Texas Engineering Extension Service offers a course for prospective power linemen in the Lone Star State. Courses are available for open enrollment, and the school also provides specialized training for groups already working in the field. Students begin training in electrical safety, basic apprenticeship procedures, principles of electricity and how to properly climb poles. Education continues through a number of other aspects of power lineman skills, including overhead and underground electrical systems, bucket truck operation, transformers, meter installation, customer complaint trouble shooting and electrical codes.
Texas Engineering Extension Service
301 Tarrow St.
College Station, TX 77840
979-458-6800?
teex.org
The Lamar Institute of Technology is a member of the Texas State University system providing training in the power lineman trade. The utility line technician course at Lamar takes 32 weeks to complete. During that time students learn about capacitors, substations, transformers and metering. Classes include proper climbing, troubleshooting complaints, safety when working with live lines and basic electrical theory. Further, the Lamar Institute of Technology educates students in the safe operation of trucks used in the trade and prepares students for both the written and practical test for a commercial driver's license (CDL).
Lamar Institute of Technology
855 East Lavaca St.
Beaumont, TX 77705-4142
409-880-8321
lit.edu
The Texas State Technical College offers career training for aspiring power linemen at its Marshall, Texas, campus. The course takes a year to complete, preparing students for entry-level positions in the field of power grid maintenance and construction. Courses include the study of overhead and underground electrical systems. The program combines classroom training with field experience, allowing students to become comfortable with the trade before starting their career. Graduates of the program are among the most qualified entry-level linemen in the nation, according to the college's website.
Texas State Technical College Marshall
2650 East End Blvd. South
Marshall, TX 75671
903-935-1010
marshall.tstc.edu
Western Texas College offers career training in the field of electrical lineman technology. Students may pursue both a certificate for electrical lineman work as well as work as an electrical lineman helper. Both programs take a year to complete. The electrical lineman certificate program includes training in proper climbing, construction, troubleshooting, the national electrical code, electrical fundamentals and transformers. The electrical lineman helper program is a pared down version of the full program, including the most basic fundamentals of the trade.
Western Texas College
6200 College Ave.
Snyder, TX 79549-6189
325-573-8511
wtc.edu