Education · 1 of 4
The path
There is no school to finish first. You get hired, then trained.
- 1
Finish high school
Grade 12
A diploma or an equivalency certificate is what most mines ask for. Mechanical and electrical shop classes help you get picked.
- 2
Get hired
Weeks to months
Apply directly at mine offices and at the big operators. A clean driving record, a drug test and being willing to work nights matter more than grades.
- 3
New miner training
About 40 hours
Federal rules under the Mine Safety and Health Administration require classroom and underground training, roughly a week of it, before you work alone underground.
- 4
State certification
Days to weeks
Coal states run their own card systems. West Virginia, for example, runs 40 hour and 80 hour certified training courses through its state mining office.
- 5
Qualify on equipment
6 months to 2 years
Task training on each machine you run, signed off by the mine. Shuttle car, scoop, roof bolter, continuous miner, each is its own sign off.