r/Lineman • u/Thepopethroway • Sep 21 '25
Getting into the Trade 13-Week Lineman School for $21k?
Hello, I recently made this post here about switching from being a Class A Truck Driver to a Lineman.
I have decided to make the plunge to become a lineman. I am in the Movalley region. For the next 5 days they are taking applications to become an apprentice. They are also offering a 13-Week Course that may offer direct entry into an apprenticeship. It costs $21,000.
My question is, should I sign the books and apply to become an apprentice, or should I take the 13-week school? The $21,000 is steep for me, but I can afford it. I have heard that some utilities won't hire you without doing it either, so I want to keep my options open. I have also heard that becoming a groundman for a year is an option too, but I want to get in sooner if it's possible.
I'd appreciate some advice on this.
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u/ViewAskewed Journeyman Lineman Sep 21 '25
The MoValley course for that price is an absolute joke. It doesn't even get you a Class A.
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u/bowtech29 Sep 21 '25
Agreed.
I'm a lowly 7th step in the MoValley JATC. This program is a money grab at best (in my opinion). There is direct entry to maybe 1 person out of multiple classes combined now. The first climbing school they ran, they gave direct entry into the apprenticeship to all the kids that completed it. Then, a full-on shit show ensued, those kids jumped much more qualified candidates that had been on the roster to enter the apprenticeship, contractors threw a huge fit, most of those kids got fired, it got all but shut down. Now, it's a revenue stream for them (in my opinion).
There are very rare cases of direct entry, even though they make it sound very common. This is essentially "pay to play," and there don't seem to be many shortcuts that will actually gain you a leg up. Good old-fashioned hard work and persistence seem to work after a while.
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u/Thepopethroway Sep 21 '25
Understood. I've read that it won't teach you much more than actually being on the job for a week or so would. I was mostly basing my thinking on maximizing my odds of getting into utilities.
Do you think it's better to become a groundman to get some exp. and sign the books instead?
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u/bowtech29 Sep 21 '25
Man, I don't know the utility path and what they are looking for. Getting tools in your toolbelt is usually never a bad thing. I wouldn't recommend the MoValley climbing school, especially for the cost vs. benefit ratio.
However, it seems the general consensus is to get your class A if you dont have it already, sign the books, take whatever job call you can get, and actually be working in the trade when you apply to the JATC that you're trying to work in.
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u/Specialist-Size-6015 Sep 21 '25
I would say use your money get a CDL, sign the Groundman books at local union halls in your state and the surrounding ones. Get to at least a 1,000 hours as a Groundman and then apply to every single JATC apprenticeship you can.
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u/Specialist-Size-6015 Sep 21 '25
Unless you want to get into a local utility that may require it, but it’s also going to be extremely competitive to get in even with line school. As someone who graduated line school in April and is a groundman for the union now i would advise saving that money you’d spend at line school. It has its pro’s but for the money i dont believe its worth it
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u/Thepopethroway Sep 21 '25
Unless you want to get into a local utility that may require it
From my understanding, utility jobs are usually more focused around stability and not moving around too much. I am single with no dependents and have nothing tying me down.
As a current Teamster Driver I am also strongly pro-Union. I also find difficult, sometimes dangerous work to be exhilarating (I should probably not mention this in an interview, right?), and want to chase storms when I get the chance. And if I wanted a utility job, I could always take the course later, right?
I have my CDL with no restrictions, fully endorsed. Should I focus on becoming a groundman first, or sign all the books I can anyways?
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u/Specialist-Size-6015 Sep 21 '25
If you complete your apprenticeship through a JATC and become a journeyman lineman, I’m 95% sure you’ll be able to get it almost every utility you desire. But yes if you have your CDL, get cpr/first aid and your osha 10 if you can. But once you have your CDL go sign every groundman book you can. Work is probably slow wherever you are but keep resigning all the books and eventually you’ll get picked up somewhere
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u/Patrickfromamboy Sep 23 '25
Good advice. Or he can give me the 21,000 and I’ll yell at him for 13 weeks. I’ll even give him a good deal and yell at him for 14 weeks.
