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PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR CERTIFICATION

The Academy, as a division of Collaborative Learning Inc., has formed partnerships to bring you the best in live, online certification training with highly experienced instructors. These courses are designed to improve the knowledge of line design professionals and prepare them for certification examinations. Each of the live courses you attend will be recorded and you will be given free access to the videos. 

Colleges and universities do not provide college credit for line design training courses mainly because electrical, mechanical, civil and structural college credit courses are already established for these engineering professions.  Customized training is the preferred method to improve the skills for professional engineers and line design technicians in subject matter trades. 


CL-Academy-APPA Overhead Distribution Line Design Certificate

The purpose of this certificate program is to provide an opportunity for individuals to demonstrate and be recognized
for their knowledge of overhead distribution line design.

Certification Requirements

    1. Successful completion of the following courses 
      offered by APPA and Collaborative Learning’s Academy
      for Utility Line Design Professionals:

      Level 1: 
      Overhead Distribution Principles
                     and Applications
      .
                     Recommended CEUs 2/PDHs 17.5/CPEs 21
                       (Click for next scheduled date)

      Level 2: Best Practices in Overhead
                     Distribution Line Design
                     Recommended CEUs 2.4/PDHs 24/CPEs 28.8 
                     (Click for next scheduled date)

      These courses will be offered at least once per calendar year (twice per year enrollments permitting). We highly recommend that these courses be scheduled in sequence during the same 6-to-12-month period.
       
    2. Successful completion of a comprehensive online examination consisting of not less than 100 questions. Some of the questions will involve calculations typically encountered in the design of overhead distribution lines. Other questions will cover knowledge of overhead line components and equipment, structure and assembly unit standards, rights-of-way, NESC requirements, electrical design practices (insulation coordination and grounding), conductor/cable design practices, structural design practices, and engineering design ethics.

      Candidates for certification are allowed two (2) attempts to score a passing grade of 70% on the examination. 

    3. Submittal and acceptance of a completed overhead line design project. It is preferred that this be an actual project for which the certification applicant was the engineer or designer in responsible charge of the design or completed the design under the direct supervision of the responsible charge engineer or designer. The project will require the following design elements to be performed and described in a summary report that is supplemented by drawings and other components of the design package that are typically prepared for the applicant’s employer. 

      a.  Line routing and right-of-way determination
      b.  Location of poles 
      c.  Conductor selection and design (sag & tension
           calculations and preparation of stringing chart
           for field crews
      d.  Specification of pole-top configurations
      e.  Specification of pole height and class based on 
           NESC or G.O. 95 clearance and loading/strength
           requirements
      f.  Specification of guying assemblies and minimum
           guy lead (if required)
      g.  Material list

    Certification Schedule

    All certification requirements are to be completed within a period of twenty-four (24) months starting from the date when the applicant completes the first of the required courses.


    Collaborative Learning - AULDP &
    Pine Technical & Community College

    Collaborative Learning and the Academy have partnered with Pine Technical & Community College (PTCC), a member of Minnesota State Colleges and University, to promote excellence in the design of overhead and underground electric and telecommunication utility lines. 

    Mini Courses


    All Mini Courses are pre-recorded and can be accessed on YOUR schedule. Courses can be completed 
    on your own time and at your own pace. 
    Once you have completed registration, we will send you a unique login to enter the site. Students will earn certificates for Professional Development hours (PDH) or CEU’s for completion of the mini-course and its corresponding course evaluation. The link to the course evaluation will be emailed to students. 

    Below is a short description of currently available courses. We will be adding new courses over time. For complete descriptions of these courses, fees, instructions, and to register, CLICK THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM.

    • Introduction to the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) – The National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) is the national standard for safety in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of electric utility systems. The 2023 edition of the NESC is now in effect in most U.S. jurisdictions.

    • Joint Use Utility Pole Attachments – Course leaders will present an overview of electric and telecommunication line joint use including benefits, historical and regulatory context and current trends. They will also describe management and engineering “best practices” which, with proper application, can result in line designs that are safer, more reliable, and in compliance with the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and professional engineering laws and regulations.

    • The Electric Utility System From The Inside Out – This program is designed to present a non-technical overview of the electric utility industry in its operating and business management context. Learn about the regulatory structure and competitive aspects of the electric utility industry. Explore the system infrastructure from power grid to meter, its operation, performance and development. Familiarize yourself with the strategic issues and trends that are impacting local electric utilities and challenging the traditional utility business model.

    To see a listing of current courses being offered by Collaborative Learning's Academy,
    see our event calendar.

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