Lineman school in Virginia

4 lineman programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

4 schools offer these lineman programs, and Virginia has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

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 Virginia, 2 of the 4 programs take students without a high school diploma and 2 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

All 4 are the same kind of program: lineworker certificate or course.

See the 4 programs

How much does lineman school cost in Virginia?

$6,600 to $17,995

is what the 4 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

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

Is there free lineman school in Virginia?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 28 people at 2 of the 4 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $6,600 to $17,995.

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

All 4 lineman programs in Virginia approved for WIOA funding

4 programs

Lineworker certificate or courseIn personNo diploma needed
Electrical Lineman Program
Southeast Lineman Training Center
Trenton, GA
No diploma needed
Southeast Lineman Training Center, Trenton, GALineworker certificate or courseIn person · No diploma needed
Classes are outside Virginia; Virginia approved the program for its funding.
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$17,995
More details about Electrical Lineman Program at Southeast Lineman Training Center
Finished
86%
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
15 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
1,322
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$17,995
Lineworker certificate or courseIn personNo diploma needed
Power Lineman Program
Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone GapLineworker certificate or course · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$49,400
Price if you pay yourself$10,000
5 students trained with WIOA funding
School website, Power Lineman Program at Mountain Empire Community College
More details about Power Lineman Program at Mountain Empire Community College
Finished
95%
Working at 6 months
64%
Earned in a quarter
$12,339
Length
52 weeks, 35 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$350
Students counted
291
Earned a year, estimated
$49,400
Price if you pay yourself
$10,000
students trained with WIOA funding
5
School website, Power Lineman Program at Mountain Empire Community College
Lineworker certificate or courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Power Line Worker
Southside Virginia Community College
Keysville
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Southside Virginia Community College, KeysvilleLineworker certificate or course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$47,800
Price if you pay yourself$12,800
23 students trained with WIOA funding
More details about Power Line Worker at Southside Virginia Community College
Finished
99%
Working at 6 months
76%
Earned in a quarter
$11,961
Length
16 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
195
Earned a year, estimated
$47,800
Price if you pay yourself
$12,800
students trained with WIOA funding
23
Lineworker certificate or courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Line Worker T-101
EDTUNITY Institute (formerly Capital Commitment of Virginia)
Norfolk
High school diploma or equivalent
EDTUNITY Institute (formerly Capital Commitment of Virginia), NorfolkLineworker certificate or courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$6,600
More details about Line Worker T-101 at EDTUNITY Institute (formerly Capital Commitment of Virginia)
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
6 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$6,600

How to pay for lineman school in Virginia

WIOA funding can pay for lineman school in Virginia

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 Chattanooga, Virginia Beach and other Virginia cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Virginia

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

Where the Virginia lineman program numbers come from

Which Virginia lineman programs are on this list?

These are the lineman programs Virginia 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 Virginia offers.

How the prices and results of Virginia 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.

Sources for the facts about lineman school in Virginia

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services