BPA’s Apprenticeship Program: High-Voltage Lineworkers

Enjoy a rewarding career maintaining electric reliability in the Pacific Northwest by earning a Journeyman Lineman certification through BPA’s Apprenticeship Program. The four-year training program offers motivated individuals the opportunity to pursue a rewarding career that is essential to helping BPA deliver low-cost, carbon-free energy to numerous local communities.

For lineworkers, BPA’s Apprenticeship Program is the first step toward beginning the hands-on work of repairing and maintaining high-voltage transmission lines, maintaining rights-of-way, and working with the electrical conductors that carry electrons across BPA’s expansive bulk electric grid. 

Interested in applying?

The program application period opens in January. New apprentices accepted into the program start in the summer and begin with a three-week orientation to prepare them for work in the field. After orientation, apprentices begin field work at their assigned duty stations.

First-hand experience from a program graduate

Steven McDougal joined the apprenticeship program after serving in the Coast Guard. Now a certified Journeyman Lineman for BPA’s Redmond District Transmission Line Maintenance, he fondly recalls the experience and skill he gained in through the program.

“From the time that you begin the apprenticeship, to the time you finish, you are doing hands-on work and getting real industry experience,” said McDougal. “A lineman’s job is very dynamic. We can be expected to climb wood structures, steel structures, operate line trucks, bucket trucks, heavy equipment, and use helicopters to complete Transmission Line Maintenance. It’s important for all of us to learn and gain experience in each aspect of the job.”

After being onboarded for the program, apprentices begin their four-year program with preliminary safety and operation trainings, such as line truck operation, bucket truck rescue trainings and access rescue trainings. 

“After completing approximately six weeks of training, you return to your assigned crew to begin your on-the-job training,” said McDougal. “On that crew, there are four journeymen lineman, along with two foremen and an equipment operator. You work with these seven individuals to gain the information necessary to work safely and efficiently.” 

Apprentices typically work with those seven experts as they begin their training in the field. This comprehensive experience in all aspects of linework is designed to help apprentices be successful. “You are also constantly getting constructive feedback,” said McDougal. “It really helps apprentices to determine which skills need to be improved on and which skills they are excelling in.”

During the program duration, apprentices also get the opportunity to work with several different crews across BPA’s service territory, as well as during their careers after graduating from the apprenticeship program, which makes travel a large part of the job. Throughout his career, McDougal served with transmission line maintenance crews in several of BPA’s districts across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. 

“That is definitely important to know ahead of time: Travelling to different districts and getting to know different crews is a big part of linework. This is where apprentices will gain the most knowledge and experience. They will be able to lean back into this time on the big jobs as they move forward in their careers.”

According to McDougal, each team he worked with in his apprenticeship was consistent in their willingness to engage apprentices in their work. “As long as apprentices are willing to learn and are actively engaged in the work, BPA line crews are excited to teach the next generation of Lineman,” he said.

At the end of their training, apprentices are certified Journeyman Lineman and can apply their newfound expertise with crews across the Northwest. For those considering this path, McDougal advises doing as much research about the rewarding, yet challenging apprenticeship program as possible. “Do your homework,” he recommended. “Decide for yourself if the program, which can include travel and relocation demands, works for you.”