George Mason University OCPE Programs

Benefits of becoming a power plant operator:

High salary. Depending upon industry and location, generally entry-level power plant operators make $13.00 to $20.00 per hour. After a few years of experience generally the pay range is $18.00 to $30.00/hr.
Stable employment. Power plant operators are rarely laid off.
Employment portability. Power plants are found in all regions of the United States.
Career enhancement potential. Many entry-level power plant workers eventually make their way into supervisory and management positions.
Better benefits. Generally power plants have above-average benefits for workers.

The nationally recognized Power Plant Operations training course and online program will prepare you for an entry-level career as an Power Plant Operator. In the United States, there are thousands of power plants. These plants use hydrocarbon-based fuels (oil, gas or coal) to produce electricity. These plants are operated by Power Plant Operators. The power plant operators are highly paid and enjoy a stable work environment. There is an ongoing need for entry-level personnel. Generally, power plant operators enter the workforce in entry-level positions and work their way up - sometimes to the senior management positions. Currently a large portion of the workforce is retiring - creating a critical shortage of technical workers for many years to come. This online certificate program is offered in partnership with Gatlin Education Services.

This is a comprehensive course and consists of a number of learning modules. Each of the modules addresses a specific scope and consists of an on-line test. The pass mark for the tests is 70% - however the students are allowed to take the tests a number of times. This course consists of the following modules:

Basic Safety
Basic Hazard Communication
Basic Lockout-Tagout
Math 1000: Basic Math 1
Math 2000: Basic Math 2
Math 2500: Basic Math 3
Applied Physics 1
Applied Physics 2
Applied Physics 3
Heat Exchangers
Lubrication and Bearings
Electrical Safety
Electricity for Operators and Technicians
Industrial Valves
Compressed Air
How to Read Process Drawings
Basic Process Instrumentation and Control
Pump Fundamentals
Centrifugal Pumps - Operation
Power 1000: Steam Generation
Power 2100: Basic Boiler Systems
Power 3000: Fuels and Combustion
Power 3100: Boiler and Auxiliaries 1
Power 3200: Boiler and Auxiliaries 2
Power 3300: Boiler and Auxiliaries 3
Power 3500: Cogeneration and HRSG

A 70% or better must be achieved in order to receive a Certificate of Completion.

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

Operate a power plant with safety as the prime consideration
Monitor instrumentation and the operation of equipment
Make adjustments to keep system process variables such as flows, temperatures and pressures within acceptable ranges
Detect potential and actual problems and take corrective action to prevent the interruption of system operations
Analyze operational trends and take corrective actions
Use standard operating procedures to start/stop production equipment
Maintain communication with other operators, maintenance and the management

Please click here to download the PDF brochure for the Gatlin online courses offered by OCPE.

Students should have basic keyboarding and computer skills, and be comfortable navigating the internet. They must also have emailing capabilities. Students should have a High School diploma or equivalent.

The intended audience for this program is people who seek entry-level employment in Power Plants.

PC REQUIREMENTS

The following components are required for the student to complete the online portion of the course:

Computer running Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, or Windows 95/98
Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
Access to the Internet - high speed preferred

Max Ansari MSEE P.Eng. a professional engineer, is the on-line instructor for this course. He has extensive experience as professor in Process Technology department at one of the largest community colleges in the country. Max also has extensive engineering, operational and adult training experience in pulp/paper mills, oil refineries and power plants.

Gatlin does not offer courses directly to the public. It offers courses through George Mason University and other colleges and universities. Please contact our office at 703-993-2113 or click here for more information or to register for a course.

To view the prices for all Gatlin courses that are offered by George Mason University, please click here.

That is the only way Gatlin Education Services offers its courses. They do not deal directly with the public.

All Gatlin courses are delivered entirely online, so you do not have to go to a class or travel to a school. Please contact our office at 703-993-2113 or click here for more information or to register for a course.

All of our Gatlin courses are asynchronous. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. Most courses are designed to be completed within 180 days. You may request an extension if you think you will need more time to complete a course. Please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here if you have any questions or if you would like to register for a course.

Please refer to the green Included Materials box located on the upper right hand side of this page. If materials are included in this course, they will be shipped by Gatlin to you via UPS ground service after you have registered for a course.

George Mason University offers financial assistance through the Sallie Mae Training Loan Program for qualifying students. Call 703-993-2113 for more information. GES also provides a loan opportunity for students (www.collegeloanapplication.com).

If you obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater in a course, we will award you a George Mason University certificate of completion.

Each student is paired up with a George Mason University, OCPE, Gatlin facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (by e-mail or by telephone) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

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