The guy you talked to at that lineman's school is full of shit as far as getting into an apprenticeship program! He says that because that's how they make money! They will promise you a job when you graduate, give you a half ass diploma (that you can use for toilet paper), blah, blah, blah! It's a waste of time and money!
Learn what a lineman does, learn knots, learn simple transformer hook ups. You can get all of that online. And when you go in to have your interview, be honest and tell the men in the room that you are looking for a carrer not just a job making big money!!! And yes, study for that aptitude test because if you don't pass it you won't get interviewed! You might have experience leading a team but that will not count in the interview room and might not count for 5 years. Be willing to learn, don't go in there bragging that I can do this and that! And if you get a job, keep your mouth shut and your ears open!! There is nothing worse than a big mouth apprentice. I ran a lot of them off!!!