Maybe a piece of advice, make your work stand out. Clean, right, square, symmetrical, uniform… and make sure what you do, isn’t this guy or that guys version. Do it the right way. Find out what that is exactly and do that. You are super lucky to be starting young. You’ll be making 250k a year before you’re 30 or whatever it looks like. 5 year plan…
It’s easier to get on with a utility vendor. Or sign up with a union. Then your school is free. But it’s still good to see guys getting into this deal.
Is it hard to qualify for a student loan? It sounds like it’s a pretty big cost to start up with having to buy your own equipment just looking into all avenues as my son is hoping to be attending the December in Oroville and I want to make sure he has all his ducks in order and has his eyes open to everything. 7:09
In my case no it was not too difficult to qualify. On the NLC website they have some pretty detailed information regarding the loan process like who they work with and how the process goes down. When I attended I had the option to use meritize or sally mae because that who the school said they worked with. after looking at the two websites I choose meritize just because they would give me a loan without a co-signer and I was able to “fund” School all by myself…. Someone who is in a different position than me could maybe get a better rate or go a different route I’m not sure. There’s is also line worker scholarships and things of that nature that exist but I didn’t take advantage of or apply and I don’t know much more then they exist so that might be worth a Google search. But yeah I would check out the website and call around to get a better idea of what will work for your son. Or have him do those things if he’s interested in attending
Lots of good information in this video! I got my CDL w/ tankers recently and planned to do trucking as a career. Found out about the lineman trade and it seems so awesome. I'm from the Los Angeles area and I signed book 4 at a union in AZ for groundman. Hopefully, I get a call from them eventually. I'm getting my OSHA 10 ET&D, first aid, and CPR certificates this weekend. I'm going to have to call the local to update those certificates in my application. Do you have any other recommendations that I can do to strengthen my resume?
nice man thats awesome, Idk if you live in AZ now but you could always sign the books in other areas or other states too just in case that helps you get a call faster. but sounds like you got it figured out, good luck dude
Thanks for an informative video. I'll share my experience, though it's purely anecdotal and unique to my situation. Maybe it'll help others. I live in Montana, was working in ski lift maintenance as a lift electrician (low-voltage controls, motor maintenance, etc.). Got interested in the trade, signed up for a pre-apprentice program (same stuff as NLC) offered through a tech university close to me in Montana, Highland's College in Butte, MT. With my resort-type work, I was able to attend school while still going to work. Highland's College is part of a university, so I was also able to get financial aid through federal Pell Grants and student loans. Coupled with a local utility scholarship, line school cost me about $2k out of pocket (program tuition was $10k), about the cheapest I've heard of without using the GI bill. CDL program included in school. While still in school, I also applied to a utility and interviewed with them in Wyoming, but didn't go beyond that. It was still good experience and I got to take the required aptitude test. A month before finishing class, I applied to MSLCAT. Three months after applying, I got in interview in Montana. One month after the interview, I had a three-day orientation with MSLCAT in Utah. Two months after that, I was called out for my first job and was officially indentured as an apprentice lineman. So my general timeline was: August - December: line school. February: Interview. March: Orientation. April 30: Called for work, apprenticeship begins. Fun note: The trend I've seen is that you'll never be sent to your home state. I'm from Montana, was sent to Utah. Other apprentices were from Idaho, sent to Colorado or Montana. You better like to travel in this trade. I had zero groundman experience, zero line-trade experience. I was an industrial electrician for 5 years and applied to MSLCAT at over 40 years old. I'm a 5th step apprentice now, should have about a year left before I can test for my union journeyman certification. Lessons I've learned, and what I've heard from others: -Be humble, be EAGER, and always be willing to LEARN. My eagerness shined at my interview (I'm old, ain't got time to f*** around), coupled with proper humility and I placed very well in my interview (yes, they are ranked by scores of the board that interviews you and it affects how soon you get called out). -Line school is NOT always required, though it may be depending on the route you take. Many fellow apprentices wouldn't have gone to line school in hindsight. Mine was cheap, so I would have still gone. -As a groundman, you'll get sh*t on. As an apprentice, you'll get REALLY sh*t on. You're working in the trades now, get used to it. Be humble, learn from those with the experience and knowledge, soak it up like a sponge. You'll get there too.
