Check deadlines below to ensure you allow sufficient time for processing. You must meet Technical Standards and Safety Authority’s prescribed program and practicum requirements to be eligible to write.
The TSSA certification exam, while not directly part of Algonquin College’s Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning program or the Gas Technician evening courses, is an important certification for our graduates to enable them to work in their respective fields.
TSSA is an external governing agency not affiliated with the College and the certification process is a service that Algonquin College runs through the Algonquin College Test Centre.
1. You must meet TSSA’s prescribed program and practicum requirements to be eligible to write.
In order to write the TSSA Exam, you must meet prescribed program and practicum requirements.
The program coordinator for the Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning program will be sending e-mail notifications to any student who does not meet the exam prerequisites.
If you have any doubts about your eligibility, please contact your program coordinator.
2. Register online for your exam through the Test Centre’s TSSA Portal.
Access the Test Centre’s TSSA Portal
Please note that only one TSSA exam may be written per day. Multiple Bookings will be cancelled. Complete the following steps to register for the exam. All steps must be completed before the deadline in order to successfully register for your TSSA exam on your chosen date.
- Complete all fields on the online booking form. Make sure spelling, email addresses, and numbers are accurate.
- If you are a student with the Centre for Accessible Learning who requires accommodations, click the CAL box.
- Select your Student Category (Full-Time and First Attempts OR Part-Time and Re-writes).
- Select your Service Type (the exam you want to write on that selected day).
- Select your preferred Date and Time for your assessment. (Keep to the dates and times you were informed of on Brightspace for your class.)
- Click on Add Assessment.
- Click Complete Booking at the bottom of the page after reviewing that all information is correct.
- You will immediately be sent a confirmation email after clicking on Complete Booking. If you did not receive the confirmation email, the booking is incomplete, and you need to supply missing information or the correct email address.
3. Booking Deadlines.
You must book your assessment through the Test Centre’s online booking website as soon as possible. The booking requires time to be processed, and all aspects of the booking (registration, eligibility and payment must be completed by the registration deadline, which is 4 weeks or more BEFORE the date of the exam.
Please note, your eligibility to write the exam will be reviewed by the Construction Trades and Building Systems Department. If you are found to be ineligible, your booking will be cancelled, and you will be informed as such.
4. Approval Process.
All bookings must be approved by ACCE. Once your booking has been approved , wait for the Test Centre approval email which will contain the link for payment. Only once your booking has been approved, and payment processed, will your booking be confirmed.
5. Make the online payment as soon as it is requested.
The total TSSA Exam and Certification & Administration Fees are $272.50
(Effective May 1, 2024).
- $60.00 ($53.10 + 13% tax) – Test Centre Fee
- $84.00 – TSSA Examination Fee per exam (per student)
- $128.50 TSSA Certification & Processing Fee
The total fee is $272.50 . Payments must be made online as soon as they are requested. Payment must be made by credit card only. Please purchase a pre-paid credit card if you do not have a credit card. An online link to pay this fee will be emailed to you after you have been approved to write the exam.
Please note that if you do not write the exam, you are entitled to receive the Test Centre Fee refund upon written request to testcentre@algonquincollege.com.
Payment must be by credit card. Failure to complete this step will mean that your appointment will be cancelled, an exam will not be ordered from TSSA for you, and you will have to make your own arrangements.
6. Materials to Bring with You on Exam Day
- Two pencils and one pen
- Valid, government-issued photo ID (you cannot write without it). Copies or photo or cellphone images will not be accepted.
- Unmarked code-books
- A non-programmable calculator
These items are not permitted:
- Other materials or personal belongings
- Food or beverages
7. Test Cancellations
If you cancel your exam, you must do so more than 10 business days before the scheduled exam date. Your $60 Test Centre fee will be refunded upon written request, but a credit will be issued by TSSA for the $202.50 fee to be used for your next exam.
If you cancel 10 business days or less before the scheduled exam date, you will forfeit the full $202.50 payment to TSSA. Your $60 Test Centre fee will be refunded upon written request.
If cancelling an exam(s), a written request must be sent to ALL of the following:
Please note: There is no rescheduling. You must cancel and then make a new request based on availability.
The new date to write will follow the established process. The timelines for cancellations still apply.
8. CAL (Centre for Accessible Learning) Accommodations
Students requiring exam accommodations must self-identify and request approval from TSSA. Applications should be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the first scheduled TSSA exam. Contact TSSA Support, TSSAsupport@algonquincollege.com, for more information regarding accommodations.
9. Limited TSSA Certification Opportunities
For graduates eligible to write the TSSA certification exam, there will be limited exam dates.
If, for whatever reason, you cannot write on one of the designated days, you will have to make your own arrangements. Please contact TSSA Support at TSSAsupport@algonquincollege.com.
10. Time Limits
Gas Technician 3, 2, 1, and Oil Burner Technician 3, 2 exams have a strict time limit of 3 hours and 30 minutes.
CAL students may be accommodated with additional time if approved by TSSA.
11. TSSA Assessment Results
The Assessment Results process is as follows:
- You are requested to wait a minimum of 3 weeks from when you write before making any inquiries about exam results.
- After 3 weeks, you can contact TSSA’s Call Centre at 1-877-682-TSSA (8772) with a results request. TSSA’s Customer Services Advisors are available Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm (excluding major holidays).
- Alternatively, you can request results by email at examinationandcertification@tssa.org.
Please note that only limited information can be provided over the telephone. If your TSSA Exam results are available, only “Pass” or “Fail” information can be provided.
12. TSSA Mastery Report
- Wait 4 weeks minimum. After 4 weeks, you can contact TSSA’s Call Centre at 1-877-682-TSSA (8772). TSSA’s Customer Services Advisors are available Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm (excluding major holidays).
- Please note that all TSSA’s Mastery Reports will be sent via email (no hard copies will be sent). Please ensure that TSSA has your most current email address.
- If you are expecting a Mastery Report and have not received it, please check your email spam/junk folder.
- A hard copy of your Mastery Report will only be sent to the mailing address you provided to TSSA on your initial exam application if no email address has been provided.
Failure to meet the deadlines below means your request will be cancelled and you will not be able to write on your selected day. You will have to submit a new request online.
Accommodated Testing Sessions
Accommodated First Attempts and Rewrites Testing Sessions
Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 9am in Room E304 – Registration CLOSED
Deadlines:
- C of Q and ID due to ACCE by Friday, January 17, 2025, by 2pm.
- Online registration due by Friday, January 17, 2025, by 2pm.
- Testing Fee ($272.50) to be paid online by Friday, January 24, 2025, by 2pm.
Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 9am in Room E304 – Registration CLOSED
Deadlines:
- C of Q and ID due to ACCE by Friday, January 17, 2025, by 2pm.
- Online registration due by Friday, January 17, 2025, by 2pm.
- Testing Fee ($272.50) to be paid online by Friday, January 24, 2025, by 2pm.
Full-Time, Part-Time and Rewrites Testing Sessions
Full-Time, Part-Time and Rewrites Testing Sessions
Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 9am in Room T102 – Registration CLOSED
Deadlines:
- C of Q and ID due to ACCE by Friday, January 17, 2025, by 2pm.
- Online registration due by Friday, January 17, 2025, by 2pm.
- Testing Fee ($272.50) to be paid online by Friday, January 24, 2025, by 2pm.
Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 9am in Room T102 – Registration CANCELLED
- C of Q and ID due to ACCE by Friday, January 17, 2025, by 2pm.
- Online registration due by Friday, January 17, 2025, by 2pm.
- Testing Fee ($272.50) to be paid online by Friday, January 24, 2025, by 2pm.