Education · 1 of 4

The path

Hire on, then climb the crew one job at a time.

1. 1

   High school

   Grade 12

   A diploma is expected but the real requirements are a driver's licence, a clean drug test and being fit enough for heavy work. You must be 18.

2. 2

   Safety tickets

   1 week

   H2S Alive (hydrogen sulphide gas safety), standard first aid and a general safety orientation from Energy Safety Canada or a similar provider. A few days of courses.

3. 3

   Leasehand, then floorhand

   6 to 18 months

   The bottom of the crew: cleaning, moving pipe, tripping drill string on the floor. Job Bank says most contractors want about a year as a floorhand before promotion.

4. 4

   Motorhand, then derrickhand

   1 to 3 years

   Motorhand runs the engines and pumps. Derrickhand works up the mast handling pipe and looks after the mud system. Some employers require rig technician certification for these jobs.

5. 5

   Driller

   3 to 5 years in

   Runs the rig floor and the crew. Rig manager after that.