Upper Midwest Metering Association
Bismarck State College has partnered with the Upper Midwest Metering Association to offer the Meter Technician Apprenticeship Program. This apprenticeship program is comprised of non-credit courses that are offered in a flexible, online format that enables you to maintain your work schedule.
Meter Technician Apprenticeship Program Course Information
| Instruction |
Self-study, non-instructor led |
| Schedule |
Open enrollment anytime |
| Course Access |
Participants will have access to the course until June 30. All registrations received the month of June will have access until June 30 of the following year. The participant will have access to the course within three (3) working days after registration. |
| Course Availability |
Anytime, anywhere Internet is available |
| Testing |
Completed Online |
| Cost |
$300-350/course |
| Course Registration and Payment |
Course registration and payment is completed entirely online. CLICK HERE to register for the course(s). You will register for the courses located in the Upper Midwest Metering Association category. Required books can be ordered under the Books category. Participants will be emailed and registered for the courses within 3 business days. |
| Questions |
Bismarck State College at 701.224.5651 or by email at bsc.energytraining@bismarckstate.edu. |
Recommended Course Sequence
YEAR 1
APP 109 - Safety I
MMAT 105 - Hand and Portable Tools
APP 111 - Math I
APP 106 - Basic Electricity 1
APP 165 - Using Line Test Equipment
YEAR 2
APP 150 - Reading Electrical Diagrams I
APP 112 - Math II
TPC 205 - Electrical Safety and Protection
APP 180 - Introduction to Metering
YEAR 3
APP 108 - Basic Electricity 2
APP 110 - Safety II
APP 181 - Instrument Transformers and Polyphase Metering 1 and 2
APP 160 - Introduction to Transmission and Distribution Systems
YEAR 4
TPC 110 - Developing Troubleshooting Skills
APP 119 - Troubleshooting & Emergency Repair of DC/AC Systems and Equipment
APP 175 - Current Transformer Testing
APP 182 - Watthour Meter Principles
APP 137 - Power Quality
ELPW Renewable Energy Sources and the Smart Grid
ELPW Operation Considerations for the Smart Grid
Course Descriptions
APP 109 - Safety I
This course covers the general safety practices and information employees need while working in any segment of the electrical industry, and the Federal Agencies responsible for insuring a safe working environment. Students will also gain an understanding of the Workers Right to Know regulations and awareness of Public Safety issues. Textbook Required.
MMAT 105 - Hand and Portable Tools
This course covers the most important hand tools used on the job. Examines the various kinds of wrenches and screwdrivers, their uses and handling techniques, pipefitting tools, plumbing tools, electrician's tools, sheet metal working tools, machinists' metal-working tools. Explains the uses, selection, safety and care of industrial power tools: Electric drills, electric hammers, pneumatic drills and hammers, screwdrivers, nut runners, wrenches, linear-motion and circular saws, routers and planes, electric sanders, grinders, and shears. Covers tool sharpening techniques for selected tools.
APP 111 - Math I
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. Textbook Required.
APP 106 - Basic Electricity 1
This course covers basic direct current theories and applies those theories to the electrical system and related equipment. Students will study methods of producing a voltage, such as batteries, magnetic fields, basic series and parallel circuits. Students will also study basic DC circuit calculations. Textbook Required.
APP 165 - Using Line Test Equipment
This course will identify types of line test equipment commonly used in the field, demonstrate how to use ammeters, voltmeters, and voltage testers and describe the types of readings expected from ammeters, voltmeters, and voltage testers.
APP 150 - Reading Electrical Diagrams I
This course gives students an introduction to the different schematics used in power plant operations and electrical transmission and distribution systems. Students will gain an understanding of the standard symbols used in the various systems schematics and how to read them. Students learn how to read basic piping and instrumentation diagrams, and how to interpret single line electrical diagrams. Students finish the course by studying electrical system diagrams beginning at the generator and following through to the distribution system.
