Program Info
Program Description
Pre-Apprenticeship program introduces the fundamentals of the theory, training, skills, and knowledge of various field personnel vital for the operation and maintenance of electrical distribution systems. Focus is on operation and maintenance of overhead lines, underground cables, substations/ switchyards, and electrical metering equipment. Identifies commonly used equipment, devices, schematic diagrams/print reading applications, and roles/responsibilities of qualified electrical field personnel. Training incorporates the concepts and methods of energy distribution for inspecting, maintaining, isolating, testing and troubleshooting overhead/underground lines, substation and switchyards, customer kilowatt-hour meters and field meter operations. Electrical theory application for various distribution substation, metering and line construction and overhead/underground line configurations, energizing and de-energizing techniques, troubleshooting, and additional grounding of overhead/underground circuits are explored. Single and three phase distribution transformer applications are also discussed.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to identify and demonstrate personal and electrical safety procedures utilized in substation and field metering, overhead/underground distribution switching, isolating, testing and diagnostic applications. Students should be able to identify and apply safe work practices, identify various equipment components including power transformers, circuit breakers, system controls, metering systems and control batteries. Students should be able to follow a schematic diagram and identify sequence functions (normal and abnormal conditions) and identify and demonstrate personal and electrical safety procedures for testing and diagnostics at various field installations. Students should also be able to identify safety tools and personal protective equipment necessary to perform daily tasks and troubleshoot potential hazards. Substation, overhead/underground, electric customer meter installations power quality issues are analyzed in relation to balanced loading, continuity of service and overall customer satisfaction.
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Create an electrical schematic diagram, identifying how connections are made from source to load, including power conductors, single/three phase transformers and switches, and various overhead/underground line protective devices.*
- Create an operating sequence for isolating, testing, inspection, and maintenance of the various substation/distribution switchyard equipment/components, and testing and inspection of an electric field watthour meter.*
- Identify various types of overhead/underground switching equipment including procedures utilized for isolating and in-line replacement.
- Identify the various types of transformers/circuit breakers used in a substation and their purpose in electrical power distribution.
- Identify the various types of watthour meters used in an electric field installation and their purpose in delivering quality electric service.
- Identify safe isolation and grounding for work and maintenance of distribution overhead and/or underground line equipment, substation switchyard equipment, single, three-phase, poly-phase, and self-contained meter installations and explain how they can be isolated utilizing appropriate test equipment.
- Define the concepts of lock-out, switching, and tagging, and the proper documentation needed when working on various levels of high voltage equipment.
- Define sources of electrical and physical hazards at overhead/underground distribution transformer/substation/meter installation sites, and methods of current/voltage protection for working on associated equipment.*
- Define generation, transmission, and distribution systems relevant to electrical power for delivery of single/three phase/poly-phase power from substation to a customer meter installation.*
- Create an operating sequence and power flow diagram for switching to reroute power, alternate configurations, troubleshooting various abnormal results, and isolating a portion of a substation, an overhead and/or underground distribution circuit, and a watthour meter installation.
Electrical Field Service Representative Apprenticeship Program provided by energy systems corporations and/or independent contractors.
High Voltage Electrical and Physical Hazards (shock, falling/tripping). All PPE (safety glasses, gloves, steel toe boots, fire retardant clothing, insulating tools, etc.) must be properly utilized to prevent injury, exposure, and/or death.
2 years
College credit(s) earned for applicable completed courses.
Admission Requirements
Students must apply for entry into the Power and Trades Pathways, Pre-Apprenticeship: Electrical Transmission and Distribution Technology Certificate. Applications to the program are available in the School of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Development Office. Students undecided of which Pre-Apprenticeship program they may be interested in should select the Power and Trades Pathways Core Certificate and meet with a subject matter expert in the School of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Development.
Program Requirements
| Course name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BLDE-100: Energy Industry Fundamentals | 4.00 |
| ENT-124: Construction Blueprint Reading | 2.00 |
| ENT-269: Energy Technology Project Management | 2.00 |
| TAFD-120: Industrial Safety Awareness | 2.00 |
| TAMA-110: Industrial Applications of Basic Mathematical Principles | 2.00 |
|
Electricity: Complete one: |
3.00 |
|
Power Distribution: Complete one: |
2.00 |
|
Industry Specific: Complete six (6) credits: |
6.00 |