Becoming an electrical lineman is a challenging and rewarding career. If you want to become an electrical lineman, you’ll need to learn how to operate a variety of tools and equipment in a variety of conditions.
First, you’ll need to pass the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Lineman Candidate Training Program or be certified by another organization approved by NECA. You’ll also need to complete at least two years of apprenticeship training.
Once you have your certification, you can start applying for jobs as an apprentice lineman. You’ll work with experienced linemen on projects related to construction, maintenance, and repair of power lines. During your apprenticeship, you’ll be trained in safety procedures and best practices so that you can safely climb poles and towers while working with high voltage electricity.
You will also learn how to read blueprints and write reports about your work as well as how to use hand tools like saws and drills as well as power tools such as grinders, air compressors, power drills, circular saws, jackhammers and nail guns among others.
Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship training program successfully then there are many opportunities available for further advancement including becoming an electrician or foreman within companies that employ linemen such as Duke Energy.
How To Become An Electrical Lineman
All appliances, including computers, televisions, and refrigerators, run on electricity. It powers private residences and public buildings like schools and workplaces. People rely on utility companies — and electrical linemen — to keep the electricity flowing so that all of the devices they need continue to operate.
Electrical linemen install and repair electrical power lines and telecommunications cables. These professionals are also called electrical lineworkers, electrical line installers, and repairers and electrical power line technicians. Due to our shift toward conscious language, the rest of this article will refer to these professionals using these terms.
Electrical line installers and repairers climb poles, inspect and test power lines, and string the lines between the poles. They install underground cables as well as aerial cables, operating equipment during servicing. They even install the fiber optic cables that allow for internet speeds of about 70% of the speed of light.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), line installers and repairers earned a median salary of $68,030 per year in May 2020. The BLS projects little or no job growth between 2020 and 2030. However, the BLS projects about 23,300 openings for line installers and repairers each year for the next decade.
What Are the Requirements to Become an Electrical Lineman?
Apprenticeships or other employer training programs are often required for those hoping to become electrical power line technicians. However, people interested in joining this career can enroll in community college programs ranging from a few weeks to a few years. Many community colleges offer a two-year associate degree in electricity or a similar field.
High School Diploma or GED Certificate
If you want to become an electrical line installer and repairer, you will probably need a high school diploma or GED diploma. Most employers require at least one year of high school algebra, and some require trigonometry. There is a good chance that you will also be required to pass an aptitude test in order to get a job.
Driver’s License
Electrical power line technicians frequently drive company trucks to and from job sites, so a driver’s license is usually required. In addition to your regular driver’s license, you may also need a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Many of the vehicles that utility companies use while repairing power lines require a CDL to operate.
Technical Instruction
While completing an electrical program at a trade school or community college is not necessarily required, it can certainly increase your chances of landing a job as an electrical line installer and repairer.
You can find programs like a 12-week electrical lineworker program or an associate degree program in electrical trades technology. Some schools offer accelerated associate degree programs that can be completed in as few as 18 months.
Apprenticeship
Most companies require an apprenticeship or other employee training program in order to become an electrical power line technician. These programs typically last about three years and combine classroom instruction with on-the-job training. Unions and certain employers offer apprenticeship programs.
The Electrical Training ALLIANCE is endorsed by two labor unions — the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association. The organization offers apprenticeship training for outside lineworkers, inside wireworkers, installer technicians, and residential wireworkers.
Extra Certifications
Some employers may require electrical line installers and repairers to obtain additional certifications. These can include first aid and CPR training, OSHA 10 completion, pole top and bucket rescue training, and digger truck operations certification. First aid and CPR can come in handy because being an electrical power line technician is a dangerous job. If an electrical line technician is injured on the job, they should receive first aid right away.
The OSHA 10 is a 10-hour construction course that teaches students how to avoid health and safety hazards in the workplace. Certifications in pole top and bucket truck rescue and digger truck operations can also be helpful. All of these trainings ensure that electrical line installers and repairers have the technical knowledge and accident prepartion necessary to do their jobs safely.
What Does Electrical Lineman Training Look Like?
Many community colleges and trade schools offer electrical power line technician training. Some schools offer intensive programs that can be completed in just a few months. Other schools offer associate degrees that can take 18-24 months to complete. Below are some examples of the types of classes and programs that you may find when training to be an electrical lineworker.
Stanly Community College offers a 12-week program that requires at least 380 hours of coursework and hands-on training. Students learn electricity basics, safety rules, electrical line and overhead pole construction, and meter and transformer installations. They also receive an overview of the requirements for a CDL, first aid training, and OSHA 10-hour construction training.
Southern Technical College offers an accelerated associate degree in electrical trades technology that takes 18 months to complete. In addition to training students for line installer and repairer positions, this program provides the knowledge and skills students need to begin their careers as electrical technicians or electrical contractors.
In addition to training programs through community colleges and other schools, many employers offer their own training in the form of apprenticeships. These apprenticeships typically combine classroom learning with on-the-job training and can last up to three years.
Midwest Energy and Communications offers an apprenticeship program that includes at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training. The company partners with the Joint Michigan Apprentice Program and Northwest Lineman College to provide classroom learning and hands-on training for its apprentices.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Electrical Lineman?
Community college programs can last anywhere from 12 weeks to two years. However, graduates of these programs may still be required to complete apprenticeships. A typical apprenticeship through a power company or union can take up to three years. At the end of the apprenticeship, the trainee usually receives a journeyman card.
