Northern Lights College is B.C.’s Energy College™, serving northern British Columbia in an area covering more than 324,000 square kilometres. NLC opened in 1975 and has campus locations in Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, and Tumbler Ridge, along with access centres in Atlin, Dease Lake and Hudson’s Hope. NLC is a member of British Columbia Colleges (BC Colleges), a provincial group comprised of 11 colleges from throughout the Province of British Columbia. BC Colleges has a unique regional advantage and a long history of collaboration with industry, employers, communities and policy makers. This collaborative approach allows BC Colleges to graduate highly skilled workers who are equipped to support their families, build healthier communities and power the economy in all regions of British Columbia.

Programs at NLC are designed to provide students with the opportunity to obtain the necessary classroom education, and supplement that with appropriate practicum or hands-on opportunities to make the successful transition from student to employee. Students have a number of options, depending on their chosen career path. They can earn a certificate, diploma, or associate degree. Certificate programs are usually one year in duration. Diploma programs take two years. Associate degrees take two years of study (60 credits), and can be used to transfer to the third year of degree programs at provincial universities and university-colleges. Ensure the transferability of courses when making your educational plans. 

The Fort St. John Campus is located on the north edge of the city, adjacent to the scenic Fish Creek Park and Community Forest. The campus serves more than 1,800 students each year, enrolled in a variety of programming. In 2007, the Jim Kassen Industry Training Centre opened on the Fort St. John Campus. The building provides new facilities for a number of Trades, Apprenticeship and Technology programs, and is also the home to the provincial Centre of Training Excellence in Oil and Gas. The Centre of Excellence is designed to develop provincial guidelines to ensure the training of workers for the oil and gas industry. 

Why Northern Lights College - Fort St. John 

Campus: Trades and Apprenticeship programs available in Fort St. John include: Automotive Service Technician, Commercial Transport/Heavy Duty Technician, Electrician, Industrial Instrumentation Mechanic, Oil and Gas Field Operator, and Power Engineering and Gas Processing. Students can also start towards achieving a university degree by completing first year University Arts and Sciences courses. NLC has credit transfer agreements with a number of post-secondary institutions in B.C. Vocational and diploma programs include Business Management, Early Childhood Education and Care, Social Services Worker, Education Assistant, and Applied Business Technology. Workforce Training/ Continuing Education department offers a wide assortment of general interest and employment related courses in safety, first aid, oil and gas, computer training and other areas. 

Services: The Fort St. John Campus is home to NLC’s International Education department. Students from around the world enrol at NLC to learn English before moving to other NLC programming, or continuing their education at other post-secondary institutions. Campus services include financial aid, Access Services, Aboriginal Services Advisor, library, cafeteria, daycare, computer/ Internet access, bookstore and access to city transit. A special feature of the campus is the Atrium, which includes trees, plants, and a pool containing exotic fish.

Location: The City of Fort St. John is known as the Energetic City, because of its location in the heart of the oil and gas industry in northeastern B.C.. Fort St. John is located at Mile 47 of the Alaska Highway, has a population of approximately 18,000, and serves a drawing area of about 60,000 people. Originally established in 1794 as a trading post, Fort St. John is the oldest European-established settlement in present-day British Columbia. Fort St. John is the largest centre in the Peace River North region, and a transportation hub for the Peace. In addition to oil and gas, forestry and agriculture are important elements of the area economy. Fort St. John is home to the Pomeroy Sports Centre, which houses two ice pads, a speed skating oval, and indoor walking track. As well, a new hospital has recently been constructed.