STUART – Patrick Henry Community College and Wytheville Community College are partnering to bring Electrical Groundsman training to Patrick County residents. Virginia Community College Systems awarded its Workforce Capacity Building Grant to the two colleges to make this expanded training opportunity possible. Thanks to the grant, the colleges will launch the training on November 14 at PHCC’s Patrick County site in Stuart.
For Patrick County residents looking to launch a career, the four-week training program can put graduates on track for gainful employment before 2018 is the books. With a groundsman certificate, graduates are eligible to work for electrical contractors serving utility companies. Moreover, groundsman is the first step in a career that could lead to work as a lineman and eventually to a journeyman lineman position which typically pays $30 or more an hour.
After completing PHCC’s Electrical Groundsman course, graduates can seamlessly transfer their credits to WCC to take the Electrical Linesman Course offered at that college. This course qualifies a groundsman for a promotion to enter the apprenticeship of becoming a Journeyman lineman.
Groundsman training does not require a high school diploma or GED. Groundsman workers do not work more than four feet off the ground. Students only need to have a valid driver’s license.
The Electrical Groundsman course runs for four weeks from November 14 to December 13. The classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. The total cost of the program is $3,600, but if the student is eligible for Fast Forward funding, they would only pay $1,200. Additional funding may also be available.
To find out more about the course or available funding, contact PHCC workforce department at 276-656-0260 or PHCC’s Patrick County Site at 276-694-8778.