Apprentice Lineworker Program
NEPPA offers a four-year curriculum of the Northwest Lineman College’s Lineworker Certification Program and combines hands-on and formal classroom training. Students attend class four times a year for four days each to complete the four-year program.
In addition to classroom time, students are expected to:
- Self-study by reading the material
- Track, record, and submit monthly apprenticeship reports of on-the-job training
- Track, record and submit quarterly “competency” forms
Skill Assessment Rodeo:
Each year, students participate in an additional two-day Skills Assessment Rodeo each year. The Apprentice Rodeo is designed to showcase the apprentices’ developing technical and climbing skills, and to reinforce the program’s focus on professionalism, safety, and proper technique.
Registration now open for 2025!
2025 Course Schedule
Please note the dates are subject to change.
As with all training and in-person events, we ask that participants remain flexible throughout the year. Every effort will be made to hold all classes in-person at NEPPA’s Training Center in Littleton, MA, however we remain committed to ensuring participation through a combination of in-person, hybrid and virtual sessions.
Year I:
Group A:
Jan. 28 – 31; Apr. 1 – 4; Jul. 29 – Aug. 1; Sept. 30 – Oct 3, 2025
Group B:
Feb. 4 – 7; Apr. 8 – 11; Aug. 5 – 8; Oct. 7 – 10, 2025
Year II:
Group A:
Feb. 11 – 14; Apr. 22 – 25 (Plymouth, NH); Aug. 12 – 15; Oct. 21 – 24, 2025
Group B:
Feb. 25 – 28; Apr. 29 – May 2 (Plymouth, NH); Aug. 26 – 29; Oct. 28 – 31, 2025
Year III:
Mar. 11 -14; May 13 – 16; Sept. 9 – 12; Nov. 4 – 7, 2025
Year IV:
Mar. 18 – 21; May 20 – 23; Sep. 16 – 19; Dec. 1 – 4, 2025
Apprentice Lineworker Skills Assessment Rodeo
June 4 – 5, 2025
Click here for more details on this event
Apprentice Lineworker Program Graduation
(Class of 2025)
December 4, 2025
Click here for more details on this event
Program Make-Up Weeks
The following “Make-Up Weeks” are scheduled for any student who needs to make-up time in the Program and/or conduct competencies for the Program. If you need to attend a make-up session please contact us to register at training@neppa.org or 978-540-2200. The fee for make-ups is $85 per session, per student.
| June 24 – Hands-on (for years 1 and 2) | November 18 – Hands-on (for years 1 and 2) | |
| June 25 – Hands-on (for years 3 and 4) | November 19 – Hands-on (for years 3 and 4) | |
| June 26 – Testing | November 20 – Testing |
Program Details
Location
Unless otherwise noted, all in-person sessions are held at the NEPPA Training Center:*
NEPPA Training Center
200 New Estate Road
Littleton, MA 01460
Program is also offered in New York. Please contact NEPPA at (978) 540-2200 for more information.
*Every effort will be made to hold classes in-person at NEPPA’s Training Center in Littleton, MA, we will likely have a combination of in-person, hybrid and virtual sessions. Please ensure every student has an active email address and access to a computer or personal device in order to fully participate in the program.
Course Length & Time
4 days/week; 4 weeks per year
Class time per day (8:00 am – 2:00 pm)
Topics Covered & Prerequisites
Year One
Topics Covered: Introduction to power delivery; safety; working in elevated positions; knots, splices and rope; electrical systems; first aid; applied mathematics; basic electrical theory; transformer basics; and 29 CFR 1910.269 (Parts A, B, C, G, I, K, N)
Prerequisite: It is recommended that students new to the program be pre-qualified, either through their utility or through NEPPA’s Lineworker Pre- Qualification Program.
All Year One Students are required to complete a special enrollment form online with the Northwest Lineman College, including a “Readiness Assesment”.
Year Two
Topics Covered: Safety; AC fundamentals; personal protective grounding; live line equipment and methods; rigging; underground conductors; overhead conductors; electrical test equipment; substations; and 29 CFR 1910.269 (Parts H, J, L, M, R)
Prerequisite: Year One, or successful completion of the Year One Prequalification Competencies & Exam
Year Three
Topics Covered: Safety; special elements; metering; system power flow; advanced transformers; maps and standards; system protection; National Electric Safety Code One and Two; and 29 CFR 1910.269 (Parts E, F, P, Q, T, U, W)
Prerequisite: Year Two, or successful completion of the Year One and Year Two Prequalification Competencies & Exams
Year Four
Topics Covered: Safety; communication systems; special elements; vegetation management; system operation; system automation; overhead line design; underground line design; trouble investigation; and crew leadership.
Prerequisite: Year Three
Attendance Policy
Students are required to attend all 16-days of the in-class program as well as the two-day Skills Assessment Rodeo. Any student unable to attend their regularly scheduled class or the Skills Assessment Rodeo is required to make-up the time, training, and competencies covered during those class days. To progress into the next year or to complete the Program, all students must complete the full program requirements.
If you need to attend a make-up session please contact us to register at training@neppa.org or 978-540-2200. There will be a $85 make-up fee charged per session, per student.
Cancellation Policy
All program withdrawals must be sent in writing to NEPPA or emailed to colleend@neppa.org with attention to Colleen Del Signore. Substitutions may be made at any time (prior to the start of the program).
