Updates to the Apprentice Program

by Steve Socoby, NEPPA Technical Trainer

NEPPA’s Apprentice Lineworker School has officially relocated to the new NEPPA Training Center located in Littleton, Mass. A new pole yard is presently under construction by the students. A new metal-clad switchgear substation has been relocated from Bozrah, Conn., and will provide new training opportunities not only to the school but also to the Substation Training Program in the future. An underground vault is also under construction that will enhance the training experience with the expanded training that it will bring to the school as well. Some underground feeds to several pad-mounted transformers will be coming in the spring. It is NEPPA’s goal to replicate, as much as practical, the many utility installations to provide training in most areas of utility construction.

Also beginning in 2013, the NEPPA Apprentice Lineworker School will be implementing a new evaluation process for the practical portion of the apprentices attending the school.

In the past, each apprentice was evaluated by the instructor solely based upon a subjective criteria and observation for the practical portion of his training. Each student was graded based on how the instructor "felt" that that particular individual was progressing as a lineworker in general, his climbing abilities as observed, and his overall attitude and aptitude for the job displayed during each pole yard session. Tasks were assigned and completed in either a satisfactory or unsatisfactory manner with only a subjective gauge used to evaluate the apprentice. No real record of performance was produced.

Going foward, NEPPA is developing a set of "practical standards" for each class. For example, first-year apprentices will have a set time (standard), for instance, to complete a task, such as pole-top rescue. His time will be recorded and a document will be available for review. He can then assess for himself if he needs to work on any particular task or work skill to improve his lineworker skill level. The evaluation will consist of his actual performance in a specified task compared to the NEPPA standard and also compared to the average of his classmates. I believe that this process brings a greater level of competency to the evaluation process of each student. Based upon the fact that an objective score or grade for each student will now be available, NEPPA will gain the ability to issue a certificate for each student who meets or exceeds the established standard at graduation.

The classroom portion of the training will remain as before. Each apprentice will study 10 books annually covering a wide range of technical information for electric lineworkers. They will be graded on each subject presented with a score of 70 percent needed to pass each exam. Northwest Lineman College will issue a certificate covering the classroom part of the apprentices training for each student that successfully passes all of his exams.

NEPPA sincerely believes that these changes will be major improvements in the quality of the Apprentice Lineworker training that we offer. May I offer my sincere "Thank You" to all who have been so generous with donations and support.