APP 112 - Math II
This course will cover algebra, geometry, and trigonometry needed for energy technicians working in the electrical system design and metering specialization areas. This course will cover the fundamental concepts of algebra, equations, functions and graphs. This course will also cover trigonometric functions, laws of sines and cosines and vectors. Lastly the course will discuss analytic geometry. Textbook Required.
APP 119 - Troubleshooting & 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. Below will go over the course outcomes and what you should learn throughout this course. Textbook Required.
TPC 205 - Electrical Safety and Protection
Examines electrical hazards and stresses the importance of electrical safety. Cover the equipment and procedures necessary to work safely with electricity, including PPE, lockout/tagout, and first aid. Explain the importance of grounding. Describe many kinds of fuses, circuit breakers, and motor protection devices and their uses. Textbook Required.
APP 180 - Introduction to Metering
In this course the student will study the basics of metering, such as terminology and the electrical principles by which meters function. Students will learn the basic mathematic calculations using trigonometric functions, complex numbers and the polar and rectangular forms of vectors that are needed in metering, and will review basic electricity and magnetism principles. They will be introduced to various meter diagrams and standards that have been developed for them. Textbook Required.
APP 108 - Basic Electricity 2
This course covers basic alternating current theories and applies those theories to electrical systems and related equipment. Students will also study basic generator and motor design, construction and operating principles. Textbook Required.
APP 110 - Safety II
This course focuses on specific safety practices of the industry. Students begin by studying general practices, such as confined space entry, lock-out tag out procedures, fall protection, fire safety and working with hazardous materials. Students also learn some specific safety procedures used by linemen, such as proper bucket truck operation, and some techniques used when working with electrical conductors. Finally, students learn some of the specific considerations that must be adhered to as an electrical system dispatcher to ensure the safety of line crews and technicians working on the electrical system.
APP 181 - Instrument Transformers and Polyphase Metering 1 and 2
This course will introduce students to various metering system designs and application options. The student will study the metering system components, associated wiring configurations and instrument transformer variations. Topics will include ratio, burden, and correction factor calculations; functional testing, and calibration procedures as well as safe installation procedures. Also included are cogeneration metering, and principles of load management and associated equipment. Textbook Required.
APP 160 - Introduction to Transmission and Distribution Systems
This course will begin with a look at several types of power generation stations, such as large fossil fired power plants, hydroelectric power plants, gas turbine and combined cycle generating stations and finally a brief look at wind generation. After the introduction to power generation, students will study how the power is delivered from the power station to the consumer. This course will cover transmission lines and related components within a typical transmission system, such as step-up and step-down transformers, circuit breakers, disconnects and protective relaying.
TPC 110 - Developing Troubleshooting Skills
Explore the subject of troubleshooting and the importance of proper maintenance procedures. Covers working with others, aids in communication, and trade responsibilities. Outlines troubleshooting techniques and aids, using schematics and symbols. Focus on specific maintenance tasks, breakdown maintenance, and planned maintenance. Textbook Required.
APP 175 - Current Transformer Testing
This course will cover the functions of a current transformer, describe common current transformer applications in a substation and describe the construction of common substation current transformers. In addition the course will explain the steps for demagnetizing a current transformer, complete ratio testing and describe the voltage method of checking the full wining ratio and tapped winding ratios of a current transformer.
APP 182 - Watthour Meter Principles
The course will include a brief history of the development of the watt-hour meter and introduce students to single-phase metering and polyphase metering. This will encompass meter theory, design, adjustments, compensations, and applications. The topics of this course also include power factor analyzers, demand meter theory, demand registers, and the testing and maintenance of thermal demand meters. Textbook Required.
APP 137 - Power Quality
This course is designed to provide a brief overview of the subject of Power Quality. The student should come away with a limited understanding of some of the sources and issues related to power quality.
Renewable Energy Sources and the Smart Grid
Operation Considerations for the Smart Grid