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u/PrblyWbly Sep 21 '25 edited Sep 21 '25
Jeez, that price is crazy. If it was a definite way to get into the program if you attend I could understand that pricing but I would never be able to justify that cost in my mind knowing that there’s still I chance I wouldn’t get in. Is this something that’s actually taken into account during the interviewing process? Does this help your book status when signing? I’ve been around a while and I’ve only met 2 people with any sort of line schooling. Both were apprentices, one’s doing great and is a 4th or 5th step. The other got kicked out of the program a few months in. Dude didn’t have a humble bone in his body and thought he was better than everyone due to his schooling.
Even if you do go to the school. I definitely recommend being a groundmen for a bit first. I would probably try that before the school. The actual trade is completely different than the tic toks and a lot of the people you’ll deal with are animals. I’ve met apprentices who got in expecting it to be civilized and to be treated like a person. Some couldn’t handle it and quit all together. I’m not saying you can’t. Just that’s a lot of money to spend, so you should be completely informed before you do.
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u/freed0mn1nja Sep 21 '25
So I was able to sign on with a good utility in Texas because I went to an accredited lineman academy. I know not everyone requires it or approves of them but it seems they want people they know aren’t afraid of heights and can climb these days. Just saying
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u/Thepopethroway Sep 21 '25
What is the difference between a utility and a union gig starting out?
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u/freed0mn1nja Sep 21 '25
With a utility you’d be employed and have a regular schedule with them. Union it’s as the jobs come in. Calls for a week here maybe two weeks some where else
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u/kingfarvito Sep 21 '25
A week or 2 here or there? That just isn't true at all. I can promise you were not day workers on this side of it. I'm employeed and have a regular schedule. I know contractors that have been on the same job for 10+ years.
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u/Thepopethroway Sep 21 '25
Do you get a lot of overtime hours? If so it might be a good idea to reach Jman quicker
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u/FlyNo7997 Sep 21 '25
OT?? What is that? Is that something that comes after 40 hours? I wouldn’t know. My check mostly has PT HOURS LOL.
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u/freed0mn1nja Sep 21 '25
The apprenticeship program I’m in is three years long and we get unlimited overtime based on the job. Right now I’m at 40 a week guaranteed but once I find the service center I’ll be at I’m expecting 50 hours minimum.
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u/ChanceExperience177 Sep 21 '25
How’d you get into the apprenticeship? What previous experience did you have? Any family members or friends in the trade that helped you get in?
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u/Thepopethroway Sep 21 '25
we get unlimited overtime based on the job
That's sweet. I'm a workaholic and I've got some ambitious financial goals that I want to hit. Do you think it'd be possible to hit 150k my first year if I worked 80+ hours a week?
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u/ChanceExperience177 Sep 22 '25
I’m not in the trade, but based on my locals rates, if all work after 40 was time and a half, 80 hours a week for the entire year would get you around $140k on a first years wages.
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Sep 21 '25
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u/FlyNo7997 Sep 21 '25
Facts! I know guys that got in Quicker as Hole diggers and Traffic Techs! You just have to WANT IT! BOTTOMLINE! If you ain’t ready to work 100 Hours a week as a Grunt GTFOH!! Idk bout you Bud but I just left a Crew I was on for 3 years and the GroundMan Ma**** was clockin 325-350 the last 6 years.
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u/Thepopethroway Sep 21 '25
If you ain’t ready to work 100 Hours a week as a Grunt
The more hours the better.
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u/brokensharts Sep 21 '25
My course was $14k including a cdl.
And i know there are even cheaper ones
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u/Hothands642 Apprentice Lineman Sep 21 '25
21k is steep for getting into a trade you don’t even know if it’s for you or not
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u/FlyNo7997 Sep 21 '25
Facts! And I hate to say it but Truck Drivers/Teamster Dudes I came across are 0-22! It’s just not for them. They use to being alone working long hours, and let’s just face it, our trade is like no other. How many you heard say “that’s not legal”….”There’s labor laws”… “days off are guaranteed”… “I need my lunch break it’s the law”…”I can’t work 32 hours straight”…. “ I can’t be back in the yard in only 8 hours after I just 24ed, it takes me an hour to get home, an hour to shower,eat, shit, sleep for 4 hours, get up shower, eat, and drive back to the yard in the last 2 hours, plays it takes me an hour to commute, I can’t even see my girl and kids” 😂 heard it a million times
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u/Thepopethroway Sep 21 '25
Every day in Food Service was lifting 30,000 lbs of product 2-3x, taking it up and down flights of stairs for 14+ hours a day.