Books must be returned within 35 days of the shipment date, provided that no exams have been taken and they are in like-new condition, so the appropriate refund can be issued. If books are not returned within this time frame, the cost will be deducted from the tuition refund as described below.
Withdrawals/cancellations received based on the schedule below are eligible for the following:
3 weeks prior to the 1st scheduled week of class = 100% refund of tuition
Before completion of the 1st scheduled week of class = 75% refund of tuition
Before the completion of the 2nd scheduled week of class = 50% refund of tuition
After the 2nd scheduled week of class = 0% refund of tuition
Lodging Information
Lodging is not included in your registration fees and must be arranged directly with the hotel. If you need overnight accommodations, please contact any of the following hotels directly and be sure to mention you’re with NEPPA (or the appropriate code/account number) to receive the negotiated rate:
If calling to make your reservation, be sure to mention NEPPA to get the special rate.
Courtyard by Marriott Littleton
January 1 – April 30, 2024 – $142/night + tax
May 1 – October 31, 2024 – $168/night + tax
November 1 – December 31, 2024 – $142/night + tax
102 Constitution Avenue
Littleton, MA 01460
(978) 540-5040
Reservation Link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1677160713279&key=CORP&app=resvlink
The Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center – $99/night + tax
242 Adams Place
Boxborough, MA 01719
(978) 263-8701
The Westford Regency Hotel & Conference Center – $119/night +tax
219 Littleton Road
Westford, MA 01886
(978) 692-8200
SpringHill Suites Devens Common Center – 10% Discount on Prevailing rate at time of booking.
27 Andrews Parkway
Devens, MA 01434
(978) 772-3030
Hilton Garden Inn Devens – 10% Discount on Prevailing rate at time of booking.
59 Andrews Parkway
Devens, MA 01434
(978) 772-0600
2025 Apprentice Program Registration
Registration includes coffee and lunch each day. Lodging is not included in the registration fee and must be arranged directly with the hotel. See “Lodging” information” above.
NEPPA Members: $3,750 per person, per year
Non-Members: $5,650 per person, per year
If make-up sessions are required, the fee for make-ups is $85 per session, per student.
NOTE: New students enrolling in the Northwest Lineman College/NEPPA Program are required to complete a digital enrollment form from the college.
2025 Pre-Qualification and Lineworker Evaluation Rates:
Prequalification testing is for individuals with knowledge and experience who wish to enter the Apprentice Lineworker Program at a later level. The score on the prequalification test would determine if they could start the program at year 2, 3 or 4.
The Lineworker Evaluation is for utilities who wish to test an employee’s knowledge and abilities to get an idea of their current skill level.
1 – 3 Individuals:
NEPPA Members: $575
Non-Members: $850
4+ Individuals: Contact NEPPA
For more information or to register for a Pre-Qualification or Evaluation contact NEPPA at training@neppa.org or (978) 540-2200.
Instructional Team
Dan Flynn
Trainer
Dan Flynn has been a safety trainer with Northeast Public Power Association, since September 2018 after retiring from Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Dept with more than a 40-year career in public power. Dan is a Certified First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor.
Dan started in the electric meter department in the 1970’s and worked his way through the electric line department as a lineman/line foremen and his last position as the electric department superintendent. Some of Dan’s responsibilities included construction, maintenance, and safety of the electric line division. Dan continues to maintain his 1B/2A Mass. hoisting license and a Mass. Class A Driving license.
Dan lives with his wife of 43 years, Alayne, and they have two adult children and three grandchildren.
He says, “It is a privilege to continue to be involved with the public power industry in New England to give back any knowledge I’ve acquired over these many years.”
Ken Rollins
Trainer
Ken has been involved with the utility business for over 47 years, starting in the Danvers Water Dept. in the mid-seventies. He transferred to Danvers Electric Light in the mid-eighties going through his apprenticeship to become a journeyman lineman. In 1990, he was hired by Middleton Electric as a First Class Lineman and was promoted to Crew Leader, then Line Foreman and then became the Facilities Coordinator.
He has been involved with multiple Mutual Aid Storm related emergencies as a lineman and supervisor all over New England, Florida and the Virgin Islands. His knowledge and skills have greatly benefited the NEPPA team in NEPPA safety meetings as well as the NEPPA Apprentice program.
Mike Pazzanese
Trainer
Mike joined NEPPA as part of the training team in April 2021. Mike is a Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) with 41 years of experience in all aspects of electric and gas utility operations, as well as contractor management, employee health and safety, and utility technical training, particularly in underground distribution and cable splicing.
Mike holds both the OSHA 30-hour General Industry and 20-hour Leadership Certifications. Mike is also an Authorized OSHA Trainer-General Industry.
As a graduate of Bridgewater State University with a teaching degree, Mike’s background in utility and 11 years of technical training experience strengthens NEPPA’s capacity to provide top-tier training.
Steve Socoby
Trainer
Steve has 50 years of hands-on experience in all facets of public power utility operations. His past roles, including as a Line Superintendent, have helped him gain expertise in supervision of crews, maintenance, new construction, reliability, and associated plant & substation responsibilities. He is a Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) and a recognized expert in safety and OSHA compliance.
Recognized as an industry leader and expert, in 2001, Steve received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northeast Public Power Association and has been recognized by the Maine State Legislature for his previous 30 Years of Distinguished Service. Steve attended the University of Maine at Orono.
In 2020, Steve was honored for his long-standing commitment to NEPPA and the industry by being awarded the organization’s Person of the Year Award.