Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has established a new registered apprenticeship program designed to help regional utility contractors meet growing workforce and regulatory requirements in the electrical lineworker field.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Line Repairer Registered Apprenticeship program, delivered through GNTC’s Office of Economic Development in partnership with Birmingham-based Gridco, provides a three-year combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. The effort aims to strengthen the talent pipeline for contractors who need qualified lineworkers to remain competitive in bidding for major infrastructure contracts.
“GNTC’s Office of Economic Development was happy to partner with our area employers to add this apprenticeship offering and continue to train the pipeline of Electrical Lineworkers,” said Angela Berch, vice president of Economic Development at GNTC.
The inaugural cohort launched Aug. 11 at GNTC’s Polk County Campus in Rockmart, enrolling nine apprentices. The program builds on the college’s existing Electrical Lineworker program, established in 2022, which has already graduated more than 100 students.
Berch noted that GNTC’s experienced instructional staff, specialized equipment, and the campus lineworker training facility made the apprenticeship a natural next step. Apprentices will receive extensive technical training, including safety protocols, pole climbing, voltage readings, job briefings, equipment operation, single- and three-phase power systems, troubleshooting, line repair, primary cable terminations, pad mount operations, and capacitor bank procedures.
The registered apprenticeship is employer-sponsored and not open to the general public. GNTC provides 144 hours of annual instruction for three years, totaling 432 classroom hours, while employers deliver 2,000 hours of on-the-job training each year, amounting to 6,000 practical hours over the duration of the program. Graduates earn a DOL certificate of completion.
Gridco, one of the companies that advocated for the apprenticeship’s creation, has worked closely with GNTC to develop the curriculum and filled all 10 slots in the first cohort.
“Gridco is excited to partner with GNTC to start this DOL-approved Lineworker Apprentice program,” said Mike Caro, senior safety and training representative at Gridco. “The two organizations have been collaborating for months to bring this program to fruition, and it is very rewarding to see it get started successfully.”
Caro added that the program is already proving valuable for employee retention and industry support. “Our apprentices at Gridco are very appreciative of the opportunity, and Gridco sees a program like this as a great asset to both employee retention and support for our clients and the industry,” he said.
A second cohort is scheduled to begin in April 2026, with additional cohorts planned as employer demand grows. Enrollment is limited to 10 apprentices per group. The program’s instructors are Kevin Bishop and Chad Thompson.
Utility contractors seeking details about the DOL Line Repairer Registered Apprenticeship program may contact GNTC’s Office of Economic Development at [email protected].
