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Lineman school in Illinois

9 lineman programs with results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these lineman programs, and Illinois has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows how past students did; Illinois files no usable prices.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers put up and repair the cables and wires that carry electricity, and may erect poles and transmission towers. Most start with a high school diploma and learn in an apprenticeship or employer training program of up to three years; some community colleges offer one-year certificates and two-year degrees.1

In Illinois, 3 of the 9 programs take students without a high school diploma and 6 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 9 programs here are lineworker certificate or course (4 programs), substation or utility technician (1 program), lineworker (associate degree, 1 program), communications lineworker or fiber optic course (1 program), and 2 more of 2 other kinds.

See the 9 programs

How much does lineman school cost in Illinois?

Not reported

Illinois files no usable prices, so none can be shown.

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not reported
None of the 9 programs report it
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
20 to 56 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Illinois may also offer lineman school. How these figures are made

Is there free lineman school in Illinois?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 9 lineman programs in Illinois approved for WIOA funding

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9 programs

  • Lineworker certificate or courseIn personPrerequisite courses

    Electrical Distribution Lineman Maintenance Cert (EDL 245)

    Lincoln Land Community College

    Springfield

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Lincoln Land Community College, SpringfieldLineworker certificate or course · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimated$44,000
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Electrical Distribution Lineman Maintenance Cert (EDL 245) at Lincoln Land Community College
    More details about Electrical Distribution Lineman Maintenance Cert (EDL 245) at Lincoln Land Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    82%
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,992
    Length
    32 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    140
    Earned a year, estimated
    $44,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Electrical Distribution Lineman Maintenance Cert (EDL 245) at Lincoln Land Community College

  • Substation or utility technicianIn personNo diploma needed

    Electric Meter Installer I

    Jo-Carroll Energy

    Elizabeth

    No diploma needed

    Jo-Carroll Energy, ElizabethSubstation or utility technicianIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    More details about Electric Meter Installer I at Jo-Carroll Energy
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    205 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out

  • Lineworker (associate degree)In personPrerequisite courses

    Electrical Distribution Lineman Degree (EDL 252)

    Lincoln Land Community College

    Springfield

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Lincoln Land Community College, SpringfieldLineworker (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Electrical Distribution Lineman Degree (EDL 252) at Lincoln Land Community College
    More details about Electrical Distribution Lineman Degree (EDL 252) at Lincoln Land Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    64 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Electrical Distribution Lineman Degree (EDL 252) at Lincoln Land Community College

  • Lineworker certificate or courseHybridEducation and courses

    Electrical Distribution Systems Cert

    Illinois Eastern Community Colleges / FCC

    Fairfield

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Illinois Eastern Community Colleges / FCC, FairfieldLineworker certificate or course · Accredited schoolHybrid · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Electrical Distribution Systems Cert at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges / FCC
    More details about Electrical Distribution Systems Cert at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges / FCC
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    36 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Electrical Distribution Systems Cert at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges / FCC

  • Lineworker certificate or courseIn personEducation and courses

    Electrical Lineworker Program

    Northwest Lineman College

    Meridian, ID

    Education and courses

    Northwest Lineman College, Meridian, IDLineworker certificate or courseIn person · Education and courses

    Classes are outside Illinois; Illinois approved the program for its funding.

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Electrical Lineworker Program at Northwest Lineman College
    More details about Electrical Lineworker Program at Northwest Lineman College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    15 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Electrical Lineworker Program at Northwest Lineman College

  • Communications lineworker or fiber optic courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Fiber Optic Technician

    Jo-Carroll Energy

    Elizabeth

    No diploma needed

    Jo-Carroll Energy, ElizabethCommunications lineworker or fiber optic courseIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    More details about Fiber Optic Technician at Jo-Carroll Energy
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    54 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out

  • Lineworker apprenticeshipIn personNo diploma needed

    Line Installer Repairer

    Jo-Carroll Energy

    Elizabeth

    No diploma needed

    Jo-Carroll Energy, ElizabethLineworker apprenticeshipIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    More details about Line Installer Repairer at Jo-Carroll Energy
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Left out
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out

  • Lineworker certificate or courseHybridEducation and courses

    Overhead Electrical Line Worker-Advanced Certificate

    Dawson Technical Institute

    Chicago

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Dawson Technical Institute, ChicagoLineworker certificate or course · Accredited schoolHybrid · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Overhead Electrical Line Worker-Advanced Certificate at Dawson Technical Institute
    More details about Overhead Electrical Line Worker-Advanced Certificate at Dawson Technical Institute
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    22 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Overhead Electrical Line Worker-Advanced Certificate at Dawson Technical Institute

  • Pre-apprenticeship lineworker trainingIn personEducation and courses

    Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Program

    North American Lineman Training Center

    McEwen, TN

    Education and courses

    North American Lineman Training Center, McEwen, TNPre-apprenticeship lineworker trainingIn person · Education and courses

    Classes are outside Illinois; Illinois approved the program for its funding.

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Program at North American Lineman Training Center
    More details about Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Program at North American Lineman Training Center
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    15 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Program at North American Lineman Training Center

How to pay for lineman school in Illinois

WIOA funding can pay for lineman school in Illinois

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for lineman school

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for lineman school

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Lineman school in Springfield, Boise City, Chicago and other Illinois cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 5 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Illinois

How lineman school compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Illinois

Where the Illinois lineman program numbers come from

Which Illinois lineman programs are on this list?

These are the lineman programs Illinois approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Illinois offers.

How the prices and results of Illinois lineman programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the Illinois figures?

The US Department of Labor's own results site lists Illinois among the states with "known data quality concerns".10 We leave out the share who finished for Illinois: only a few programs report it, and those at a typical 11%. We leave out prices for Illinois: the state files a code in place of each price, so no price can be shown.

Sources for the facts about lineman school in Illinois

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Line Installers and Repairers
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List
  10. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: search page, note on states with known data quality concerns