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 five days each to complete the four-year program.
Eligibility: To enroll, student must be currently employed at a public power utility or contractor and be 18 years of age prior to the commencement of the 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 a Skills Assessment Rodeo. 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.
2027 Course Schedule
Please note the dates are subject to change.
Tuesday-Thursday classes are in-person and held at NEPPA’s Training Center at 200 New Estate Rd. Littleton MA, unless otherwise noted below. Monday and Friday classes are held virtually on zoom.
2027 Weekly Schedule:
| Day of the week | Time | Location |
| Monday | 7 am – 11:30 am | VIRTUAL |
| Tuesday | 7 am – 3 pm | In Person |
| Wednesday | 7 am – 3 pm | In Person |
| Thursday | 7 am – 3 pm | In Person |
| Friday | 7 am – 12 pm | VIRTUAL |
2027 Class Dates:
Year I:
Group A: March 8-12; May 17-21; July 12-16; Sept 20-24
Year II:
Group A: Feb. 22-26; Apr. 26 – 30 (Plymouth, NH); Jul 26-30; Oct. 4-8
Group B: Mar 1-5; May 3 – 7 (Plymouth, NH); Aug. 2-6; Oct. 18-22
Year III:
Group A: Feb 1-5; Apr 5-9; Aug 9 -13 (Pascoag, RI); Oct 25-29
Group B: Feb 8-12; Apr 12-16; Aug 16-20 (Pascoag, RI); Nov. 1-5
Year IV:
Group A: Jan 25-29; Mar 22-26; Aug 23-27; Nov 29- Dec 2
Group B: Jan 25-29; Mar 29 – Apr 2; Sep. 13-17; Nov 29- Dec 2
Apprentice Lineworker Skills Assessment Rodeo
June 7-10, 2027
More details on this event available closer to the start date
Apprentice Lineworker Program Graduation (Class of 2027)
December 2, 2027
More details on this event available closer to the start date
Program Details
Location
In-person sessions are held at the NEPPA Training Center:*
NEPPA Training Center
200 New Estate Road
Littleton, MA 01460
*Students in Years 2 & 3 may be asked to travel to a differing location 1-2 times per year in an effort to provide variety in curriculum and practice yards.
Program is also offered in New York. Please contact NEPPA at (978) 540-2200 or training@neppa.org for more information.
Virtual testing is a important piece of this program. 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
5 days/week; 4 weeks per year
Class time per day listed below
| Day of the week | Time | Location |
| Monday | 7 am – 11:30 am | VIRTUAL |
| Tuesday | 7 am – 3 pm | In Person |
| Wednesday | 7 am – 3 pm | In Person |
| Thursday | 7 am – 3 pm | In Person |
| Friday | 7 am – 12 pm | VIRTUAL |
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: To enroll, student must be currently employed at a public power utility or contractor and be 18 years of age prior to the commencement of the program.
All Year One Students are required to complete a special enrollment form online with the Northwest Lineman College, including a “Readiness Assessment”.
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 pass Prequalification/Entrance Assessment
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 pass Entrance Assessment
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, or pass Entrance Assessment
Attendance Policy
Click HERE to view the Apprentice Lineworker Program Attendance Policy.
Cancellation Policy
All program withdrawals must be sent in writing to NEPPA at training@neppa.org. Substitutions may be made at any time (prior to the start of the program).
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, less the cost of NLC books
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 click below for informaiton on discounted rates and be sure to mention you’re with NEPPA (or the appropriate code/account number) to receive the negotiated rate.
2027 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: $5,350 per person, per year
Non-Members: $8,100 per person, per year
If make-up sessions are required, the fee for make-ups is $130 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.
Pre-Qualification, Entrance Assessment and Lineworker Evaluation
NEPPA staff will assess an utility employee based on the standards and curriculum of the Apprentice Program. There are 3 types of assessments with different purposes and requirements, explained below. If you are interested in scheduling one of these please fill out the online form linked below.
Apprentice Lineworker Program Entrance Assessment– for individuals with knowledge and experience who wish to enter the Apprentice Lineworker Program at a later level. The assessment would involve hands-on and knowledge testing and the score would determine if they could start the program at year 2, 3 or 4. Please note: In this case NEPPA and Northwest Lineman College would be able to provide a certificate for just the years completed. A 4-year completion certificate from Northwest Lineman College will not be issued.
Prequalification Testing (for 4-year Certificate Program) – for individuals with knowledge and experience who wish to enter NEPPA’s Apprentice Lineworker Program at Year 2 of the program but still wish to receive a 4-year completion certificate through Northwest Lineman College.
Please note: NEPPA, along with their partner Northwest Lineman College, will accept a student advancing directly to Year 2 of the Apprentice Lineworker Program if they have either completed the Northwest Lineman College 15 week (500hr) course or a 15 week (500hr) course from a provider other than NWLC, if after careful consideration by NWLC and examination of the curriculum, it is approved by NWLC to be acceptable and the student has provided proof of attendance and passing grade. Student will also have to pass a NEPPA hands-on and knowledge test assessment.
The Lineworker Evaluation – for utilities who wish to test an employee’s knowledge and abilities to get an idea of their current skill level. This evaluation involves hand-on and knowledge testing based on NEPPA’s Apprentice Program curriculum but is not for the purpose of placement in NEPPA’s program.
2027 Fees:
NEPPA Members: $600, Non-Members: $900
Questions? Contact NEPPA at training@neppa.org or (978) 540-2200.
Instructional Team
Dan Flynn
Bill Jackson
Ray Lafave
Mike Pazzanese
Codie Perry
Ken Rollins