Lineman Accreditation and Licensing Requirements 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In most U.S. states, a lineman license is classified under which broader category of professional licenses?
- Electrical contractor or electrical worker license (Correct answer)
- General construction license
- Mechanical engineer license
- Telecommunications installer license
Correct answer: Electrical contractor or electrical worker license
Lineman licenses are typically issued under the electrical worker or electrical contractor licensing framework administered by state boards.
Question 2: What is the typical minimum age requirement to obtain a journeyman lineman license in the United States?
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
- 16 years old
- 21 years old
- 25 years old
Correct answer: 18 years old
Most states require applicants to be at least 18 years old to qualify for a journeyman lineman license.
Question 3: A 'master lineman' license typically authorizes the holder to do which of the following that a journeyman cannot?
- Supervise other linemen and pull electrical permits independently (Correct answer)
- Work on higher voltage lines than a journeyman
- Operate bucket trucks without a separate CDL
- Perform work in more than one state automatically
Correct answer: Supervise other linemen and pull electrical permits independently
Master lineman status generally grants authority to supervise crews and independently obtain electrical work permits from jurisdictions.
Question 4: Which standard is most commonly referenced in lineman certification exams regarding safe clearance distances from energized conductors?
- NESC (National Electrical Safety Code) (Correct answer)
- NEC (National Electrical Code)
- UL 508A
- NFPA 13
Correct answer: NESC (National Electrical Safety Code)
The NESC establishes minimum clearance requirements for working near energized overhead and underground power lines.
Question 5: When a lineman's license is suspended due to a safety violation, what is usually the first step to reinstatement?
- Completing a remedial safety course required by the licensing board (Correct answer)
- Paying a reinstatement fee only
- Retaking the full journeyman exam from the beginning
- Completing 500 additional apprenticeship hours
Correct answer: Completing a remedial safety course required by the licensing board
Most licensing boards require completion of a specified remedial safety program before a suspended license can be reinstated.
Question 6: Which entity typically administers the written examination for a lineman certification in a given state?
- The state's electrical examining board or licensing department (Correct answer)
- The local IBEW union hall
- OSHA regional office
- The utility company employing the applicant
Correct answer: The state's electrical examining board or licensing department
State electrical examining boards or their designated testing providers are responsible for administering lineman licensing examinations.
Question 7: What happens to a lineman's license if the required continuing education hours are not completed before the renewal deadline?
- The license lapses and the lineman must stop performing licensed work until renewed (Correct answer)
- The license automatically renews with a 6-month grace period
- The lineman is downgraded to apprentice status
- The license transfers to inactive status permanently
Correct answer: The license lapses and the lineman must stop performing licensed work until renewed
Failure to complete required CEUs by the renewal deadline causes the license to lapse, prohibiting the lineman from legally performing licensed work.
Lineman Accreditation and Licensing Requirements 3
In most U.S. states, a lineman license is classified under which broader category of professional licenses?