The school is awesome but whatever you do DO NOT use CHS housing. They will charge you all together two times the worth of the apartment between you and three other students. You'd assume that a business that overcharged you that much would have reasonable accommodations and relaxed rules but you'd be wrong. Not only will you be treated like a child but you get a cozy metal cot to sleep on. read more

I am writing because I saw the previous review posted. I graduated from NLC in in December of 2015. After a few weeks of searching I was able to find work in the power delivery field. I will admit that the job market is is rough in the winter months, but it only took me a little bit of time. NLC has been there for me every step of the way. From letting me continue to use their facility to practice prior to upcoming interviews, or the library to look at different companies standards of construction or to put in resumes. The previous review also mentions that the gear given doesn't fit because her son is over 6' tall, I personally am 6'3" tall and over weight, and my gear is great. I have needed the gear I purchased at skills assessments along the way, and further I'm glad that we didn't have to rent any gear as I wouldn't trust someone else to maintain the gear that I trust my life to. I also want to respond to the fact that the college requires physical task to be completed. It does, oh boy howdy does it. These task though, are the same tasks that I have experienced at any interview that I have participated in. It is a physically demanding trade, and as a graduate I am glad that they maintain high standards for people completing, as if they lowered those standards it would only serve to weaken the reputation of NLC. I can tell you that not every job in the power delivery field will require line school, but I also know that without it I wouldn't currently have a job in the trade. I am glad that I saw the previous review and was able to set the record straight as a former student and graduate. Thanks for all you have done for me NLC! read more

I prep crane operators for the National Certification test (both the NCCCO and the CIC) and have dealt with a handful of graduates of the NLC, and there's a huge difference between them and other operators walking in "off the street". I'm in the oil patch, and travel extensively for work. One, the NLC guys and women are prepared to be tested. If they don't know something, they ask....they don't guess. And they typically pass the National Certification test on the first try. Why? Because you either have to have to background or training to begin at NLC. They don't just take "anyone willing to throw money at them". If you are currently working at a McDonald's, have ZERO field experience of ANY kind (I mean running any kind of equipment with a motor), cannot read well enough to read an entire Operator's Manual, they warn you in great detail not to sign up. But being unwilling to ASK for help....then the answer is NO....going to NLC will not help you or your kid at all. It's more than putting on the gear, showing up, staying awake the entire time, or turning wrenches. You have to be able to learn, and take a very hard test. It's National Certification for cripes sake. And, even if you have a learning issue, the NLC would still help you. But you have to make an effort into the investment. Like driving: it takes more than steering the vehicle. read more

My son just graduated from the Northwest Lineman College 4/20/18. It was the best decision that he made. The 4 months that he went through was the hardest. He had been on the Alaskan Fishing boat and that was hard but the challenges he had to face was harder. He had to have a mind set and determination to see things though, figure out what worked and didn`t work. The instructors they were great! Whenever he had a problem or needed help they were there. At graduation he was proud of him and the guys and what they accomplished. read more

I feel as though my classmate Andrew retorted the previous negative review very well. I will attempt to be brief. This program is nationally recognized and an industry leader, ran by well-respected lineman of the past. It is the epitome of the passing of the proverbial torch to the succeeding generation, and is the best investment as well as decision I have made in my life. As with anything in life, you get out, what you put in. In response to NLC not being clear about their students placement in job's post graduation, I feel as though that is entirely inaccurate. I went in knowing that placement is directly related to abilities to relocate. It is expressed on their website and in their flyers. If you are geographically flexible you can secure employment in the trade with some effort. For those of whom are not able to relocate based on family or whatever other restraints you have, I would urge you to not be above a job in a related field (tower technician, telecommunications, tree trimming etc.) so as to pad your resume with experience that is related until you can secure a position with a respective local company. Another misrepresented concept by Karen, is the helpfulness of the school. There were several tasks, known as competencies, that were difficult. For the competency's that I found challenging, I was able to request that instructors help me one on one until I learned the most efficient way to accomplish the competency. Ask and you will receive. Post graduation I was also able to get assistance from the school in securing employment. I had to do leg work, but they were there to assist in fine tuning the resume and cover letter as well as supplying potential leads. Again, ask and you will receive. As for the slanderous material toward the end, there are a few topics I would like to touch on. This is a lineman school who offers you the ability to further enhance your resume with a crane certification. It is an option not a requirement. You will not come out of the Lineworker program a crane operating professional. It is a certificate that will put you above other candidates in the power delivery field. Your CDL will be a requirement for graduation. The majority of jobs will require you to already have your CDL and DOT physical. Having these things and seeking employment will aid in securing employment in the power delivery field -- you are not coming out of school a truck driver. Securing employment - 1.) It takes effort. Effort is NOT sending the same resume and cover letter to every company.(EVERYONE SENDS A COVER LETTER AND RESUME. Stand out by sending one that echoes their language. Follow up with phone calls. Send letters. Make them remember who you are.) It is QUALITY not quantity. Research each company thoroughly, tailor your cover letter to the posting and the company website. 2.) ALL of the steps required to secure employment are provided in detail to you, in a book that is given to you for a class called CP&S - Career Planning and Strategies. 3.) If you believe the job market is over saturated I would encourage you to go to a job site titled indeed.com, type in Lineman, you will see over 500 results. If you are having a tough time securing employment in the trade, then there are other related trades (tree trimming, telecommunications, tower tech, etc) that can count as experience and make you a better candidate for a lineman position when one you want becomes available. 4.) Be able to re-locate - this profession will require travel. I apologize for the lack of brevity that was initially proposed - primary messages here - Great choice to attend. Ask you will receive. You get out what you put in. read more

Read this review before you decide to drop that much money on this schooling! We fell for this business/school for our son this past summer. We were all excited to see him launched into a new and exciting career with "lots of opportunities" in lots of business fields. They show you a list of all the employers looking for their students once they come out of the schooling 4 months later. We were even dumb enough to pay the extra money for a CDL license and Crane Operator license...being told that this was the future and no one would be considered for hiring without it in just a few short months. They take anyone who will plunk down the cash for the school, without bothering to let you know that certain physical requirements have to be met to even graduate from the class. Great if you are an average size human in fairly good shape. However, my son is over 6 feet tall and the climbing tools that were given to him (an extra $2000.00 added on) were never designed to fit him correctly and impeded his ability to perform some of the expected physical feats in order to graduate. My son tried his hardest to complete two of the tasks, he tried until his arm were over-cooked macaroni noodles and he was beyond exhaustion. There was no help given by the school or teachers, there was no working with him either before school, after school or after graduation to come back with properly fitting gear in order to complete the tasks. They had their money already, they didn't care if he got the certificate or not. On top of all of this...this career field is GLUTTED with new students by three schools every four months. We have sent out literally hundreds of applications and resumes all over the country, and not ONE has ever called back. We've looked for opportunities outside of the lineman careers, but, alas, you have a CDL? Great! How much experience? None, oh well, you need two years, goodbye. You have a Crane Operators license? Yes. Great! How much experience do you have? None. Oh, well, you need two years. goodbye. Now my son is going back into a job he left several years ago (we are just happy that someone wants him to work for them!!!) at under $12.00 an hour pay, if we want him out of our house and on his own again there will be no way he can pay for all his own expenses and this school loan on top of it...so guess who gets to pay for a school that did nothing to advance my son in life?...yeah, you guessed it...US! Don't fall for their hype, don't fall for their lies, don't believe a word they say. They care about the money you give them, and in return they will give you a little basic electrical knowledge and some climbing pole skills, and no way to get a job in the career field. read more