I think you have to submit a high school diploma or GED just to prove you can do algebra for basic electrical equations which consist of adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing. but honestly the math is not hard at all and they just want your money so if your able to apply and talk with someone I don't believe there are any real requirements that would actually hinder you from attending school. You can always reach out and ask them or check out their website. hope that helps!
@@Alishua oh ok cool that’s good to know, sorry I asked the question very vaguely, my original question is do I have to go to lineman school to become a lineman? After research I found out that no I don’t have to, I can get my CDL and a couple certs and side some of my local ibew books or go into the cal/nev aprenticeship Now I guess my question is would you recommend the no lineman route? Or go to lineman school
@@AdrianRomeroJr If you're pretty set on trying to go the lineman career path you could sign up for a future NLC or similar linemen school ( like one year from now) and while you wait for school to start you could get your CDL and apply for utility jobs and also sign the local union hall books. That way maybe youll get a job before school and save yourself 20k or decide to go a different route or whatever. and then in that year if you don't get a job you could follow through with school. When I got hired i think 8 dudes had climbing school and 2 dudes did not. Me personaly I don't think I would have gotten hired without having it on my resume but its deffinitly not manditory, just depends on what route you take and how you wanna work it out
Thank you for the video and information. My son is graduating high school and looking at NLC. We are in southern cal but between the Northern California and Idaho, is there any difference the certificates you get? I would think rent would be less in Idaho if he attends that school. Also, after finishing school and looking for a job, what would you say is an average wage you start at in 2024? Thank you!!
The only difference in certificates between the two would be the out of state drivers license. In idaho he will have to get a idaho state class c license, then an idaho class A license, and then if he comes back to california transfer or re-test for a california class A. Not a problem or anthying to avoid just something to be aware of. In california starting wage for the union entry level groundman i believe is 38 an hour maybe a couple dollars more. It can be less in other states but it really just depends on where he goes and who he gets on with. it may seem a little confusing now but the more involved he gets the more we will learn and he will find a path that works for him. If your in SoCal you could also check out the "LA trade tech." program. lots of guys get hired from that program too and it might be closer to home or even cheaper. best of luck to him.
This school is a SCAM!! Just got to your local IBEW AMD THEY PAY you to train. It’s NOT a college it’s NOT a lineman school it’s a GROUNDMAN SCHOOL….you don’t graduate and become a lineman you’re paying 45k to become a GROUNDMAN….you can apply for any co-op or contractor and get hire on as a GROUNDMAN …the Texas campus are racist just in case your a man of color
Hey man, I’m currently an electrician and I wanna get into line work. I applied to pge for the electric utility worker position and I’m currently at the “The hiring team is reviewing your application” step. Would you happen to know how long this step usually takes? Thanks! Best of luck to you as well.
nice dude thats awesome! when i was sending in applications and it got to that step i would sometimes get the notification the next day or it would be pending and look like that for 2 months was the longest I waited for it to change....I never got hired or made it past that stage but that was my experince lol. Good luck man!
Hello Bro new subscriber love your channel. Would you happen to know if your called for work from book number 4 once your assignment is completed do you go back to book 4? Or are you able to rise to a higher book? Also long do they assignment last once called up? Thanks in advance.
Thank man! to my understanding yes after your call/ assingment is complete if you don't stay with that contractor and go back to the books you would be moved up the books. the duration of the calls can very it could be a couple weeks or months or you could be there longer. you can always leave and go back to the books if you decided to.
