Northwest Lineman College
| Type | Technical College, Private |
|---|---|
| Established | 1993 |
| President | Aaron Howell |
| Location | |
| Colors | Maroon, White, Black, Gold and Grey |
| Nickname | NLC |
| Website | http://www.lineman.edu |
Northwest Lineman College is an industry-leading educational institute that provides power-delivery training and consultation services in the United States and abroad. in delivering The Benchmark Standard of Training, NLC ensures trainees are exposed to the latest-and greatest methods and safety regulations throughout the industry.
Since its founding in 1993, NLC has educated more trade professionals in the industry annually than any other institution in the country. A network of over 1,000 power, construction, and manufacturing companies ensures NLC remains at the leading edge of technology and industry advancement.
In addition to its campuses in Meridian, Idaho; Oroville, California; and Denton, Texas, NLC has built campuses and developed curriculum under contract for Kabul, Afghanistan and Tanzania, Africa.
NLC programs and curriculum educate of 4,000 trainees per year, adding to the tens-of-thousands of alumni around the world.
History
The history of Northwest Lineman College (NLC) begins in 1991, when two of its three founders—Gerald McKie and Aaron Howell (both Boise State University linework trainers at the time)—realized that a more modern program needed to be developed. They decided the best course of action would be to establish a private linework college dedicated to providing the finest educational offerings ever known in the industry. To help realize this endeavor, Howell approached fellow lineman Shane Porter, NLC’s third founder. McKie brought extensive trade and training experience to the table; Howell and Porter also had considerable experience, in addition to degrees in business and engineering, respectively. The three began designing NLC’s Electrical Lineworker Program (ELP)—a modernized, student-focused approach to linework training. Studying the needs of power companies across the United States, they developed an innovative curriculum designed to graduate the most competitive candidates in the country. After two years of research and development, Northwest Lineman College was founded in April 1993, opening its doors to the first ELP class in August that same year.
The new approach was well received, drawing considerable attention from the industry’s best and brightest. In 1997, Alan Drew—a lineman, engineer, and one of the industry’s foremost experts on linework operations and history—joined ranks. Drew contributed immediately, formalizing overall operations of the college, which led to national accreditation in 2000. Drew also captured the true spirit of NLC in establishing its mission: to provide The Benchmark Standard of Training®.
NLC’s pioneering foundation proved to be a hotbed for growth in other areas. In 1998, more groundbreaking curriculum was produced by NLC trade professionals; complex topics were explained using simple-to-understand terms and well-illustrated imagery—a luxury the industry was starved for. That curriculum would become the basis for NLC’sPower Delivery Programs. Hundreds of power companies enrolled thousands of employees in the programs, only to request even more training. Before long, NLC was delivering on-site training to thousands more lineworkers (and other professionals) across the country—even around the world.1 These efforts were led by alumnus Michael Hennesey, who is now Chief Growth Officer of NLC.
Commitment to continually improving the industry was punctuated in the establishment of Grid Manufacturing (now NLC Manufacturing) and hiring of alum Mark Groves. Groves took an idea from Howell (now president of NLC) to develop a snatch block with friction capabilities and invented the OX Block, revolutionizing rigging safety. NLC Manufacturing continues its innovation with a wide range of safety and training products that will improve the industry well into the future.
Dedication to providing top-notch educational offerings has never waned, as NLC now produces modern training videos, continually explores and implements cutting-edge technologies in its program offerings, and applies sound pedagogical and andragogical methodologies in its educational design. A vast network of alumni, power companies, construction companies, and manufacturers recognize NLC graduates as highly competitive candidates for long, rewarding careers in the power delivery industry. The foundation established so many years ago is stronger now than ever before, and Northwest Lineman College’s commitment to its students and the industry remains unwavering.
Programs
Northwest Lineman College offers training for all levels of lineworkers, from pre-apprentice training through advanced customized training for seasoned professionals. Program offerings include:
Electrical Lineworker Program (ELP): 15-week pre-apprentice training that takes place on a Northwest Lineman College campus. This fully accredited course offers a comprehensive beginners training to the power delivery industry and the basics of linework. This course was designed to help prepare students to enter into the power delivery trade, and to provide them with the skills and training needed to start a long a rewarding career in linework.
Lineman Apprenticeship Program (LAP): The Lineman Apprenticeship Program is a four-year educational curriculum providing the related instruction component of apprenticeship for lineworkers. It is a fully accredited program offered to electric utility and construction companies for their apprentice lineworker employees. Northwest Lineman College provides all related instruction, manages training calendars and records, and sends notification of all required training for apprentices. Upon successful completion, enrollees will earn Northwest Lineman College Certificate of Completion and Department of Labor Journeyman Certification if the participating utility or construction company’s program is registered with the Office of Apprenticeship or similar state agency.
Lineman Certification Program (LCP): The Lineworker Certification Program is a distance-learning training program offered to electric utility and construction companies for the certification of their lineworker employees. This program is most commonly used as the curriculum component of apprenticeship leading to journeyman certification, and is ideal for adoption or endorsement by utility company associations and statewide organizations. Enrollees must be employees of electric power utility or construction companies and will earn Northwest Lineman College certification upon successful completion. The curriculum can be used to earn U.S. Department of Labor (or equivalent state agency) certification as well.
