Classes for the 2026 Fall semester are full Now accepting applications for upcoming cohorts Employer-sponsored seats — $0 tuition with a work commitment Apply for the next cohort →

From application to career, step by step

Every CUTI program follows the same path. Learn the theory, prove it in the field, then get paid to practice. Step into a job arranged before you started.

Four phases, one outcome

A newly accepted applicant smiling with arms crossed

Admission

Apply through our website. Sponsored seats have no fees.

Two crew members in hi-vis training over a laptop on site

In-class / in-field

Lectures plus field practice with your instructor mirror your future career, paid fully or partially.

Practicum trainee in hi-vis checking a laptop on a job site

Paid practicum

Practice everything you've learned on real projects. Your practicum manager evaluates you and pays you for it.

A locator's boots beside fresh paint marks on a locate route

Job opportunity

Complete the practicum and move into full-time work at higher pay.

A typical program, week by week

Based on our Utility Locating & Damage Prevention certification. Weeks vary by program.

Training is paid

For sponsored students, training pay starts around week two, near the practicum rate. Without sponsorship, training is unpaid.

  1. W1–2

    In-class learning

    Theory and the knowledge needed for field exercises.

  2. W2–3

    Written exams

    Written exams test your knowledge before field training. You need 80% to advance.

  3. W3–4

    Supervised field training

    Apply your in-class knowledge in the field with a senior trainer. A pass–fail exam concludes this stage.

  4. W5–6

    Unsupervised field training

    You complete independent field work that shows what you've learned. Results determine certification.

  5. W7+

    Paid practicum / co-op

    A 3-month (12-week) paid practicum that CUTI arranges with our clients.

What these careers pay in the US

$22+/hr
Utility locating
US industry average, 2026
$25/hr
Construction & excavation
BLS median wage, 2025
$26/hr
Surveying & mapping
BLS median wage, 2025
$35.73/hr
Telecom line installers
BLS median — $74,330 a year

How pay works during the program

Training pay starts about two weeks in for sponsored students

Practicum 3 months, paid throughout by your partner employer

Full-time employment a higher rate after the practicum

The hatched band is bonus work — most partner employers offer it: extra work, extra pay. Bars show how pay progresses, not amounts; your exact rate is set with your sponsoring employer. Market medians above: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025.

Tuition & fees

With employer sponsorship
$0
In-class & in-field components
Covered
Without sponsorship
Self-paid

Sponsorship means completing the 3-month paid practicum plus a 3-month work commitment.

Financial hardship: Without sponsorship, we can discuss accommodations with proof of hardship.

Choose your path

You apply

$0 tuition
№ PATH-01

Sponsored by a vetted employer

Your employer covers all costs and offers a job right after you finish.

  • Complete 3 months of paid practicum
  • Complete 3 months of full-time employment
  • After the 6 months: keep working there, or pursue any opportunity
Employer paid
№ PATH-02

Fund the program yourself

You cover all program costs. You're free to pursue any career, with no work commitment.

  • Same training, same certification
  • No work commitment after graduating
  • Financial-hardship accommodations may be available
Self-paid

Admission requirements

CUTI requires no prior experience. We lower the barrier of entry for all trainees.

  • High-school diploma or equivalentincluding Grade 12 English
  • Must be age 18+ with authorization to work
  • Valid driver's licence with a clean driving recorda full licence is preferred
  • Intermediate computer skillsif yours are basic, we help
  • Ability to distinguish between colours for marked utilitieswhen in-field and using mapping tools
  • Ability to carry up to 15 lbs
  • Ability to work outside in different conditions
  • Some employers request additional requirements before paid practicumscriminal background check, drug testing, and other physical standards
CUTI accepts applications year-round, with multiple start dates. Cohort spots are limited — apply at least 7 days before your start date.

Ready to start earning while learning?

Pick your program, apply, and let us arrange the rest.

Apply today → Browse programs