Lineman apprentice schools teach students how to install and maintain transformers; string new wire and maintain old wire; supervise journeymen; install and maintain insulators; maintain and repair overhead distribution and transmission lines; set up towers and poles to hold electrical wiring; install, repair and maintain an underground electrical distribution system; assemble and erect substations; install, maintain and repair traffic or train signals and outdoor lighting; and trim trees.
The average lineman apprenticeship consists of four years of training, 600-credit-hours of which are spent in on-the-job training. First aid and CPR training also are typical program requirements.
Lineman apprentices must have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. Some may have to pass an entrance examination to determine math and reading skills. They must be willing to travel and work in emergency situations in bad weather. They also must be able to physically climb to heights in excess of 450 feet and withstand all temperatures and climates.