Edison International Lineworker Scholarship
A scholarship program for students pursuing a career in the lineworking field.
Scholarship Overview
The Edison International Lineworker Scholarship was launched in 2021 to help develop the next generation of skilled trade workers. Funded by Edison International shareholders and IBEW Local 47, it provides scholarships of up to $25,000 per recipient to be used for tuition, fees, tools and approved support services associated with obtaining a Powerline Worker: Pole Climbing (Powerline Mechanic) Certificate at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) and Class A commercial driver’s license.
Recipients are eligible for a full-time, entry-level skilled trade position at Southern California Edison (SCE), once they complete the certificate program, receive a Class A license and fulfill pre-employment requirements, which include additional testing and background checks. All jobs are located within SCE’s 50,000-square-mile service area and may require relocation. Recipients are not guaranteed employment.
Applicants are encouraged to review LATTC’s Certificate program, including timeline and requirements, as well as frequently asked questions below, to fully understand the commitment and expectations associated with the program and a lineworker’s career path.
If you have any questions, contact the program administrator at edisoninternationallineworkerscholarship@scholarshipamerica.org
Eligibility
Applicants to the Edison International Lineworker Scholarship must:
- Demonstrate financial need
- Enroll in the Powerline Worker: Pole Climbing (Powerline Mechanic) Certificate program at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) for fall 2026
- Have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent
- Be eligible to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- Be eligible to obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license
- Be at least 18 years of age
Applicants must also upload a resume that includes work experience as part of the application. Applications will be considered incomplete if all required materials are not submitted electronically
Preference is given to California residents.
Experience with outdoor, construction or physically demanding work is preferred, as entry‑level utility field roles involve hands‑on labor in outdoor environments.
Individuals who are currently enrolled in, or have already completed, the Powerline Worker: Pole Climbing (Powerline Mechanic) Certificate program are NOT eligible for a Lineworker Scholarship.
Physical Requirements
LATTC enforces a maximum weight limit of 265 pounds for participation in ELECL 601, a required climbing course typically taken in the second semester of the certificate program.
Entry-level, field-based skilled trade roles involve physically demanding work. Individuals must be capable of:
- Lifting, carrying, loading and unloading materials and equipment
- Pulling, tensioning, and handling wires, cables or materials
- Raising and lowering tools or equipment, including using handlines or mechanical assistance
- Digging holes for poles and anchors, trenching, and performing repetitive manual labor
- Operating equipment and machinery
- Working outdoors in varied terrain and weather conditions
- Sustaining physical activity for extended periods, including standing, walking, pushing, and pulling
Depending on the role and assignment, lineworkers may also climb poles, ladders, or structures and work at elevated heights.
Review the frequently asked questions below for information on other physical requirements and tests.
Selection of Scholarship Recipients
Recipients are selected based on a holistic review of their application, including:
- Demonstrated financial need
- Work experience
- Leadership and community involvement
- Responses to the required essay questions:
- Why do you want to be a lineworker? Describe how your background, interests or motivations have shaped this goal. You may share your understanding of the job—such as working at elevated heights, climbing poles, lifting and carrying heavy loads, extended work hours, physically demanding work, or working outdoors in a variety of weather and road conditions—and how this work fits into your career goals.
- Lineworkers rely on strong safety habits and situational awareness. Describe a time when you took a proactive approach to safety, whether at school, work, home or in a hands-on activity, and explain how those habits would help you succeed during rigorous training and in the lineworker trade.
- Tell us about a challenge you faced while learning a new physical, technical or hands-on skill. What setback did you encounter, what did you learn, and how did you adapt or improve as a result?
- Lineworkers depend on teamwork, communication and trust to work safely. Describe a time when you contributed to a team in a way that supported shared goals, safety or performance. What did you do and what did you learn about working with others?
Finalists are selected by Scholarship America, and scholarship recipients are selected by Edison International’s selection committee. All applicants must agree to accept the decision as final.
Awards
Up to 12 students will be selected to be recipients.