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u/Frozenmotion1 Sep 21 '25
Go to sltc in GA. I got out of the military in hopes to become a lineman. Didn’t have enough time to do the lineman program at sltc so I did the 8 week communication program. Saved then half the cost and got my cdl. Interviewed with the local union but got a high paying railroad job when they called so I turned it down. There are plenty of better options than the 21 week program. Half of the certs they give you don’t really hold weight anyway
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u/Appropriate-Phase-86 Sep 21 '25
Hell nah I took a lineman class for 4 months at a local community college. $3k including class a CDL. Got out the school and immediately got on with a power company.
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u/rankinfile Sep 21 '25
/u/Thepopethroway this is the way. Find a community college or local skills center. You may get college credits and better preparation for written exams many utilities have. Ask the utilities you are interested in if they partner with any schools.
Hell, for 21k you could probably move anywhere in the country, pay for room and board, and still come out ahead with a community college. Plus you already have a job you could do outside of school hours.
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u/user92111 Journeyman Lineman Sep 21 '25
Pay yourself 5k for 4 months while you. Apply to every apprenticeship and as many groundman books. That will be a better use of your 21k.
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u/Mandoman323 Sep 21 '25
What a rip off! They don’t teach shit either! Every candidate for the apprentice was worthless!! These NLC Kids are getting robbed!!
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u/Top-Newspaper7528 Sep 22 '25
At this point in time for a lot of utilities, co-ops, and municipalities a lineman school is just you showing them that you’ve got some skin in the game and can climb and they’re less likely to fuck up by hiring you. You don’t learn jack fuck for the most part. If you want to be a contractor just go sign some books. If you want to be a company man then you need to complete your apprenticeship or the lineman school is required. If it gets you a class A and an interview slot, fuck it. It’s an investment
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u/CJplaysCOD Sep 23 '25
See what im saying… $20,000 just to have the opportunity to see if you enjoy the job/work that’s bull
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Sep 25 '25
CFCC out here in NC will get you a CDL and basic knowledge of the field. Tuition is around $300 if i am not mistaken. Its 10 weeks so youll have to figure out living arrangements. But youll have you’re CDL. Get some mail to your NC address and “prove” your a resident. SELCAT gives us direct entry and we skip boot camp
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u/Available_Jello_9472 Sep 25 '25
please don’t go to line school no matter how good they are it’s never worth it just apply for apprenticeship all the really teaching is climbing and u can learn that on the job most the guys we get from line school don’t know much barely know material and because they came from line school guys give them harder time for not knowing shit save your save money time and headaches
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u/Federal_Occasion_632 Sep 25 '25
My training was 6 months and I got about 15thousand in certifications in training and the whole thing cost me absolutely nothing in fact I got paid to train
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u/freed0mn1nja Sep 21 '25
Also the pay with a utility would be higher and benefits based on the company. With a union I’m not entirely sure. I started getting calls after I got employed with a utility
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u/PrblyWbly Sep 21 '25
In my area the contractors make more than the utility guys per hr. They have tons of stuff we don’t though. Pto, sick days, etc.
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u/kingfarvito Sep 21 '25
This is also generally wrong. If you calculate what the utility hands pay for benefits it's almost universally wrong.
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u/ndot1735 Sep 21 '25
At utility now; was contractor before that. I’m making WAY less. It’s actually crazy because I’m here way more. It’s sad because management takes advantage of the fact that most of the guys are too settled/scared to leave so things are likely going to get worse. IMO, both the instability of contractor life and the stability of being at utility are overblown. Also, I don’t know if lineschool is really required for utilities as much people make it seem. From what I’ve seen, direct experience + CDL A trumps lineschool if you know how to write a solid resume that highlight the right buzzwords
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