FAQ - WNY FACILITY SOLUTIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Stationary Engineering

What is Stationary Engineering?
• A technically trained professional who operates, troubleshoots and oversees industrial machinery and equipment that provide and utilize energy in various forms governed solely by the individual state.
• Otherwise referred to as Operating Engineer, Power Plant Engineer, or Process Operator.

Are Stationary Engineers in Demand?
This career is always in demand with great compensation and is a vital necessity to ensure safe and efficient building operations. Buildings, hospitals and industrial facilities cannot legally operate without licensed engineers on staff.

What Industries Employ Stationary Engineers?
This field serves various industries such as manufacturing, utilities, municipalities, as well as commercial users such as building developers, educational institutes, hospitals.

Is Stationary Engineering a Stable Career?
Yes, Stationary Engineering careers are recession proof as companies that offer these positions are required by law to maintain these positions to legally operate, meaning there will always be a need for this career path.

City of Buffalo Licensed Stationary Engineering Program

Do you Need a License to Become a Stationary Engineer?
Yes, a Stationary Engineering License is required to operate heating and cooling equipment in the City of Buffalo or participating municipalities. The licensure process includes a 6-7 week training program and a written city mandated licensing exam.

There are three licensing exam levels based on years of experience:
• 2^nd Class (Entry Level)
• 1^st Class (Operator Level – 2+ years’ experience)
• Chief Engineer (Management Level – 5+ years’ experience)

What Do the Salaries Look Like for Each Level?
While salaries will vary from company to company and across different industries in today’s market, we are seeing the following salary ranges in WNY as of 2025:
• 2^nd Class – $20-$25 /hr. or $42,000-$52,000 annually plus overtime & benefits.
• 1^st Class – $25-$42 /hr. or $52,000-$87,000 annually plus overtime & benefits.
• Chief Engineer – $35-$57 /hr. or $72,000-$120,000 annually plus overtime & benefits.

What is the Difference Between a 2^nd Class, a 1^st Class, and a Chief Stationary Engineer?
• A 2^nd Class Engineer is an Entry Level Engineer, just starting off in this field when you begin your career as a 2^nd Class Engineer. You need no experience to begin a training class but must be 19 years old minimum. You begin by taking a training course with WNY Facility Solutions for approximately 80 hours, then sit for the City of Buffalo Licensing exam we set up with the city. Once you pass your licensing exam you are qualified to work as a Stationary Engineer. You cannot work on your own with this level of license without the supervision of a 1^st Class or a Chief Engineer. These positions in many locations throughout the U.S are often called Fireman. By the City of Buffalo Charter, a 2nd Class Engineer is permitted to operate a plant of 175 Boiler HP and 150 tons of cooling or less.

• A 1^st Class Engineer is a Mid-Level Engineer and is typically the most desired license as there are the most abundant career opportunities at this level. This license is often called the “Operator” level. To attain a 1^st Class license, you must have a valid 2^nd Class license for a minimum of 1 year and take an additional 80-hour training course from WNY Facility Solutions and pass a 1^st Class Licensing exam we set up. A 1^st Class licensing level is what most employers require for an Operator to work on their own or to supervise a 2^nd Class engineer or Fireman. Most Stationary Engineers obtain this level and stay at this level for their career. By the City of Buffalo Charter, a 1^st Class Engineer is permitted to operate a plant of 299 Boiler HP and 299 tons of cooling or less.

• A Chief Engineer is a Senior Level Engineer typically only obtained by those seeking management responsibilities over a physical plant and a staff of engineers. A Chief Engineer is a position with responsibility over the safety of the power plants’ physical infrastructure as well as the life and safety of those around the plant. Typically, less than 10% of engineers pursue this level of licensing and responsibility. This license requires a minimum of 3 years of verified working experience as a 1^st Class Engineer. Once the minimum experience requirement is met, a 1^st Class Engineer may take an 80-hour licensing course from WNY Facility Solutions and pass the Chief Engineer exam. By the City of Buffalo Charter, a Chief Engineer is permitted to operate a plant of Unlimited Boiler HP and Unlimited tons of cooling or less.

How Long Does it Take to Achieve Each Level of License?
• We have two options for 2^nd Class Engineers, a Fall/Spring course that takes approximately 6 months, one night per week OR an accelerated course in the summer over a period of 6 weeks. Both training courses are approximately 80 hours in duration.

• To achieve 1^st Class Engineer License, you must hold your 2^nd Class License for a minimum of 1 year before being eligible to take the 1^st Class exam. You must take a training course with WNY Facility Solutions for approximately 80 hours and pass the City provided exam.

• To achieve a Chief Engineer License, you must hold your 1^st Class license for a minimum of (3) years and have verifiable work experience as a 1^st Class Engineer. You must take a training course with WNY Facility Solutions for approximately 80 hours and pass the City provided exam. Typically, in order to obtain a Chief Engineer’s License, you must have a minimum experience of 5 years including the time required to obtain all licensing levels and waiting period with a 1^st Class License.

