Substation Technician Program

Substation Technicians build, maintain, operate, and repair electrical power substations, switchyards, and associated systems.

Assembly and erection of substations and switchyards

Read blueprints to determine plans for substations and switchyards

Coordinate excavation for placement of ground grids

Layout trenches for conduit for the substation and lay, secure and reinforce conduit

Install and terminate the control cable

Prepare concrete footings for the erection of substation structures

Install transformers, OCBs, OCRs, capacitor banks, and other related equipment

Be at least 18 years old

Minimum of high school diploma or GED

Have a home address in and (within 6 months of indenture) obtain a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL)--with air brakes and Manual Transmission--in one of the following states:*

Have a DOT physical exam

Submit a $30 payment at the time of application

Pass the ETA aptitude test administered on-site

* If you are under 21 with a CDL from a state different than the state you applied for, you will have 60 days to get a CDL in the state you applied for

Determine if being a substation technician is right for you

Complete the Application Process

Interview Day

Scoring your Interview and the Ranking List

Getting The Text

Orientation Week

Field Training and Classroom Instruction

Graduation

Being a substation technician isn't for everyone. Although the job pays well and provides excellent benefits, a substation technician is often asked to work outside in unfriendly weather conditions and do physically and mentally demanding work. The job will require a fair amount of travel, which can mean many nights away from home.

Ensure that you meet the basic requirements for the program and submit an application through our website.

When you pass your aptitude test, you'll go through an interview with a committee made up of line contractors and members of the local union. After the interview, each committee member will give you a score from 0-100 based on everything they've learned about your background, attitude, interests, etc.

Your scores from the interview will be sent to our offices and averaged. That average score is slotted into a ranking list that contains all previous applicants as well as those who apply after you. If you score high, you'll move to the top of the list regardless of how long other applicants have been waiting. Your name will stay on the list for 1 year.

If we have not called you within that year, your name will be removed from the list. If you don’t like your ranking, you can reapply after 90 days*

* You must have worked 450 hours of work in the electrical line construction industry or completed 2 post-secondary industry related classes since your original interview date. Re-interview form is available for download in the resources tab.

When a new apprentice is needed, if your name is at the top of the list, you'll receive a text with instructions to call the office by 9 a.m. the following morning for further information regarding orientation week.

This intensive orientation week at the Missouri Valley training center located in Iowa covers many of the basics (drug testing, rules and regulations, first aid, CPR, OSHA 10 ET&D). After you successfully complete the orientation, you will officially become an indentured apprentice.

After orientation, you'll be assigned to a contractor so that you can gain valuable hands-on training in the field. You'll also begin regular classroom instruction involving safety, electrical theory, circuitry, control devices, and more.

Each apprentice is required to complete three years of related instruction away from the job for a minimum of 144 hours per year. The time spent in related instruction shall be in addition to the required 7,000 hours of "on the job" training and shall not be considered hours of work.

After you've completed your training and classwork, and met all graduation requirements, you'll graduate from Missouri Valley with Department of Labor and ETA completion certificates.