Southwest Texas College brings powerline training to Del Rio

Southwest Texas College has brought its Powerline Technician Program to Del Rio, giving Val Verde County residents a local route into one of the region’s better-paying skilled trades.

The program runs 13 weeks and combines nine weeks of linemen-specific classroom and field work with four weeks of truck-driver training for a Class A CDL. Graduates receive a Southwest Texas College certificate in Lineman Training, take Texas Department of Transportation written and driving tests for the CDL, and can leave with First Aid/CPR, OSHA 10 and forklift certifications. The college says those credentials qualify students for entry-level work as lineman’s apprentices.

That matters in a county where students often have to leave town for technical training. Southwest Texas College said the class was coming to the Del Rio campus, and its Workforce Training & Development Division serves an 11-county area, which makes the program a regional workforce pipeline rather than a one-campus offering. Interested residents were directed to the division at (830) 758-4124 for more information, and the college said spots in the class were limited.

The Del Rio expansion follows a steady buildout of the program. In February 2025, AEP Texas donated eight utility poles to strengthen hands-on training. College officials also said the goal was to expand and enhance the program on a full-time basis at the Del Rio and Eagle Pass campuses. Tony Arce, AEP manager of external affairs, was described by the college as instrumental in developing the program and continuing to support its growth.

The timing also lines up with a broader push to add more technical training in Del Rio. A local report in March said Southwest Texas College was launching powerline, construction science and welding programs, with the first class set to begin in mid-April. Another update said classes began April 13, 2026, meaning the powerline track moved from announcement to active training quickly.

For students weighing the payoff, the trade leads into a field with real demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says electrical power-line installers and repairers typically complete apprenticeships or similar training, and reported a median annual wage of $92,560 in May 2024. In practical terms, that puts Southwest Texas College’s Del Rio program squarely at the point where classroom instruction meets regional hiring, utility work and apprenticeship openings that can keep graduates employed close to home.