The IEC Chesapeake Lineman Apprenticeship Program, follows the Northwest Lineman College curriculum and is a comprehensive, multi-year training program designed to prepare individuals for a rewarding career in electrical power delivery. This program combines structured classroom instruction with real-world, on-the-job training to develop highly skilled lineworkers (or linepersons) who can safely build, maintain, and repair electrical systems.
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Through a progressive, four-year curriculum, apprentices gain technical knowledge, hands-on skills, and safety-focused training aligned with industry standards. Graduates leave the program prepared to work on overhead and underground distribution systems, substations, and emerging power technologies.
Who Should Enroll
This program is ideal for:
- Individuals seeking a high-demand, hands-on career in the electrical utility or construction industry
- Entry-level workers looking to start a long-term career path with advancement opportunities
- Current employees in electrical or related trades who want to specialize in power delivery and linework
- Veterans or career changers interested in technical, outdoor, and physically active work
- The demand for skilled lineworkers continues to grow due to infrastructure expansion, grid modernization, and workforce retirements—making this a stable and rewarding long-term career path with competitive wages and opportunities for advancement.
Why Choose This Program
- Earn While You Learn – Gain paid, on-the-job experience while completing classroom instruction
- Industry-Driven Curriculum – Developed to meet real-world utility and contractor needs
- Safety-First Training – Strong emphasis on OSHA standards and safe work practices
- Career Advancement – Build a foundation for long-term growth into leadership, specialized roles, or supervision
- Comprehensive Skill Development – Learn both overhead and underground systems, equipment operation, and troubleshooting
Program Curriculum
The program includes more than 150 hours of training per module, with online testing and integrated video instruction. There are 10 courses per module year with 10 exams per module.
Apprentices progress through four levels of increasing complexity:
Year One
- Introduction to Power Delivery
- Safety I
- Working in Elevated Positions
- Knots, Splices, and Rope
- Electrical Systems
- First Aid
- Applied Mathematics
- Basic Electrical Theory
- Transformer Basics
- OSHA I
Year Two
- Safety II
- AC Fundamentals
- Personal Protective Grounding
- Live-Line Equipment and Methods
- Rigging
- Underground Conductors
- Overhead Conductors
- Electrical Test Equipment
- Introduction to Substations
- OSHA II
Year Three
- Safety III
- Special Elements I
- Metering
- System Power Flow
- Advanced Transformers
- Maps and Standards
- System Protection
- NESC I & II
- OSHA III
Year Four
- Safety IV
- Communication Systems
- Special Elements II
- Vegetation Management
- System Operation
- System Automation
- Overhead Line Design
- Underground Line Design
- Trouble Investigation
- Crew Leadership
Do you have questions?
If so, email [email protected], or call us at (301) 621-9545.
