Kalamazoo Valley’s Groves Campus to Launch Cell Tower Academy in April

As cellular telephone networks continue to expand, so do the employment opportunities for cell tower technicians. Cell tower technicians climb the face of telecommunications/cellular towers to install, test, maintain, repair and remove a variety of radio frequency and antenna equipment. Currently there is a critical shortage of cell tower technicians and demand is expected to remain high for the next six to 10 years. To meet this demand, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is launching the area’s first training academy for cell tower technicians. The first class at the Cell Tower Technician Academy will begin in mid-April 2015.

Classes will run full-time, Monday through Friday for six weeks at the Groves Campus. The $3,200 registration fee includes a tool set valued at $1,400 that graduates will take with them when they leave the program.

“The industry needs people who have an interest in working at heights, have the ability to travel extensively and are dedicated to a safe working environment,” said Elizabeth Lyons, director of career academies for Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Skilled tower technicians have excellent job security and are competitively recruited by companies who provide services to the telecom industry.”

The average wage for an experienced tower technician is about $20-$23 per hour and entry-level technicians earn an average of $13-$16 to start, Lyons said. Hourly wages are supplemented with per diem pay for hotel accommodations and daily expenses as well as opportunities for overtime. Most companies provide merit raises based on job performance and the attainment of industry related training and certifications.

The Cell Tower Technician Academy was developed by industry employers who are eager to hire graduates. Students who complete the training will leave the 6-week program well prepared for employment. Representatives from Newkirk Electric, a 52-year-old electrical construction and engineering firm headquartered in Muskegon, Michigan gave input about the curriculum and also donated a cell tower that will be used for training in the Academy.

“Newkirk Electric is excited to be involved with the Cell Tower Technician Academy at Kalamazoo Valley Community College,” said Mary Carter, development director and co-owner of Newkirk Electric. “There is a great need for this type of focused, comprehensive and formal training in the cellular tower industry in addition to the individual contractors, manufacturers and industry associations who provide training today. This program will allow new candidates to start a job with the fundamental skills needed to work in this industry. It will also provide contractors with an invaluable source for trained and committed talent, not just with technical skills, but also with the soft skills, such as organization and time management, needed to succeed in this demanding industry.”

Students will be trained in electrical and mechanical fundamentals, as well as the proper handling, installation and maintenance of equipment. The program includes structured classroom learning and hands-on, practical application of skills in the learning lab. Trainees are expected to be self-directed individuals who enjoy the challenge of learning through practice and muscle memory. The material is presented as building blocks allowing more complex activities to take place each week.

Graduates of the Cell Tower Technician Academy earn a certificate of completion from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Trainees will be tested on their knowledge and abilities through written and practical examinations. A transcript of competencies is awarded to each student, outlining the specific competencies they demonstrate.

The Cell Tower Technician Academy accepts trainees into the program based on a screening process that is much like the requirements of industry employers. The application process identifies trainees with pre-requisite knowledge and experience needed to be successful in the academy and to assure graduates have the skills, characteristics and capabilities employers require to hire. To make sure the Academy is a good fit for applicants, they will have a chance to climb a cell tower before being admitted to the course.

A certain level of mathematical ability is required of cell tower technicians. These abilities are typically demonstrated in a first year Algebra course in high school. Applicants will be required to pass a math assessment before acceptance into the program.

For more information or to apply to the program, call Phone: 269.353.1286, email careeracademies@kvcc.edu or go to KVCCCellTech.