A qualification in Drilling Operations provides the skills and knowledge needed to work within a mining environment and handling, transporting and operating drilling machinery.

Duties performed by Drilling Operations apprentice may include:

• Assembling in new areas and disassembling them for transport
• Transporting drilling rigs and subsequent equipment to designated sites
• Collecting drilling core samples and handling them correctly
• Operating drilling equipment and secondary equipment, such as air pumps water pumps and diagnostic equipment
• Maintaining equipment and making repairs when needed