American Municipal Power (AMP) training programs are resources designed specifically for member municipal electric systems seeking high-quality training designed to help improve employee performance, enhance safety and ultimately lead to greater system reliability and customer satisfaction.
Over the past 25 years, more than 1,000 workers from 86 member communities in six states have attended AMP’s popular lineworker training series.
2024 Lineworker Training
The AMP Apprenticeship Training Program provides Member utility personnel with a high-quality, certified training program that combines both formal classroom training and hands-on personalized instruction. With a focus on safe operations, system reliability and premier customer service, the Training Program includes four levels — Basic 1, Basic II, Intermediate and Advanced — designed to follow the Northwest Lineman’s College Power Delivery Program. With experienced instructors, AMP’s training program prepares lineworkers for long-term success.
Program features:
- Certified classes for each of the four apprentice-level courses
- Emphasis on the importance of safe and proper work techniques
- Hands-on lessons and modules designed to enhance coursework
- Classroom instruction from highly skilled and qualified instructors
- Unique curriculum developed for AMP Members
- Two weeks of training per level
- U.S. Department of Labor registered, allowing for AMP to serve as a group sponsor
- Competitively priced courses for AMP Members
Sessions maintain a low student-to-instructor ration (5:1) for hands-on activities. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance from AMP and can obtain a national certificate by completing all correspondence coursework through Northwest Lineman College.
Basic 1 Lineworker Training
Created for first year apprentices, this class places a strong emphasis on safety while offering an introduction to and hands-on practice in climbing skills. Additionally, it covers fundamental topics such as electrical theory, applied mathematics, first aid, safety protocols, transformer basics, and other introductory skills.
2024 Training Dates TBD
Basic 2 Lineworker Training
The second class in AMP’s Lineworker series emphasizes safety and builds on the skills learned in Basic 1 Lineworker Training through bookwork and hands-on training. Due to the large number of Basic 2 level apprentices, AMP is offering two different sections of the class this year.
2024 Training Dates TBD
Intermediate Lineworker Training
The third class in AMP’s Lineworker series emphasizes safety and incorporates bookwork and hands-on training to help provide additional installation skills, troubleshooting and simulated energized work.
2024 Training Dates TBD
Advanced Lineworker Training
The final course in AMP’s Lineworker series places a strong emphasis on safety and delves further into installation skills, simulated energized work and simulated hot stick work. The course is designed to provide an advanced knowledge of trouble investigation, underground cable terminating, secondary fault locating, crew leadership, communications and automation.
2024 Training Dates TBD
2024 Regional Training Offerings
Regional training events held throughout the year that cover a variety of relevant safety topics for municipal electric systems. Meetings are open to all AMP members regardless of location. The 2023 Regional Trainings are complete. Registration for 2024 Regional Trainings will open in early 2024.
URD Distribution Troubleshooting
- Date: Planning underway
- Location: TBD
Equipotential Grounding Applications
- Date: Planning underway
- Location: TBD
2024 Additional Regional Training
Leadership Training
AMP has developed a series of leadership courses that would benefit utility personnel who are looking to move into leadership or are newly in a leadership role. Sessions will cover management style, communication, the art of listening, planning, budgeting and a variety of other topics. Register for the leadership training here.
2024 Training Dates
- Session 4: Compliance and Leadership
- Session 5: Public Speaking and Navigating Government
Other Course Offerings
Underground Distribution Troubleshooting
Power outage scenario involving a faulted pad-mount transformer. Participants will demonstrate proper isolation, voltage testing and grounding procedures to safely replace the transformer and return it to service.
2024 Training Dates
New Lineworker Practices
Demonstrate and discuss proper cover-up techniques, use of voltage indicators and phasing sticks, different grounding techniques on overhead construction and the proper installation of insulated jumpers/macks and load/pickup macks.
2024 Training Dates
Groundworker Training
Great for cross-training from other departments, Groundworker Training is designed for entry-level apprentices as a beginning course or for municipal employees who assist the electric line crew as groundworkers.
- Available upon member request
Substations 101
Substations are the backbone of the electric distribution system, and this two-day course focuses on the operation, equipment, switching, inspections, fencing and security, clearances and safety in substation operations. The class is designed for the entry level substation technician, apprentice and journeyman lineworkers, and anyone directly involved in any type of substation operations.
- Available upon member request
Additional Opportunities
APPA Lineworkers Rodeo
Visit the APPA website for more information.
APPA Engineering and Operations Conference
Visit the APPA website for more information.
- April 7-10, 2024
- New Orleans, Louisiana
AMP Technical Services Conference
Designed for electric utility managers, village administrators, engineers, lineworkers and technical staff, AMP’s annual Technical Services Conference is intended to promote and contribute to the objective of operational safety and reliable system services. Learn more here.