Transmission Technician Certification Program (TTCP): The Transmission Technician Certification Program (TTCP) is a distance-learning program offered to electric utility and construction companies for certification of transmission technicians. The program consists of four modules covering various subjects relevant to understanding safe construction, maintenance, and operation of the transmission system. This program is most commonly used as the curriculum component of apprenticeship-leading-to-journeyman certification, ideal for adoption or endorsement by utility companies, generation and transmission companies, and statewide organizations.
Substation Technician Certification Program (STCP): The Substation Technician Certification Program is conducted over four comprehensive and intensive distance learning modules. Ideal for use as the related technical instruction component of an apprentice to journey level certification, this program is well suited to companies and utilities that are interested in assisting their employees launch their substation technician careers. The set up of the course exceeds the Department of Labor’s recommend 144 hours of training, while still offering flexibility in the training schedule to best suit the needs of the sponsoring company and the participating employee.
Meter Technician Certification Program (MTCP): Conducted over the length of three distance learning training modules, the Meter Technician Certification Program is a comprehensive training that covers the safe installation and operation of revenue metering. With training on both analog and smart meters, this program can suit any company or utility that employs meter installers and readers. The flexibility of program is ideal to suit the training needs of both the sponsoring company and the participating employee.
System Operator Certification Program (SOCP): Understanding the safe operation of the distribution and sub transmission elements of the power industry is key to the careers of power system operators and dispatchers. The System Operator Certification Program is a three module distance learning certification program that delivers the most up-to-date and relevant system operation training possible, while being flexible enough to meet the needs of the sponsoring companies and participating employees
Utility Training Services (UTS): Utility Training Services specializes in building customized, up-to-date, compliant, and relevant training initiatives to deliver on behalf of power companies and utilities nationwide. Northwest Lineman College’s certified training specialists work side by side with company training departments to deliver customized curriculum.
NLC Highlights
Lineman Leadership: Several high-level leaders, including NLC President Aaron Howell, are linemen who have earned degrees and special certifications in education, electrical engineering, and business.
3-Phase Educational Model: NLC developed and trademarked its own special method of instruction called the Three-Phase Educational Model, which focuses on the three domains of learning while providing a quality education in a positive learning environment.
Major Training Initiatives: NLC is regularly called upon by power and construction companies and governments to assist with major training initiatives. At the forefront are NLC training specialists, who travel the world and bring their experiences back to share with students.
Curriculum Development: NLC has been developing curriculum since 1998, and has—to date—the most extensive and modern curriculum in the industry.
The American Lineman: SVP of Research & Development, Alan Drew, authored "The American Lineman", considered by many to be the finest historical book about linemen ever written. Visit theamericanlineman.com to learn more.
OX Block: 1996 ELP graduate and NLC employee Mark Groves invented the OX Block, revolutionizing rigging in the power industry. It has since been licensed to Buckingham Manufacturing. Videos featuring the OX Block can be found on YouTube.
DOL & DOE Grants: In 2008, NLC was awarded a $1M DOL grant for the building of the Texas campus to expand energy workforce training in the region. In 2010, NLC received a $750,000 Grid Training Modernization Program Grant from the DOE, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, allowing NLC to use its existing programs and customer base as a one-stop-shop for lineworker training, to address education gaps, and to promote job creation and retention.
Smart Grid: NLC has been on the leading edge in incorporating smart grid curriculum and training for the industry. Each NLC campus is equipped with fully functional smart grid lab lines and all of NLC's programs include smart grid curriculum and training videos.
Campus Locations
Meridian, Idaho: The Northwest Lineman College Idaho campus is located in the heart of the third largest metropolitan area in the northwest. Featuring diverse landscapes, the Boise area has become well known not only for it’s urban setting with a small town feel, but as an ideal location for the outdoor adventurist as well.
Oroville, California: Located in the North Central part of California, Oroville is a little known gem not far from Chico. Surrounded by breath-taking lakes, rolling green hills, the Sacramento and Feather rivers, and vast outdoor recreational areas, the Northwest Lineman College campus is conveniently placed in an outdoorsman’s paradise.
Denton, Texas: The Northwest Lineman Training Center Texas Campus is located in beautiful North Texas. In full Texas tradition, Denton is a community known for its southern hospitality, a vibrant music scene, bar-b-que joints, and some of the best horse ranches in America.
Executive Leadership
Aaron Howell, President
Karla Rosa, Chief Financial Officer
Leanna Whitney, Chief Culture Officer
Josh Luck, Chief Operations Officer
Mike Hennesey, Chief Growth Officer
Alan Drew, Senior Vice President, Research and Development
Don Harbuck, Vice President, Customer Relations
Dr. Charles Gagel, Vice President, Academic Affairs
Subsidiaries
NLC Manufacturing - dedicated to the development and production of tools and training materials with a focus on industry safety. Notable products include the OX Block and Ultimate Transformer Training Center.
NLC Productions - a full service film studio focused on the creation of videos that serve as a remarkable power delivery training medium.
Northwest Lineman College Publications
Publications
The Handline is Northwest Lineman College's tri-annual magazine communicating safety awareness, improving knowledge with technical articles, preserving the history of the trade, and keeping readers abreast of new technologies and trends in the power delivery industry. The Handline circulates to personnel in all segments of the power delivery industry.
2016 Publications: The American Lineman, written by Alan E. Drew, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Northwest Lineman College: The American Lineman is a compendium focused on the rich traditions and history of linework. The book follows chronological events from the first line ever built—the Morse Telegraph Line of 1844—continuing through today.