Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy

Lineworker Academy

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  • Times: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 1 weekend is required
  • Location: Columbia Campus, Lineworker Yard
  • Cost: The fee for the program is $4750
  • Requirements: Must have a high school diploma or GED; Must be 18 years of age with a valid CDL class A permit.

About the Program

Our 10 week course is broken into two parts and provides the following nationally recognized certificates: 

  • Part 1: (7 weeks)
    • TVPPA Climbing Lab Certificate
    • OSHA 10 General Industry/Construction
    • CPR/First Aid
  • Part 2: (3 weeks) One campus day & then when scheduled for skills training.
    • Entry Level Driver Certification
    • Commercial Driver’s License – Class A

 The course also provides documentation of the following skills:

  • Pole-Top Rescue
  • Framing and Construction
  • Confined Space Awareness
  • Flagger – Training
  • Ropes and Knot-tying

Students receive training in the following:

  • Digger-Derrick/Pole Setting
  • Rigging
  • Transformers - hanging and connection
  • Underground distribution
  • Electrical theory and application
  • Substation design, maintenance, and safety 

Services provided to the course graduates include:

  • Resume building session
  • Mock interviews with industry representatives
  • Exposure to hiring managers and decision makers

Columbia State provides each student a pair of Red Wing boots, hard hat, gloves, and two sets of eye protection. We also loan a tool bag to each student. The loaned tool bag contains every item needed to successfully complete the program. After graduation, you can buy your own tools, but many companies provide belts, tools and related equipment after hiring our graduates. 

The Columbia State Community College Pre-Apprentice Lineworker course provides the necessary skills and qualifications desired by utility companies and contractors in the Middle Tennessee region. We rely heavily on an advisory board to set the content, length and cost of the program. Graduates from similar programs benefit from a 90% or better hire rate in the field.

Success depends on the mental and physical preparedness of the students, and our instructors provide excellent group and individual supervision/training. 

Our Pre-Apprentice Lineworker portion of the course is capped at 7 weeks based on the recommendation of our Advisory Board. All of our graduates, and any from any other Lineworker program, are Pre-Apprentice Lineworkers who will have to enter a registered apprentice program with their employer. No student from any Lineworker course graduates as a full Lineworker. That title takes years to gain for any person from any school working at any company.

Our course meets all of the requirements for successful employment in the Lineworker field for a fraction of the cost and half the time of related schools.

Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy CDL Training and Testing Component

A 40 hour, Pre-Apprentice Lineworker School CDL Training and Testing program is available for students holding a learner’s permit, seeking to obtain a Class A license, who are enrolled in the Columbia State Community College Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy course.

Requirements

Students entering the 40 Hour Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy CDL Training and Testing program must:

  • Pass a DOT Physical and obtain a Medical Card (Needed to get Permit)
  • Have a valid CDL class A learner’s permit issued 14 days prior to the start of class
  • Successfully pass a chain of custody DOT drug screen and provide results to the college (Email: WorkforceDev@ColumbiaState.edu or Fax:931.560.4134) 
  • Obtain a current Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)

Note: The DOT drug screen and motor vehicle report (MVR) should be dated within 30 days of the first scheduled class day. 

Licenses and Vehicles

  • Class A license (automatic transmission) – the college provides an automatic vehicle for training/testing

The training includes hands-on instruction in the pre-trip inspection, backing exercises, and the road test. The Lineworker student must submit a copy of the required documentation below at/on the first day of the Lineworker course.

  • CDL Class A Learner’s permit
  • DOT Physical (if applicable)
  • Medical card (if applicable)
  • Motor vehicle report (MVR)
  • Chain of Custody drug screen

The Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy is an approved WIOA training program. Please reach out to your local career center or American Job Center to see if you qualify for WIOA funding.

A full refund may be obtained by placing a written request to the Columbia State Community College Workforce & Continuing Education, Operations Manager, no later than 14 days prior to the program start date.  

No refund is available after 14 days prior to the program start date.

If you have any questions, please contact our workforce team at workforcedev@ColumbiaState.edu.