DC Infrastructure Academy: Pepco Utility, CDL and IT Training for District Residents

WASHINGTON, DC — Tucked a few blocks from the Anacostia Metro, the DC Infrastructure Academy is one of the District's most direct routes from no experience to a hard-hat career. The Department of Employment Services program trains District residents for utility, construction, commercial driving and IT work, and its Pepco Utility Training Program pays a stipend while you learn.

Pepco line-work training, CDL Class B, network and cybersecurity tracks, all run out of one office on Shannon Place SE. Here is who qualifies, how intake works and where to aim your job search while you wait for a seat.

Ready to search? Jump to the utility, CDL and IT job links →

📍 At a Glance

Program	DC Infrastructure Academy (DCIA), run with the DC Department of Employment Services
Location	2201 Shannon Place SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20020 (Anacostia Metro)
Office hours	Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM; bring a valid ID
Tracks	Pepco Utility Training, Energy Construction and Utility, CDL Class B, IT (CCNA and CompTIA Security+)
First step	Free virtual information session, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 AM
Pepco track	14 weeks, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM weekdays, stipend paid
Eligibility	Verified District residents; the Pepco track adds age, license and screening rules
Contact	202-899-6040 or dcia@dc.gov

What the DC Infrastructure Academy Trains You For

The flagship is the Pepco Utility Training Program, a 14-week course in safety, math, mechanical skills, electrical theory, line work and physical conditioning, with hands-on time in the academy's utility training yard. Graduates leave with OSHA-10, Flagger and CPR/First Aid credentials, and the academy says some may be offered jobs in the energy field. Contractors listed as program partners include Fort Myer Construction, Anchor Construction, Utility Lines Construction Services and AUI Power.

The CDL Class B course covers federal motor carrier safety rules, vehicle inspection, air brakes and defensive driving. Class B covers dump trucks, box trucks and many city service vehicles. A separate Energy Construction and Utility Program targets construction and energy jobs regionwide.

On the tech side, the IT track offers two paths: Cisco's CCNA networking curriculum and a cybersecurity course built around CompTIA Security+. Both show up constantly in contractor-heavy DC tech postings.

⚠️ Read This Before You Apply for the Pepco Track

The utility program is the most demanding to get into, and the academy spells out the requirements. You need to be:

A verified District resident, 21 or older
A high school diploma or GED holder
Holding a valid D.C. driver's license
Able to pass pre-employment checks covering criminal background, driving record and a drug screen
Ready for strenuous physical work outdoors in any weather
Free to attend 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, for all 14 weeks

No prior experience is required. The academy has not published the stipend amount or the next cohort start date, so ask both questions during your information session. The CDL and IT pages do not list eligibility rules, length or cost; call 202-899-6040 before you plan around either one.

✅ How to Get a Seat

Intake runs in three steps, according to the academy's contact page. Sign up for a virtual information session through the academy's Eventbrite link. After the session, DCIA emails you an enrollment application. Send it back by email, and a staff member follows up with next steps. For other programs, the Department of Employment Services runs American Job Centers across the city.

Want a hiring event before you commit to training? Thursday's Jobs Not Guns recruitment fair in Southeast runs October 8 on East Capitol Street SE in Ward 7.

🔎 Where to Aim While You Wait

Training takes months. Meanwhile, these searches show what District employers in utility, construction, driving and IT want right now.

Start here:

FAQ

Who can enroll at the DC Infrastructure Academy?

The academy trains District residents. The Pepco Utility Training Program also requires applicants to be 21 or older with a diploma or GED, a valid D.C. driver's license and clean pre-employment checks.

Does the Pepco program pay?

Yes. Participants receive a stipend for the full 14 weeks. The academy has not published the amount, so ask during the information session.

Is the training free?

The information sessions are free. The academy's own pages do not state tuition for each track, so confirm cost directly with DCIA at 202-899-6040.

Do I need experience?

Not for the Pepco track, which states that no prior relevant work experience is required. You do need to be ready for physical work outdoors.

Get Hired While You Train

Create your free LocalJobPage account to save searches and get alerts when utility, construction and IT jobs post in the District, then browse every open job in Washington.

Employers: Hiring for the trades, utilities or IT in the District? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach job seekers training right here in Ward 8.