TSSA Gas Technician

Overview

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) certifies fuels safety technicians in Ontario. A gas technician certificate allows a person to do regulated work such as installing, maintaining and altering gas equipment. The certificates are set out in Ontario Regulation 215/01.

There are three gas technician levels, G.3, G.2 and G.1, each with its own training, exam and prerequisites. TSSA also certifies other fuels roles, such as gas piping fitter, domestic appliance technician, propane fitter and oil burner technicians, which are not covered in detail here.

Levels

G.3 Gas Technician 3

The entry level. The required training is modules 1 to 9, about 180 suggested program hours. A person with no prerequisite can challenge the G.3 theory exam without taking a program.

G.2 Gas Technician 2

You need a valid G.3 certificate. TSSA's 2025 policy also requires either completion of a TSSA-accredited G.3 training program including its exam and practical parts, or at least 450 hours of documented work experience under a G.3 certificate. The program covers G.3 modules plus modules 10 to 24, about 660 cumulative hours.

G.1 Gas Technician 1

You need a valid G.2 certificate and written confirmation of two years (4,000 hours) of field experience as a G.2, with at least 500 hours on systems above 400,000 Btuh. Training adds modules 26 to 31, about 800 cumulative hours. The Fuels page gives a lower figure of 3,500 hours of G.2 experience in its worked example for a G.1 challenge, so confirm which applies to you with TSSA.

Who can apply

Two routes are available.

• Training route. Attend a program from an accredited training provider using the TSSA-approved curriculum. The provider submits your training details to TSSA, and you apply for the exam through the TSSA Client Portal. TSSA cannot schedule a Fuels exam until it has your training provider's application.

• Challenge route. Take the exam without a training program. Where there is a prerequisite certificate, you must hold it and send proof of work experience, such as dated employer letters on letterhead listing hours, equipment types and Btuh, duties, and at least six work addresses. A challenge candidate who passes must also complete a practical skills assessment.

Exam pattern

Exams cover the regulatory sector and technical content for the certificate. You bring your own permitted codes and regulations, which must be unmarked except for dividers or highlighting; the test centre or hub city centre rules on calculators and pencils differ, so check the guide.

Marking and results

Fuels certification needs a 75% on the TSSA exam, a 75% on each curriculum module, and a 75% on the practical evaluation. Attendance of at least 80% is required in the program. These conditions must be met within one year of finishing the program. For a challenge, the 12 months run from the challenge approval letter, or from passing the theory exam for a G.3 challenge.

If you are unsuccessful on a multiple-choice exam, you get a mastery report showing the exam sections. Multiple-choice exams cannot be reassessed.

Fees

Fees depend on the fuel type and are listed in TSSA fee schedules for liquid fuels and fuel oil, natural gas and hydrogen, and propane. Check the schedule that matches your certificate. Fees are not copied here because they change.

How to apply

1. Choose a route, training or challenge, and check the prerequisites in the policy document.

2. For a challenge without a prerequisite, submit a request through the TSSA Client Portal and pay the fees on the schedule. For a challenge with a prerequisite, add your work experience evidence. TSSA expects to respond within 20 business days.

3. Apply for and pay for the exam, then arrive at least 30 minutes before the start with your ID and permitted references.

4. You may reschedule once at no charge if you tell TSSA at least two weeks before the exam date.

After the exam

If you do not pass, you can retake a Fuels exam after 30 days. If you fail the same certification exam on three attempts, the regulation requires you to take an accredited training program before another attempt. You cannot challenge a certificate after failing that same exam.

Certificates must be renewed before they expire. TSSA sends a renewal invoice 60 days before the expiry date, and a late renewal fee applies afterwards.

Preparation tips

• Study the permitted code books and regulations; you may use them in the exam, so learn to find answers quickly.

• Use the mastery report from any unsuccessful attempt to focus on the weak sections.

• Keep records of your hours and work addresses from the start if you plan to challenge a higher level.