers run tracked drill rigs that bore the blast holes to the pattern. Many start on a loader or excavator and move onto the drill.

3. 3

   Blaster's helper

   6 to 12 months

   Carrying explosives, loading holes, tying in the circuit under a certified blaster. BC requires at least 6 months of this before you can test.

4. 4

   Blasting certificate

   After your helper time

   In BC: 18 or older, at least 8 hours of explosives safety training, documented experience, a federal explosives approval, and a WorkSafeBC written exam. Other provinces run similar tests through their labour or apprenticeship departments.

5. 5

   Blaster, then lead blaster

   2 to 5 years in

   Designing patterns, calculating charges, running the shot and keeping the blast records.