@@Alishua Can you find out ahead of time how long the assignment is? I would hate to quit my job only to have work for three weeks. How were you able to do it Bro?
@@louisgordon-415 yeah man when they call you they will tell you how long the call and where it is located and stuff. or you can ask before accepting it. I wouldnt quit your job till you get a call and decide to take it and you know for sure. from the time you get called to the time you have to report could be super short like a few days short so i would just beware and prepared to go
I do not know, it seems kind of odd, they have all of these lineman schools, but the hiring process is kind of tough it seems. Why do you need to sign a book if you already have the education and employers are desperate to hire?
ultimately I quit during the physical interview. you apply online, then they send you a digital personality test, and then you go for a three-day physical interview. during the physical interview, you wear a harness with a yoyo attached to the top of the pole, and you free-climb to 15ft and 30 ft to hang an arm and change an insulator. I rented an air bnb and I was super sick throwing up all three days. the second half of the 3rd day I was super dehydrated and light-headed and just too dizzy to climb anymore. I asked if I could come back to test in the next class because I was sick but they said that was not how it works (which is totally fair), and I just quit. That one always bummed me out. It was a great opportunity and I just quit instead of pulling through or getting asked to leave.
@@Alishua i applied to lineman apprenticeship with SMUD. I didn't go lineman college or union hall but I have a three years CDL exp, solar installer exp and a college degree. do I have a good chance to get it? thx!
Hey man! Good video on the breakdown of the schooling. I’m attending the school in Aug. 2024 and I’m taking the term with my cousin and brother-in-law. How do they go about separating the students in different groups? How can we go about staying together?
i have no idea how they separate everyone in to crews. they take all the students and divide them into two teams and the two big teams are split into 4 man crews. You could call the school and ask them to put you in the same crew if thats important to you but I'd say the odds of that happening are pretty low it was all assigned for my experience.......I think its a good thing tho, youll know your two family members and then you'll meet people and they will meet people and you'll end up just meeting more people and learning more if they split you all up because you'll experience things a little differently and be able to study and talk together and just pool more experience. But it would be fun to be in a crew with them too, I doubt it would happen but best shot at making it happen is to just call the school and ask. good luck and have fun!
how do you move up from a grounds man position ? Is it guranteed once you sign up as a groundman that you’ll become a lineman apprentice after a certain amount of time? Or is it more of a waiting game for a position to open with the company that hired you ?
thats one thing that was really curious about when I was in school. Really it just depends where you go and what kind of a route you take. If you get hired by a utility then yeah you can kind of just move up the ladder through the program. If you sign the union groundman books then you work off those books but you still need to apply that particular local's apprenticeship in order to get a job as an apprentice. It sounds complicated and weird but it makes more sense once you spend time around it. both routes are great and you'll learn a lot more about it once your around it. Unfortunately getting a job after school is not guaranteed you still have to find job and figure out a way to get started so it can be a pain in the ass for sure but its doable and anyone can do it. just to encourage you if your interested, its not for everyone but it lots of people do it and its totally achievable!
After watching this video I’m second guessing. 😂 seems depressing. Almost like a rip off and a waste of time. They put u through all of that and by the time u get a call back u start at a position below ground zero and have to work your way up (groundman laborer to apprentice) on top of the 400 u have to pay every month
Nice video I’m thinking about joining local 1245 I live in humboldt wanting to get into the trade. How are things going? You enjoy it? I got my CDL already too.
yeah dude sign the books and see what happens if your wanting to check it out. things are going good for me. lots to learn. almost two years in and Im an apprentice rn and just learning as i go
Good info, thank you. I’m conflicted between NLC and abcsocal- although NLC is less than a year of school, it costs 20k- abcsocal is a 4 year apprenticeship with no tuition besides books and tools that will allow you to get your journeyman’s license after that 4 years I believe. If you say this school allows you to have the knowledge to be a groundsman then into lineman then into journeyman it would probably make more sense to join abcsocal I think..
