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Powerline Technician Directly to the left of this help icon you will see this work outdoors icon that represents where Powerline Technician work most of the time. If the person in the icon is standing outside the building then the work is mostly outside. A person inside respresents mostly insde work and two people (one inside and one outside) represent the work has a bit of both. By clicking the Details buttons to the left will open the page and allow you to read more about becoming a Powerline Technician. After you have spent some time reading and you would like to find out what schools are offering training for Powerline Technician click the Yes, use this career in my Journey button.

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Electrical Equipment

Powerline Technician

work outdoors

Powerline technicians construct, maintain and repair overhead and underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems.

Is this a career that interests you?

  • Related School SubjectsDetails

    Math; Science; English; Shop; Physical Education

  • Field of StudyDetails

    Powerline technicians are employed by utility companies and their contractors. In some companies, powerline technicians must be union members.

    Power linemen are part of the larger National Occupational Classification 7244: Electrical Power Line and Cable Workers. In Alberta, 87 per cent of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

    • Utilities.
    • Construction.
  • DutiesDetails

    Powerline Technicians:

    • Put up and take care of steel, wood or concrete poles.
    • Put up and take care of towers and guy wires.
    • Install and take care of overhead and underground power lines and cables.
    • Install and repair insulators, conductors, lightning arrestors, switches, transformers.
    • Put up and repair street lights.
    • Splice, solder and insulate conductors and related wiring.
    • Find source of damage to powerlines, etc. from accidents, storms, etc.
    • Replace or repair damaged power lines and accessories.
    • Use wiring diagrams, voltage indicating devices and other electrical testing instruments.
    • Ind broken circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays or wiring so they can be fixed.
  • Working ConditionsDetails

    Location:

    • Indoors
      • No.
    • Outdoors
      • Travel to various work sites.
      • Climbinb poles, towers.
      • Working from a bucket attached to aerial lift boom.
      • Entering manholes.
      • Underground vaults.
      • All weather conditions.

    Hours:

    • Regular Work Schedule (Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm).
    • May need to work evenings or weekends and/or holidays.
    • May need to work long hours in emergencies.

    Heavy Lifting:

    • Up to 20 kilograms.
    • Power lines may be de-energized and grounded.
    • Power lines may remain energized while power linemen are working.
    • Special equipment and training in safe work practices.
  • PersonalDetails

    People working in this trade need the following characteristics:

    • Physical strength and stamina.
    • Good co-ordination.
    • Works well with hands.
    • Good mechanical ability.
    • Good hearing.
    • Good colour vision.
    • Able to work at heights.
    • Able to work in any weather condition.
    • Able to work as a member of a team.
    • Able to deal with change at work.
    • Enjoy working outdoors in all types of weather.
  • EducationDetails

    Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates.

    To work in this trade in Alberta, at least ONE of these must be true:

    • You are a registered apprentice.
    • You are an Alberta-certified journeyperson.
    • You have a recognized related trade certificate.
    • Your employer believes your skills and knowledge are the same as a journeyperson.
    • You are self-employed in this trade.

    To register as an Alberta apprentice you need to have:

    • English Language Arts 20-2 or equivalent.
    • Math 20-3 or equivalent.
    • Science 10 or equivalent.
    • or able to pass the entrance exam.
    • An employer willing to train you.
    • If you have training or work experience in this trade it may count towards your certification.

    Apprenticeship term:

    • Work on your first year in grade 10-12 through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
    • 4 years.
    • 1st year: 1525 work hours + 7 weeks of classroom training.
    • 2nd year: 1525 work hours + 7 weeks of classroom training.
    • 3rd year: 1525 work hours + 7 weeks of classroom training.
    • 4th year: 1800 work hours.
    • You may take exam in final year to earn Red Seal and work throughout most of Canada.
  • Programs OfferedDetails

    Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at:

    For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.

  • AdvancementDetails

    Job Opportunities in this trade include:

    • Management or supervisory positions.

    Job openings are affected by:

    • Current employment rates.
    • People leaving existing positions.
    • Creation of new positions that never existed before.
    • Size of the occupation.

    Future Trends:

    • More than 1000 Albertans work in this category.
    • Expect below average growth of 2.0% from 2013 to 2017 in Alberta.
    • Forecast 20 new positions each year.
    • Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
  • SalaryDetails

    Journeyperson wage rates vary but generally range from $35 to $50 an hour plus benefits (2014 estimates). Apprentice powerline technicians earn a minimum of 50 per cent of the journeyperson wage rate in their shop in the first year, 60 per cent in the second, 67.5 per cent in the third and 75 per cent in the fourth.

    According to the 2013 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in this occupational group earned on average from $39.14 to $45.67 an hour. The overall average wage for this group was $42.86 an hour.

  • Other SourcesDetails