Awards are one-time only and must be used for the following costs associated with the Powerline Worker: Pole Climbing Certificate program at LATTC and obtaining a Class A commercial driver’s license:
- Tuition and required fees
- Required books, tools and equipment
- Supportive services (housing, transportation, childcare, etc.), as approved, based on individual need
- Commercial driver’s license training and fees
- Other related fees/costs
No further financial or support services will be provided to recipients who fail to participate or graduate from LATTC’s program.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America will process tuition payments directly to LATTC in late July.
The remaining scholarship balance will be paid to recipients via funding requests to the Brotherhood Crusade, a historic local organization and a program partner.
Recipients may access up to $10,000 during the first semester of LATTC’s program. Remaining scholarship funds will be disbursed based on continued progress in required coursework, as determined by the program administrator.
Notification
All applicants will be notified via email of their status in late June. Recipients are encouraged to attend an in-person awards ceremony at LATTC in July.
When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Use an active, personal email address instead.
Please make sure to add edisoninternationallineworkerscholarship@scholarshipamerica.org to your safe senders list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Electrical linework is a demanding yet rewarding profession. Many find it fulfilling because they play a direct role in restoring power, supporting communities and keeping people safe.
Lineworkers routinely climb utility poles, work at a height of 25 to 200 feet, lift and carry heavy equipment, work outdoors in all weather conditions and respond to emergencies at all hours. Being successful in these requires physical fitness, strength, teamwork and strict attention to safety procedures.
Click here to learn more about the career pathway for lineworkers and here on how to become a lineworker at SCE.
The Powerline Worker: Pole Climbing (Powerline Mechanic) Certificate program at LATTC includes academic coursework, physical preparation and hands-on instruction.
The typical timeline is outlined below:
Fall Semester (September to December)
Students take pre-requisite courses, which must be completed with a grade of C or better:
- ECONMT 116 – Handtools and Wiring Practices
- ECONMT 119 – Applied Calculations and Measurements
Students are encouraged to take Class A driving school classes during this time, before coursework and time commitment for the program increases.
Winter Session (January)
Students complete a required on‑campus workout/physical conditioning course, VOC ED 313CE. During this time, students must also pass LATTC’s Physical Agility Test (PAT), which is required before a student can enroll in the climbing course (ELECL 601).
Spring Semester (February to June)
Students who have completed all prerequisites and passed the PAT may enroll in ELECL 601, a hands‑on climbing course required to complete the certificate.
If the Physical Agility Test Is Not Passed
Students who do not pass the PAT on their first attempt will be required to retake the workout course during the summer session, typically in June, for a chance to pass and enroll in ELECL 601 for the following fall semester.
Coursework and requirements are subject to change. Additional information may be found at the bottom of this LATTC web page under Powerline Mechanic Program Information.
Receiving a Lineworker Scholarship and Powerline Worker: Pole Climbing (Powerline Mechanic) Certificate does not guarantee employment at SCE. However, recipients who obtain the certificate and a Class A license, and meet all pre‑employment criteria are provided with a direct pathway to a full-time, entry‑level skilled trade position with the company.
Pre-employment testing includes:
Candidates may only take the tests after obtaining their Class A license, and the tests must be taken in sequence. If a candidate does not pass either test, SCE requires a six‑month waiting period before the test may be retaken. In addition to required testing, employment at SCE is contingent upon successfully completing standard pre‑employment requirements, which include a background check and drug screening.
Recipients must apply for positions through SCE’s standard hiring process if two years have passed since completing LATTC’s certificate program, and they have not been hired within that time.
Some students may be able to work while completing portions of the program, such as the pre-requisite coursework during the first semester. However, ELECL 601, typically taken in the second semester, includes physically demanding training, and daytime classes may limit work availability. Scholarship funds are intended to help offset essential living expenses, such as housing, transportation, groceries and childcare, but may not cover all costs. Applicants should plan accordingly.
In addition to scholarship funding, recipients receive individual case management to help them navigate their training. Case management may include help connecting to resources, such as budgeting and financial planning support, referrals to mental health or wellness services, and assistance addressing challenges that could affect a recipient’s ability to stay enrolled and progress through LATTC’s program. Approved supportive services payments and ongoing case management are administered by the Brotherhood Crusade, a program partner.