I’ve never heard of abcsocal but I just googled it real quick. It looks like the residential/commercial electrician version of cal/nev jatc. Abcsocal is a wireman electrician journey man program where NLC is a lineman training program. You can reach a journeyman status in both trades but they are different trades……. If you want to get into the electrical lineman trade and don’t want to pay the money for NLC you can sign the groundman books, apply to the cal/nev jatc, or apply to entry level positions at utility companies that might help you get started.
Hey man, is the ED&T only needed for California/Nevada? I live in Oregon and was about to get my OSHA 10 general, but don’t know if I need the ED&T. Or if they even have classes for that in Oregon
Got my CDL currently attending LATTC lineman program in LA. What's the starting pay for a groundman in southern CA? We accumulate lot of debt for us not to be payed well.
@@joshuavalencia3817 yeah they pay double time after 8hrs. I think you’ll make more money and they will be easier on you starting off on the outside but I’d like to think long term Edison is better because you can go right into an apprenticeship where on the outside you’ll have to apply to the cal/new jatc once a year. They are both good. Just depends on where you can get in and what your situation is. I think experience is invaluable so I would go wherever you can for experience and worry about getting to the exact location you want to later down the road
in order to get your CDL you have to take a DMV behind-the-wheel test. So if NLC does happen to offer it at that location at that time it would just be for training purposes you would still need to take a behind-the-wheel at the DMV. Maybe they would lend you a class-A vehicle that you trained in I'm not sure but ill bet you could call NLC in Texas and ask. It's totally possible to start a union apprenticeship with one of the 9 JATCs after school. the issue is if it works out logistically. meaning do they have an open application that you can apply to once you've completed school. I believe the JATC's applications only open up once for the whole year so if you miss it you'd have to wait till next year. you could also apply to utility apprenticeships and those should be represented by the union. I would highly encourage you to get the CDL before you go to school in Texas. I did not do it but it would have made my life a lot easier if I did. @@Conner_kirkland
Hey man I see you keep saying “working as a ground man” I am in the Central Valley and I’m applying to the school on oroville right now. Just wondering what work you do as a ground man
A Groundman predominately stays on the ground and works from the ground assisting linemen and linemen apprentices who will work in the air off lifts of off the power poles A groundmans task include things like gathering tools and material for the job, driving heavy equipment, keeping the trucks clean and organized, and assisting during the job by running the handline, framing poles, and prepping material for whoever is gonna do the work. For a lack of better words you are kinda a job site bitch and you do as your told and learn along the way. That’s my job now and that’s what’s it’s like from my perspective. Your task include lots of other little things but that’s the idea When you go to the school too school you’ll be learning to climb and electrical theory which is more apprentice based stuff. Your job task after school whether it’s an apprenticeship or a groundman position will be similar to the groundman task I listed just cuz that’s the way you learn how to do the job
When you showed the tuition from the NLC website for how much everything total cost for California campus , can u explain the Commercial learners permit $76 paid directly to the DMV, and I also heard u need the permit in order to graduate NLC is that true?
Yeah man, it is a requirement to graduate from the NLC school. You’ll go to the dmv website, and fill out an application for the dmv for your CDL permit. That $76 charge is the cost of your dmv application and is paid directly to the dmv. After your application is processed you have to go to the dmv and pass a minimum of 3 CDL written test on the computer. I believe it is the General knowledge, air brakes, and combination vehicle. After you pass those you’ll get your CDL permit and that’s what you need to have to graduate school. You’ll also need to take that to a driving school to practice and to the dmv for your behind the wheel driving test. You can complete this before you even show up at school which I highly recommend. Save the time and hassle of getting to the dmv and passing all the stuff while you’ve got other stuff to deal with at school…. I think your permit is only good for a year or 6months or something meaning if you get your permit but fail to get your license in that time it will expire and you’ll need to resubmit a new application to the dmv and redo the whole process including retaking the test. So don’t get it too far in in advance but before school for sure. There’s tons of free online practice test and you can fail each test 3 times and then pass on one application so you’ve got some trial and error room. All you have to do is go to your dmv and take a few test. Hope that helps!
