Jefferson State’s Lineworker Program was developed in partnership with Alabama Power and other utility services to help meet industry needs, and as of December 2022, 51 students have completed the training with a 96-percent employment rate.
“The program successfully launched in 2021 and is already contributing to statewide efforts around talent pipelining more skilled workers into the utility field in our region,” Center for Workforce Education Director Leah Bigbee said. “The need is high for skilled lineworkers in our state, with the aging population and the labor shortage impacting the gap of skilled workers in this field. If we do not address these workforce gaps, it will negatively impact the infrastructure needs in our state. We have been pleased that the funding has allowed us to serve a very diverse population of students so far and produce skilled lineworkers to go straight to work with our company partners.”
Graduates of the program have been hired by Alabama Power, UTEC, Petty Line Construction, Power Grid, ULCS, Sumter Utilities, Taylor Electrical, and others.
Maritza Valdez of Bessemer completed the lineworker program and was hired by Alabama Power to work in the company’s northern Jefferson County area.
“I’ve learned a lot,” Valdez said. “It’s definitely fulfilling.”
Valdez said she started the program because she thought it could be a life-changing opportunity for her. Valdez called her experience at Jefferson State “amazing” in part because of her instructor and others supporting her during the training and helping her find employment afterward.
“It made me feel good to have someone in your corner—looking out for you,” Valdez said.
In addition to Alabama Power, the program has been supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission and Alabama Community College System Workforce Development.
“The second year of lineworker training at Jefferson State Community College has built upon the success from our first year,” Bigbee said. “We have had continued employer support throughout the course, including having line crew from our lead partner, Alabama Power, out during the class to give students feedback and job training. This summer, we hosted a special class in partnership with the Hispanic Coalition of Alabama (HICA) and Alabama Power. This class is the first of its kind in the state and focused on increasing diversity in the talent pipeline for Alabama Power and other companies. We have also continued interview and resume prep, and soft skills training, to ensure students are ready for interviews after class completes.”
Jefferson State is the only community college to partner with HICA for an all-Hispanic class. JSCC is also the only college that has a mobile simulator.
The program continues to grow. Training will be ramped up in 2023 thanks to the support of Alabama Power and Altec. Also, a new Workforce Education Center will be built in 2023.
The Workforce Education Center is a planned 7,500 square-foot building on the Jefferson Campus that will encompass equipment, instructional, administrative, and laboratory space. The Lineworker Program will be among several that will share the space, which will be adjacent to the existing pole farm that is dedicated to lineworker training.
Tuition for the 10-week program is $4,150, not including books, personal protective clothing and equipment, drug testing, permits/licensing, and exam fees. Scholarships are available.
Training focuses on lineworker skills, OSHA 10 Safety, Commercial Drivers License (CDL), and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
The program has competitive admissions and a select number of students will ultimately be chosen for the class based on the associated requirements. For more information, visit www.jeffersonstate.edu/lineworker, and contact the Jefferson State Community College Center for Workforce Education at (205) 856-7710 or [email protected].
