This course is intended to introduce students to the fundamentals of basic electricity, proper pole climbing techniques, proper use and care of PPE, safe work practices, basic knowledge of the function of the power grid and general knowledge necessary to prepare them for a career in the electrical linework industry. The course will combine classroom time and field work in the outdoor lab at the CNM Rio Rancho campus with a strong emphasis on outdoor lab work.
Students will receive training necessary to obtain a Class A Commercial Driver’s License and will be required to obtain their Class A CDL as a prerequisite to receiving program certification. Students will also be required to complete an internship in the electric utility industry as a prerequisite to receiving program certification.
The pre-apprentice program consists of three phases:
- classroom,
- hands-on lab, and
- internship
Location
CNM Rio Rancho Campus, located at 2601 Center Blvd NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144
Course Length:
15 Weeks plus 240 hours internship*.
Class times: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM Monday – Friday.
Upcoming Classes:
Fall 2021: October 2021 (no class Thanksgiving, Winter Break, MLK)
Prerequisites:
Applicants for this program must be able to:
- Perform physical work in an outdoor setting in all types of weather.
- Bend and lift loads up 50 pounds.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills and a good understanding of basic mathematical calculations.
- Pass a drug test and have a clean driving record.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will have an understanding of:
- Safety, including general safety practices, industry specific safety practices, APPA safety manual, care and use of Personal Protective Equipment and first aid.
- Basic Electricity, including Ohms Law, basic circuits and electrical math calculations.
- Pole Climbing, including use and care of climbing equipment, proper use of fall arrest equipment, determining the condition of a pole prior to climbing and pole top rescue.
- The electric system, including sources of generation, functions of a substation, determining voltage levels, methods of transforming energy from one form to another, identification of different types of apparatus and their basic function.
- Transformers, including types, polarity, vectors, connections and banking.
- Basic groundman skills, including proper use and care of handlines, ropes and rigging, knot tying, pole framing, reading staking sheets and reading and understanding spec books.
- Basic lineman skills, including pole setting, stringing and sagging conductors, application of pre-formed ties, application of armor rod and grounding.
Provided with the Course:
Many of your supplies and materials will be provided for you, including:
- Textbooks
- Basic hand tools and a tool bag
- Steel toe climbing boots
- Gloves and eye protection
You will need to provide:
- Appropriate close-toed shoes (until boots are provided)
- Appropriate clothing for working outdoors. Jeans or good work pants are a must, long sleeve shirts are recommended
- Paper, writing utensils, calculator for in-classroom work
- Lunch – there are very few lunch spots near the Rio Rancho Campus. We recommend bringing your lunch
*Internship
Students are required to complete 240 hours of internship. If students are hired directly out of the program, the first 240 hours of work will count towards the internship.
Cost
$8,999.00 with CDL or $7,999.00 without CDL