Apprentice Power Line Technician

Learn to install, maintain and repair power lines

As a Power Line Technician (PLT) at BC Hydro, you play a vital role in ensuring the reliable delivery of electricity to homes and businesses across B.C. You install new power lines, and also maintain and repair lines damaged by weather and other factors.

You first participate in the Pre-Apprentice PLT program, which prepares you with the skills necessary to apply to an apprenticeship.

What you learn and experience

How to construct, repair and maintain power pole lines, towers and underground cable systems.
How to climb power poles and use proper safety procedures, how to use tools and materials, and how to operate a bucket truck in preparation for more complex technical skill development and assignments.
How to work safely outside, in all types of weather conditions, at heights ranging from 30 to 400 feet.
How to handle large, bulky and often heavy materials or equipment.
How to restore power to customers at any time of the day or night.

Qualifications: What you bring

You're a high school graduate with English 12, Math 11 and Physics 11 (or the equivalent).
You have a Class 3 driver's license for manual transmission with air endorsement (or equivalent).
You enjoy doing hands-on, physical work outdoors and have the fitness and upper body strength to do this. You may be a man or a woman, and you may develop this strength through a weight training program before starting the apprenticeship.
You have normal colour vision
You have strong interpersonal skills and are able to deal with both internal and external customers.
You have a mechanical aptitude, and familiarity with industrial tools/equipment would be an asset.
Completed the Pre-Apprentice Power Line Technician program.
Completed BC Hydro Level 1 School at the Trades Training Centre and be working on the second half of the Electrical Fundamentals Course.

Equivalence documentation and transcripts

To successfully claim an equivalent status, you must provide documentation that effectively demonstrates you've taken equivalent courses. You'll submit either a letter from your place of education or your instructor indicating the course(s), stating that the course(s) taken would be considered equivalent to or better than a grade 11 or 12 level.

Once selected as an apprentice, you need to provide a copy of transcripts demonstrating your high school graduation including Math 11, English 12 and Physics 11 as well as a driver's abstract and claims history.

Program details and future job prospects

The majority of candidates must first participate in the Pre-Apprentice program before applying for an apprenticeship. As a successful apprenticeship applicant, your training in the power line trade continues with 42 months of on the job technical training, including 4 to 5 weeks per year in classroom training.

When you graduate, you can apply for jobs in:

Transmission, where you work on high voltage lines on steel towers or wood structures, generally as part of a crew of three or more.
Distribution, where you work primarily on local underground cables, overhead lines, or a combination of both. Or you can specialize in troubleshooting, working primarily on your own to resolve trouble and emergency problems.

Where you train and work

During your apprenticeship, you're assigned to one or two headquarters anywhere in the province. Once you graduate, you can apply to any Power Line Technician vacancy throughout the province.

Pay and benefits

As an apprentice, you earn 75% of the full journeyperson trade rate while you learn, with further increases during the apprenticeship.

You learn and work in a healthy and safe environment supported by a competitive benefit package that includes vacation (minimum of 3 weeks), overtime pay, designated day offs with pay, disability income, health and vision care, and dental benefits.

Application timelines

Job postings are typically found on our current opportunities page. Click here to see application timeline information. If no information is available yet, you can set up a job alert so that you will be notified as soon as the posting goes up.
Due to the very high number of applications recruiters receive, only those who are shortlisted will receive a phone call.