Pre-Apprentice Power Line Technician Program

Learn the Power Line Technician trade

The Pre-Apprentice Power Line Technician (PLT) program is a one year temporary opportunity to explore the Power Line Technician trade. This program allows you to develop line skills so that you are equipped to apply on an apprenticeship.

What you learn and experience

• How to complete work assignments as a Level 1 Apprentice PLT and be able to perform work up to voltages of 120/240 Single Phase, following completion of ITA Level 1 Apprentice PLT Technical Training.
• How to act as a driver/ground person, and as required, may operate a Line Truck (single or dual axle) during the construction, maintenance, and operations of the distribution system. This includes, but not limited, to climbing, and assisting in the installation and removal of poles/anchors and transformers
• How to work with the tradesperson crew or Journeyman/woman to whom they have been assigned and shall, when required, attend to handling, and transportation of equipment and materials. They shall also be qualified to drive and operate a motor car, truck, truck winch or other similar truck equipment.
• How to develop basic climbing skills, safety procedures, tool/material use and bucket truck operation.
• How to work outside in all weather conditions at heights of 30 – 400 feet.

A Pre-Apprentice PLT will not be called upon to come into direct contact with high voltage equipment or conductors which are potentially live or energized.

Qualifications: what you bring

• You're a high school graduate with English 12, Math 11 and Physics 11 or the equivalent.
• You have a BC Class 5 driver's license with Air Brake Endorsement (Class 3 Manual Transmission preferred).
  
• You enjoy doing hands-on, physical work outdoors and have the fitness and upper body strength to do this.
• You have normal colour vision
• You have strong interpersonal skills and are able to deal with both internal and external customers.
• You have a mechanical aptitude such as construction experience, mechanics or exposure to trades

Equivalence documentation and transcripts

To successfully claim an equivalent status, you must provide documentation that effectively demonstrates you've taken equivalent courses. You'll submit either a letter from your place of education or your instructor indicating the course(s), stating that the course(s) taken would be considered equivalent to or better than a grade 11 or 12 level.

Once selected as an apprentice, you need to provide a copy of transcripts demonstrating your high school graduation including Math 11, English 12 and Physics 11 as well as a driver's abstract and claims history.

Where you train and work

As a Pre-Apprentice PLT, you may be asked to move anywhere in the province. Locations may include any of the following: Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Southern Interior, and Northern B.C. (i.e. Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Prince George, Chetwynd, Mackenzie, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Terrace, Hazelton, Smithers, Dease Lake, Kitimat, Masset and Prince Rupert).

Pay and benefits

As an apprentice, you earn 75% of the full journeyperson trade rate while you learn, with further increases during the apprenticeship.

You learn and work in a healthy and safe environment supported by a competitive benefit package that includes vacation (minimum of 3 weeks), overtime pay, designated day offs with pay, disability income, health and vision care, and dental benefits.

Application timelines

Job postings are typically found on our current opportunities page. Click here to see application timeline information. If no information is available yet, you can set up a job alert so that you will be notified as soon as the posting goes up.

Due to the very high number of applications recruiters receive, only those who are shortlisted will receive a phone call.