Hey I’m considering going to NLC here in Idaho using my wife’s GI Bill to fund the program and I’m hoping to get into their July cohort. I’ll be 37 by the time the program ends in October. My wife is transitioning out of the military by summer of 2024 and I need to have a job before then and preferably in the local Idaho area since we have two kids and a home here. Any advice you can give for my situation if I graduate in October of 2023 and wanting to get work locally to Idaho before summer of 2024?
I’m 18 and graduate highschool in a couple month and after that I’m moving half the country away to go to NLC in Idaho, but I guess it’s never too late to get that bag😂
yeah, it's never too late as long as you are committed and willing to swing it. anyone can do it. not everyone will but anyone can. I know three guys where I work that are around the same age and above and they are in entry-level positions and still kicking ass...... as far as advice I'm afraid I don't have much for Idaho. from start to finish becoming a linemen is a process that takes people a few years to complete. it can be difficult to get started if you're dedicated to one location. I would get your CDL and try applying for entry-level positions in the area at electrical utilities or electrical co-ops (you might get a job without school). MSLCAT is the union linemen apprentice program that covers the state of Idaho, there's no guarantee you'll be close to home or even in the state but that's an option you could investigate as well. I don't want to make it sound easy, it can totally be done. it takes a lot of sacrifices to chase it down but anybody who wants it can do it!
that's awesome man, If you sign the local union groundman books, apply to all the JATC's, and available entry-level electrical co-ops, city, and utility jobs online you'll probably get a job faster than I did. good luck and have fun at school!
I’m on ground man book#4 I was called for work about six months into waiting on the list but unfortunately I wasn’t able to accept the job at the time. I have my class A cdl. It’s now been over 1 year and a half of me being on book#4 and I’m thinking about attending a lineman college for my climbing certification, do you think the school is worth it or should I continue waiting I’m currently #24 on book#4
ultimately the choice is up to you man. after you finish school you can resign the books and you will be at the bottom of the list of book 3 with your documents from line school graduation. I would imagine you should get a call in CA from book 3 within a year AT LEAST. The could 1 week or 1 month after school its hard to know but is that worth 20k to you?......I'm not trying to be rude at all but just to point out that if you pay 20k go to school and get moved up to book 3 but you don't take a call when you do get one then it doesn't sound worth it to me. If your'e only trying to work out of one location or you need personal things to be dialed before you can go to work then spending 20k on school might not be worth it. But if you want to go anywhere right now and your'e tired of waiting then going to school might help you get into work somewhere faster and that makes sense to me. Thats really good you got your CDL though. in addition to the union hall books, I would encourage you to find some entry level positions with your local utility because the CDL might help you get a job. Good luck!
I got a question for anyone that can answer me how much do u make a hr as a ground man Or apprentice I live in Kentucky if any ones close by that can give me a ball park number I’ll be going to lineman school 8weeks and I make 23$ a hour rn in my factory I don’t mind to loose a dollar or 2 but I got rent and a car note
Hi! I'm looking to get my CDL soon and sign a few groundsman books. do you happen to know which books are moving the fastest now in California? thanks!
awesome good for you. I don't know how fast they are moving. You can call norcal local 1245 or socal local 47 to see how many people are on the books and how fast they are moving. Also if your signing the books with just a CDL I would ask if they can put you on book three...or just ask what book you'll be put on.....Towards the end of the year work can slow down and picks up in the begging of the year and summer. Hopefully youll get the opportunity to sign soon, Good luck.
Get a class A CDL then join an IBEW Union, they will get you a job quick, no interview, and you can get into the apprenticeship in no time. You don't have to go to a school like NLC. It's kind of a waste of money and time, in my opinion, speaking from experience as an NLC graduate. I wish someone would have told me that before I attended NLC.
