Education
Find Schools
Ready to start your educational journey toward an energy career? If you are looking for a high school, technical college, four-year university, or community run program that offers energy education, check out the schools in our Energy Education Program Locator. These programs work with local energy companies to provide education pathways that can lead to high-paying, rewarding careers in the energy sector. Using the search function, discover which educators are located in your state, their employer partners, the programs they offer, and where you can find more information.
Find Schools Offering Energy Programs Near You
Apprenticeships
There are a variety of ways to start an energy career. Apprenticeships are excellent entry points for individuals seeking employment in one of the industry’s skilled trades as they provide on-the-job training, skills development, and mentoring. Apprentices progress through a series of practical lessons and experiences, earning increased responsibilities (and pay) as they advance through development milestones. Apprenticeships offer high-quality career pathways for employees, allowing them to receive instruction, a portable credential, and generally a paid work experience. There are HUNDREDS of apprenticeships available in the energy industry. We need thinkers and tinkerers. We need outdoor enthusiasts, doers, gadgeteers, creators, and fixers.
Pre-employment Testing
Pre-employment testing is a common requirement for energy companies. This means that for many energy industry jobs, especially those technical in nature, individuals must pass a written or computerized test in order to go through the entire employment qualification process with an energy employer.
These batteries may include the following, which are the most common administered by utilities:
- Plant Operator Selection System (POSS)
- Power Plant Maintenance Selection System (MASS)
- Construction and Skilled Trades Selection System (CAST)
- Technician Occupations Selection System (TECH)
- System Operator/Power Dispatching Positions Selection System (SO/PD II)
- Plant Operator Selection System (POSS)
- Power Plant Maintenance Selection System (MASS)
- Construction and Skilled Trades Selection System (CAST)
- Technician Occupations Selection System (TECH)
- System Operator/Power Dispatching Positions Selection System (SO/PD II)
Click here for detailed information provided by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) about each of these batteries.
It is important to ensure you are ready and prepared for the pre-employment test since if you do not pass the appropriate pre-employment test, there is a waiting period to re-take the test.
EEI Practice Tests
To help increase your success, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) has developed practice tests. Click here and log in using the following information:
username: giepractice | password: testing
Get Into Energy Test Prep
A CEWD member may be offering in-person Get Into Energy Test Prep in your area. To find out, reach out to the testing coordinator at the utility where you are applying for a job.
Get Into Energy Test Prep is an approximately 20-25-hour program, specifically for the CAST, MASS, or POSS test. The focus would be on several of the following areas:
- Understanding mathematical usage
- Understanding mechanical concepts
- Spatial reasoning (assembling objects)
- Figural reasoning
- Reading comprehension
- Graphic arithmetic
Test Prep Resources
CEWD has compiled test prep resources to help you brush up on several skill areas related to energy pre-employment testing.
Math Computation & Basic Algebra
- To build on required math competencies needed to solve mathematical usage problems on the pre-employment tests, click here for quizzes and online instruction.
Reading
CEWD has select passages from its Energy Industry Fundamentals course for the Get Into Energy Test Prep site to provide students with the opportunity to read energy industry-related passages.