Operator Maintenance Technical Apprenticeship Program
Bismarck State College has partnered with Utility Lines Construction Services, Inc. to offer the Operator Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Program. This apprenticeship program is comprised of both credit and non-credit courses that are offered in a flexible, online format that enables you to maintain your work schedule.
Operator Maintenance Technical Apprenticeship Program
| |
College Credit Courses |
Non-College Credit Course |
| Instruction: |
Led by instructors from the industry |
Self-study, non-instructor led |
| Schedule: |
Offered 3 times a year |
Open Enrollment anytime |
| Course Access: |
3-6 weeks |
60 days |
| Course Availability: |
Anytime, anywhere Internet is available |
Anytime, anywhere Internet is available |
| Course Tools: |
Threaded discussions, self-checks,
video/audio/text-based lectures, quizzes,
animations and graphic elements |
Threaded discussions, self-checks, video/audio/text-based lectures, quizzes, animations and graphic elements |
| Testing: |
Completed Online |
Completed Online |
| Degree Availability: |
Courses can be applied toward an AAS in
Electric Power and/or Electrical Transmission Systems Technology that can be transferred to the BAS in Energy Management |
N/A |
Recommended Course Sequence
Recommended Sequence - Year 1 and 2 - Credit Courses:
CSCI 101 - Introduction to Computers
ENRT 106 - DC Fundamentals
ENRT 108 - AC Fundamentals
ELPW 114 - Industrial Safety and Health
Recommended Sequence - Year 3 and 4 - Non-Credit Courses:
MMAT 155 - Hydraulics & Pneumatics
APP 111 - Applied Math
APP 119 - Troubleshooting and Emergency Repair of DC/AC Systems and Equipment
TPC 202 - Batteries and DC Circuits
TPC 204 - Electrical Measuring Instruments
TPC 205 - Electrical Safety and Protection
TPC 207 - Operating and Maintaining Single-Phase Motors
TPC 208 - Operating and Maintaining Three-Phase Systems
TPC 209 - Understanding Basic AC Control Equipment
TPC 210 - Electrical Troubleshooting
TPC 280 - Safety, Calibration and Testing Procedures
Program Course Descriptions
MMAT 155 – Hydraulics and Pneumatics
Covers hydraulic and pneumatic principles, types of hydraulic fluids and their characteristics. Describes components of hydraulic and pneumatic systems and their functions, including filters and strainers, reservoirs and accumulators, pumps, piping, tubing and hoses, control valves, relief valves and actuating devices.
APP 111 - Applied Math
This course will teach basic math skills and apply those to energy industry situations. Students will learn the metric system, basic volume and area calculations as well as algebra and trigonometry and how they apply to industry specific situations.
APP 119 - Troubleshooting and Emergency Repair of DC/AC Systems and Equipment
This course will present an overview of AC and DC power systems; especially how they are grounded and how to locate an open/short circuit. Lastly the course will talk about how to repair AC and DC systems (grounds, open, and shorts) The course will then go into the importance of these systems in the electrical power industry.
TPC 202 – Batteries and DC Circuits
Covers how electrochemical action is used. Covers batteries, electrolytic action, electroplating, characteristics of storage batteries, application and maintenance of lead-acid, nickel-alkaline, and nickel-cadmium batteries, putting batteries into service, charging batteries, maintaining records, fundamentals of DC circuits, and using Ohm's Law to solve problems in DC series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits.
TPC 204 – Electrical Measuring Instruments
Covers the principles on which electrical test instruments operate. Basic instruments covered include voltmeter, ammeter, wattmeter, ohmmeter, and megohmmeter. Covers AC metering, split-core ammeter, use of current and potential transformers. Includes detailed coverage of modern multimeters. Explains functions and uses of oscilloscopes.
TPC 205 - Electrical Protective Devices
Examines electrical hazards and stresses the importance of electrical safety. Covers the equipment and procedures necessary to work safely with electricity, including PPE, lockout/tagout, and first aid. Explains the importance of grounding. Describes many kinds of fuses, circuit breakers, and motor protection devices and their uses.
TPC 207 – Operating and Maintaining Single Phase Motors
Covers the types and operating principles of common single-phase motors. Explains NEMA motor standards. Explains how to identify motor leads on split-phase, capacitor-start, capacitor-run, permanent split capacitor, and repulsion motor. Also covers universal motors, shaded-pole motors, and other special types, including synchro and servo systems. Gives general maintenance procedures on all single-phase motors.
TPC 208 – Operating and Maintaining Three Phase Systems
Covers three-phase motor principles for induction, synchronous, and multi-speed dual-voltage motors. Gives recommended maintenance practices for large AC motors. Covers principles of three-phase motor starters, part winding, reversing, jogging, alternator principles and operation. Describes three-phase power distribution.
TPC 209 – Understanding Basic AC Control Equipment, Synchronous Motor and Controller Maintenance
Covers the broad range of industrial motor starting and control equipment, including NEMA sizes and ratings. Includes pushbutton control station, limit switches, mercury switches, mechanical and magnetic plugging, foot switches, and pressure, temperature, and float switches. Covers control panel wiring and special applications.
TPC 210 - Electrical Troubleshooting Skills
Covers use of schematic diagrams, determining sequence of operation, and use of building diagrams and single-line diagrams. Includes troubleshooting procedures for control circuits and combination starters. Explains troubleshooting practices on DC and AC motors, identifying unmarked leads on three-phase delta and Y-connected motors, and troubleshooting lighting systems.
TPC 280 - Safety, Calibration and Testing Procedures
Covers the responsibilities of employer, employee, and regulatory agencies in maintaining safety. Discusses ways of identifying and handling chemical, electrical, biological, radiation, and mechanical hazards. Discusses importance of maintenance (including calibration) and proper record keeping. Describes use of common electrical and electronic test instruments. Offers guidelines for handling heavy equipment, decontaminating and servicing pneumatic and hydraulic equipment, and troubleshooting.