Raymond – The fun of being 50 feet in the air in an outside classroom working on an electric pole is the perfect career for people who love the outdoors and appreciate hard work. ̨ʹٷվ Community College’s first-class members in the Electric Lineman Program will graduate this semester to the promise of well-paying careers.
“̨ʹٷվ has long wanted to have a Line Worker program. The timing was right for us to begin the program and things just fell into place. A few companies expressed interest in us having it, so that helped also. We have six to seven companies who have provided support letters,” said ̨ʹٷվ CTE Dean of Construction and Manufacturing Jason Webb.
Instructor Craig Davis said it was clear that ̨ʹٷվ students wanted the program.
“We really needed this program,” he said. “And now an electrical student at ̨ʹٷվ can say, Hey, you know what? That might be something I want to do.’”
Preston Hall, 19, of Pearl, was studying Industrial Technology when the Lineman program became a reality.
“I’ve always loved electrical. My first route was going to be for an electrician, but everyone I’ve talked to said I ought to try Lineman, so I looked into it. Everything I learned about it I liked. Everybody I reached out to and everybody I talked to said, ‘Do it,’” Hall said.
What Hall and the other students said drew them in, besides the fact that they all love being outside and being high in the air, was the good pay and benefits. Prospective students should also have the right attitude that matches what it takes to do the work.
“If you just like playing video games and you don’t like going outside, don’t even try to look this way. But if you played outside (as a kid) and you like climbing, this would be a good program to look at,” said student Zacchaeus McFarland of Pearl.
“And you better come in ready to work, and be prepared to be in the heat,” said 21-year-old student Franco Whisenton of Yazoo City.
The program does not use live wire in training. Graduates of the program will be ready to begin a career with an electrical utility company and will be able to work on electrical power lines safely and efficiently.
It is a 16-week program that meets Monday through Friday on the Raymond Campus where the program is housed, from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Fridays, 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
There are 16 slots for students each semester. The next class starts Jan. 13, 2025. The total cost of the program is $3,025. Davis said there are possible funding opportunities and scholarships that qualified students can apply for.
Students who will soon complete the first cohort are already considering where they want to work.
“I’m looking at getting on with a union company like Entergy or I might go for a co-op like Southern Pine,” McFarland said.
Linemen also travel and will be required to have a commercial driver’s license to get their career certification. The admission requirements for the Electric Lineman Program are:
- Must be 18
- Must provide a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical – Can be completed at any physician’s office
- Must provide a DOT drug screen
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- Must have a valid Class A CDL permit
- Must have a clean motor vehicle record
Additionally,
- Must agree and sign the Program Agreement and Understanding form.
- Must be able to provide tools from the tool list.
To learn more about the Electric Lineman Program contact Craig Davis at 601-857-3394 or go to the website at hindscc.edu/workforce/training/electrical-line-worker.