Meridian Technology Center partnered with USIC to launch the Underground Utility Locator program. Meridian is the first school in the state to pilot this program.

The class equips people with the skills needed for a career in utility locating.

There are more than 20 million miles of utility lines—water, gas, electricity and telecommunication lines. All of them are the vital lifelines to American homes and businesses. This program teaches students to locate underground utility lines to prevent damage to them during excavation and prevent safety hazards.

“There’s a lot of risk when it comes to digging and not knowing what’s concealed underground,” said program instructor Zachary Conley.

The Underground Utility Locator program gives participants the skills they need to succeed. They have access to all the locating equipment they need for the course and are provided a work truck, cell phone, and tablet upon being hired by USIC. Students who are 18 years of age are eligible to be hired by the company on a part-time basis during their second semester of the program.

“Students come here and get a full school year of instruction and training with significant one-one-one time with instructors, which helps them be successful once they are in the field,” said program instructor Francisco Chavez.

Utility Locating

The program offers a comprehensive curriculum. The students receive hands-on training with cutting-edge technologies employed in the industry.

Kaleb Timmons, a senior at Stillwater High School, was in Meridian’s Welding program last year. This year he decided to switch to the Underground Utility Locator program.

“This is a new program, so it’s exciting to be at the start of it,” Timmons said. “I also like that we have the opportunity to work part-time the second semester.”

A career with USIC allows people the flexibility to work from anywhere in the country. Timmons is excited to travel and grow with the company.

“There’s an entire niche market that many young adults don’t know about. You can make decent money, and your career can take off,” Conley said.

For more information about the program visit meridiantech.edu/underground-utility-locating-technician/.

Meridian Technology Center has been a driver of economic development since 1975. With a mission to educate, enrich lives and secure economic futures, Meridian offers full-time career training programs, short courses, workforce and economic development assistance and entrepreneurial support to residents from the Agra, Carney, Glencoe, Guthrie, Morrison, Mulhall-Orlando, Pawnee, Perkins-Tryon, Perry and Stillwater school districts. The school has locations in Stillwater and Guthrie. Meridian is one of 29 schools within Oklahoma’s CareerTech system.

For more information or to enroll, visit meridiantech.edu or contact a career counselor by phone at (405) 377-3333 or toll-free at (888) 607-2509.