@@isaacsalas9813 with your GI bill you can use it to automatically be at top lineman pay throughout your apprenticeship. Skip the NLC school. Look up your local IBEW Union, go down there and sign the books, that's it. Since you are a veteran, you will be on book one and could have a job within a week or two as a ground man. Once you have that job, you are a union member and can sign up for the lineman apprenticeship and will have a test and interview within a couple of months. Seriously, find your closest IBEW union hall for more information. DONT SPEND YOUR GI BILL ON NLC! Your GI bill will get you making $150k+ through the IBEW apprenticeship within six months!
I can’t remember if school was 6:30-2:30 or 7-3:30 but it’s basically early morning to early afternoon and it’s only Monday-Thursday when I attended. Sometimes if you miss class they have makeup days over the weekend or extra activities that are optional to participate in on Friday and the weekends. If you sign up for the extra classes like crane and smart grid those are also held outside of the regular class hours.
Also the program followed that a schedule from 8/9/21-11/19/21. I Drove three hours home Thursday night and back to school Sunday afternoon for a majority of the term
yes you can. if you show up to school with your own tools and they meet the safety standard then you won’t have to pay that cost. however I wouldn’t advise that unless you know what to get, you have another linemen help/give you the tools, or you buy them second hand from a student who attended school and has them posted on Craigslist. for me I was so new and didn’t know how to adjust or use a lot of my gear and since I bought it from the school all the other students have the same setup and all the demonstrations are with the same exact thing which I found helpful to have mine be the same. some students brought their own tools and did totally fine so it’s just up to you
Everyone wants to work close to home but in this trade you will have to travel. I graduated NLC in July 2022. I started working 2 weeks later but had to travel from Texas to Washington. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet in order to get to work. I’m still working as a Groundman and it’s great experience. Apprenticeship is next on list. Don’t be afraid to leave your home state and venture out to other states to find union work.
that's awesome dude! those who really want it will go get it no matter where the work is. Sometimes family responsibilities make that tougher for some more than others but stoked to hear you are getting experience and hope your apprenticeship goes well! good luck man!
Nice, are you still in washington or have you returned to texas? Basically my question is did you move to washington for work or did you just stay in a hotel for a set period of time while you were on that job?
This is actually good news to me, I’m ready to graduate highschool and get up to leave. I was hearing 6 months and started to lose hope but 2 weeks I can handle that😅
Not really anything specific……they ask pretty corporate interview questions so I guess it wouldn’t hurt to Google a few examples and practice good responses. Or maybe have a few scenarios in your head for how to give a solid response so when they ask you seem pretty dialed in your response. I would Just treat it like any other professional interview. When they open up SCE job applications for groundman apply to all the locations you’d be willing to work in because you could always transfer to another location after 6months. Just show you really want to learn and you really want to work and that safety is a big deal to you and your co workers. I would emphasize any outside hall groundman, construction, or heavy equipment work experience you’ve had in the past. A lot of new groundman don’t have tons of line construction experience but a least a solid background of how to work with tools and follow instructions. Hope that helps, Good luck!
When you do your loan application they give you three options. Start making payments immediately, start making payments once the NLC program ends, or start making payments 6 months after the first day of school. I selected the third option. That loan is collecting interest while your not making payments on it during school which sucks but I wasn’t really able to pay it during school so choose to wait. Those were my options and that’s how I went about it
Thanks for your perpective on your journey. My son is getting ready for NLC and there is a lot of content regarding how school doesn't give someone an advantage.
I'm happy to and thanks for watching. I will say I don't think I would have got my groundman job with the utility company without school but its alot of money and effort upfront for something that isn't guaranteed and isn't quite mandatory. good luck to your son
Dude I think we graduated the same term! I believe we were partnered up on a Covid make up week and you were showing me how to tie knots on a hand line!
