The next generation of lineworkers are taking on the ultimate challenge in Baker City

BAKER CITY – Students at the APEX Elite Line Academy, operated by Baker Technical Institute (BTI) in Baker City, are tackling an intensive program designed to prepare the next generation of journeyman linemen for high-demand careers in the electrical utility industry. Led by BTI President Doug Dalton, the hands-on curriculum features specialized physical training in an outdoor and indoor “climbing pit,” where students scale wooden poles daily alongside their instructors to earn their climbing certifications, a rigorous two-and-a-half-week benchmark within the comprehensive 14-week course. Beyond climbing, the training encompasses Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) certification, heavy equipment and bucket truck operation, pole line construction, and essential job-site safety.

To address training gaps in the industry, the academy intentionally limits initial cohorts to small groups of 12 to 20 students, with plans to cap future classes at 35 to 40 across three annual sessions. Industry veterans like Joel Jones of Roseburg, Oregon, and Caleb Timpson of Maryland, an internationally recognized expert who runs Timpson Training, lead the instruction, ensuring graduates stand out as top candidates nationwide. The program draws diverse applicants from across Oregon, Utah, and California, accepting roughly 12 to 20 students per cohort out of nearly 100 applications.

In addition to technical skills, the academy embeds leadership, job preparedness, twice-daily stretching routines, resume writing, and mock interviews into its daily routine. Graduates leave equipped for diverse career opportunities, including utility apprenticeships, storm-restoration contracting, telecommunications, heavy equipment operation, and substation support. Through state-of-the-art facilities and elite instruction, BTI aims to establish the school as one of the premier line worker training institutions in the nation.

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