Im not a lineman but have done alot of research getting into this trade. The quickest way is with a contractor. See some contractors workin, pull up, ask them if there hirin' grunts. I talked with some contractors yesterday just about the trade and how Im planning on getting involved. First off is obviously graduate from high school with good grades. Then attend a community college for two years working on my Assosiates, and taking classes in electrical distribution of electrical theory. In the last month or so of college, Im going to go get my CDL learners permit, and then after done with college apply with Progress Energy as an apprentice lineman if there is an opening, or as a plant laborer at a plant nearby to my home. Progress offers job openings to the inside first, and give you 2 weeks to take the job. The employee who has been working the longest has seniority and gets the job. So after a few months of working in the plant, maybe there will be an opening for a lineman apprentice. Then go through there 6 year apprenticeship program, and and Im a lineman! This is how I want to get in, other ways include of coure the IBEW. With them you go to your local hall ( http://www.njatc.org/ ) and just ask to talk with someone about getting in the trade. How that works is you sign onto their books, and when there is an opening you get the phone call to go to work! They reposition you wherever apprentices are needed so youll have to do some traveling in those 4 years. There are 7 steps. They'll send you to some kind of a training school after a year I believe (at least where Im from). This is probably the best all around training you can get, rather than a utilities apprenticeship where they train you on there system only. Thats all I have to say for now!

An Electrical Lineman's Career is in huge demand right now with plenty of job security.
Many Institutes offer lineman training certificate programs that can be completed in a few months. North Carolina's Nash Community College offers studies that can be completed in a 12 week study program. Offering a certificate in Lineman Technology which includes these courses and more.
1) Above-ground and under-ground Line Construction
2) Communications
3) Electricity Principles
4) Generation Transmission Structure
5) Math
6) Power Systems
7) Safety
8) [[ Substations
While the in-state runs about 800.00, the out-of-state program runs approximently 3500.00. This training course requires rigorous mental and physical abilities.

Get into shape and the best of luck to you !!

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Take up electrical engineer in college and after that is go to institutes who teach electrical lineman stuffs and get certificate from this schools, you should be able now to apply as a lineman based on your skills and knowledge.