Rev up your career with a job as an auto technician

By Toby Chabon-Berger
Cox News Service

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Employment in the auto-repair industry is expected to grow 10 to 20 percent through 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Highly trained people who can repair and service today's high-tech automobiles have replaced the mechanics of decades past.

Palm Beach Community College's program for automotive technology recently went through a rigorous initial review by the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation (NATEF), a division of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Based on the review, Luis Tamayo, program manager, said, 'Our program received NATEF accreditation and designation as ASE-certified.'

The ASE certification is a nationally recognized standard for programs offered by high schools, postsecondary trade schools, technical institutes and community colleges that train automotive-service technicians.

Some automobile manufacturers provide ASE-certified instruction programs with service equipment and current-model cars, on which students practice new skills and learn the latest technology. This is the case at PBCC.

ASE certification, while voluntary, does indicate that the program meets all standards and criteria for instructional facilities, equipment, staff credentials and curriculum. To ensure that programs keep up with ever-changing technology, repair techniques and ASE standards, the certified programs are subjected to periodic compliance reviews and mandatory recertification. (So are the ASE standards.)

"Certification will help us obtain scholarships to recruit new students as well as enhance program donations, both monetary and with newer-model-vehicle donations. As automotive-service technology advances, our students must be able to service, diagnose and repair the newest vehicles on the market. Having this certification will provide those opportunities through industry donations," Tamayo added.

Other noteworthy highlights at PBCC, according to Tamayo:

• All of the recent graduates from the Diesel Technology Program are currently employed in the heavy-truck or marine-diesel industry.
• Local members of the Diesel Technology Partnership Council, Kelly Tractor-Caterpillar, Freightliners of South Florida, Panatropic Power-Caterpillar, Reichten International Trucks, Florida Detroit Diesel and Palm Truck Inc. donated more than $70,000 worth of equipment.

Graduates of the PBCC courses can be found at Comax Auto Store, Lexus of Palm Beach, Braman BMW, CarMax, Land Rover and Schumacher Saab.

Daniel Ward, who graduated at the top of the 2006 class, works at Ryder Truck Rental in West Palm Beach. Fellow graduate Alan Burroughs, also among the top graduates, is beginning his career at Panatropic Power Caterpillar Marine in West Palm Beach.

"At Lincoln Institute of Technology in West Palm Beach, exciting renovations are taking place. The auto-technology certificate and degree programs will be housed in new classrooms with the latest computer technology," said Bob Laquerre, dean.

The instructors are ASE-certified and employ industry-standard techniques and industry-standard tools to complete all levels of student comprehensive training to prepare them for Automotive Service Excellence certification.

Laquerre added, 'Upon successful completion of the diploma program, students have the option of upgrading their diploma to an associate of applied science degree. The AAS program is designed to develop our students' strengths to assist in both their personal and professional growth.'

The AAS program also includes additional student exposure in the areas of engine drivability and computerized engine controls. The increasing sophistication of automotive technology requires working with computerized shop equipment and electronic components — while maintaining skills with traditional hand tools.

Courses in electronics, physics, chemistry, English, computers and mathematics also are standard for those planning a career as a service technician.

This career path also will include additional training and professional development. Experienced automotive-service technicians attend manufacturers' training centers to learn to repair new models, to receive special training in the repair of components, or to upgrade skills to increase the employees' value to the employer. Factory representatives also visit many shops to conduct short training sessions.