About
Line Clearance Tree Trimmer Trainee Certification
California-Nevada Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) is pleased to introduce online training, testing, and field evaluations to progress line clearance trainees through comprehensive step levels to Journeyman. The JATC, in cooperation with the IBEW and Line Clearance Tree Contractors come together to prepare safe, effective, high quality, and well-trained professionals to serve in our high risk and critical industry.
Sign up through your company training department.
Journeymen, Top Climbers, and Foremen are eligible for the certification by scheduling a written exam at an approved facility followed by an on-the-job bucket evaluation plus a climbing evaluation at the JATC climbing lab on the weekend.
The certification process consists of three parts:
1. Online training
2. Proctored "Step Tests"
3. Field evaluations
The JATC will coordinate with employers at every step to get trainees prepared according to their levels. Trainees will have responsibilities outside of work hours as well. Professional line clearance instructors from the JATC will conduct regular visits with trainees at their jobsites to ensure proper training.
KPA Online
Once the JATC receives a trainee’s information, the trainee will be given a link to fill out online forms for the State of California. The trainee will then get a login ID for KPA, the online learning platform. The trainee will complete short online training assignments and quizzes in preparation for the step tests which can take place after a minimum of six-month intervals. This online training is to be completed on the trainee’s own time. Lessons will be kept short for this reason. Students may login from any computer or smart phone.
Step Tests
Upon completion of the online assignments and quizzes in KPA, the trainee will be eligible to take their six-month written step test. The trainee will be given a date, time, and location to show up for the test and will receive login instructions at the testing site. Tests will occur on Saturday. The test will be online and proctored by instructor assistants to ensure integrity.
Field Assessments
Near each three-month interval, the trainee will be assessed by professional instructors from the JATC. Trainees will be given a set of tasks, appropriate to their classification level, to be completed in live ground and climbing scenarios. Tasks include but are not limited to: gear inspection, knot tying, ascending, and descending, limb walking, pruning, felling, and rigging. These assessments will be done on the job at worksites OR at the JATC climbing lab on the weekend.