Getting Started

What Requirements Do I Need to Get Started?
To be eligible to start your career as a Stationary Engineer and sit for the Licensing exam, you will need to be at least 19 years old and enroll in a Stationary Engineering Training Class with approximately 80 hours of instruction.

What Classes Are Offered?
WNY Facility Solutions offers classes usually twice a year – a Fall class starting in September, 1 night per week, concluding in May and a Summer accelerated class that is approximately 6 weeks. Visit our Upcoming Courses Page for Training Class Dates.

How Long Does it Take to Get a 2^nd Class, 1^st Class and Chief Stationary Engineer License?
• All training courses are approximately 80 hours of instruction followed by a standardized City of Buffalo City Licensing Exam.
• The training courses are offered in the following two formats:
• Traditional Fall to Spring Course: 1 night per week from September through May.
• Accelerated Summer Course: 2-3 days per week, for 6 weeks to achieve the training hours required.

Do I Need to be Working as an Engineer to Take the Class?
• To achieve a 2^nd Class License and typically 1^st Class License, you do not need to work as an engineer to take the class as you are considered to be in training at each level. However, we strongly recommend finding a job as an engineer in training, if possible, or obtain a maintenance role in any capacity to help make the classroom learning more relevant.

• To achieve a Chief Engineer License, you must have a minimum of 3 years’ experience working as a 1^st Class Engineer to be able to test for your Chief Engineer License.

How Do I Take the Exam?
WNY Facility Solutions will make the arrangements with the City of Buffalo Fuel Devices for you to take the licensing exam. Typically, the examiner will come into the classroom on the last day of class and proctor the exam.

Is There an Additional Fee to Take the Licensing Exam?
The cost of the exam is $50, this fee is payable to the City of Buffalo and is an administrative fee for processing your licensing test.

What Happens if I Do Not Pass the Exam the First Time?
You may take the exam as many times as necessary to pass the exam. Each attempt at the exam is an additional cost of $50 payable to the City of Buffalo. WNY Facility Solutions has an extremely high passing rate for first time applicants that take the exam. Participants routine attendance and independent material review are vital to the success of passing the exam the first time.

Licensing Information

Is Buffalo the Only Licensing Agency in Western New York?
A Buffalo Stationary Engineer’s license is the most widely accepted license from Buffalo to Rochester and to the PA line. The City of Niagara Falls is the only other municipality in WNY that has a Stationary Engineer license structure other than the Buffalo License.

Can I Only Work in Buffalo with a Buffalo Stationary Engineer’s License?
A Buffalo license is accepted by all major municipalities in the WNY area as they do not have their own licensing boards. Surrounding localities of Tonawanda, Lackawanna, Cheektowaga, and South Buffalo all recognize the Buffalo License.

Does a Buffalo License Allow Me to Work in Other Areas or States?
• Stationary Engineering is a recognized trade field across the United States and is remarkably diverse in nature. Typically, most licensing bodies will extend professional courtesy and allow a licensed engineer from Buffalo or any other licensing board the ability to test for a similar license level without having to take remedial training.
• The curriculum we teach at WNY Facility Solutions is designed to be diverse and broad in nature allowing you to pass the licensing exam for Buffalo and prepare you to be knowledgeable in the field to go and work anywhere within the US.

What is the Cost for New Licensing and License Renewal Every 2 Years?
The cost of the license currently as of 2025 is $85 biannually for a 2^nd Class License and $135 biannually for 1^st Class and Chief Licenses.

Who Administers the License? How Do I Renew My License?
The City of Buffalo Fuel Devices Department administers the license and will renew your license in 2-year increments by sending renewal letters to your mailing address.

What if I Had my License and Let it Lapse?
We are asked this question a lot. The answer varies on a case-by-case basis. We advise all students to NEVER let their license lapse. If you take a break from the field or change careers, always keep your license active as you never know when you may want to go back. If your license lapses for a year or two. you may just have to pay back fees to reactivate it. However, if it goes beyond a year or two, you may need to take the test again or start the training again. What is required to reactivate your lapsed license is up to the discretion of the Chief Inspector of Fuel Devices for the City of Buffalo.

What is a Chief Engineer’s License and Do I need to Get One?
We are asked this question a lot. The answer varies on a case-by-case basis. We advise all students to NEVER let their license lapse. If you take a break from the field or change careers, always keep your license active as you never know when you may want to go back. If your license lapses for a year or two. you may just have to pay back fees to reactivate it. However, if it goes beyond a year or two, you may need to take the test again or start the training again. What is required to reactivate your lapsed license is up to the discretion of the Chief Inspector of Fuel Devices for the City of Buffalo.