Warren Henry And MDC Launch Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship Program
Miami Dade College and the Warren Henry Auto Group launched a registered apprenticeship program last month, aiming to address a shortage of service technicians in the automotive industry.
Eighteen apprentices will participate in the program’s inaugural cohort of automotive service technicians. They began work on June 6 and are expected to graduate in two years.
The initiative, which has been in the works since last October, is supported by CareerSource South Florida and Miami Community Ventures at the Miami Dade Beacon Council.
“We are attempting to meet the needs of our students and the community,” said Alexia Rolle, the director of career and technical education at MDC.
Apprentices in the program will learn how to inspect and repair vehicles through classroom instruction and hands-on training. They will first learn to perform basic automotive services such as oil changes or replacing headlights. Then, they will be taught more developed practices such as pulling an engine, replacing brakes and repairing a transmission.
During the program, participants are considered full-time employees and are paid an entry-level wage of $18 an hour that increases to $20 by the end of the program.
Apprentices’ tuition, textbooks and health insurance are covered by the program. In addition, they each receive a laptop and a mechanic toolkit valued at more than $3,000 that includes wrenches, ratchets, pliers and measuring tools.
The cohort is split into two groups. The north cohort attends in-person classes and hands-on training on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Warren Henry Auto Group dealership in North Miami. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the south cohort attends classes at Kendall Campus and later does training at the South Dade Land Rover dealership in Cutler Bay.
“This is an amazing opportunity,” said 38-year-old Estenio Morales, one of the participants in the program. “Once we’re done with this program the possibilities are endless.”
The classroom component of the apprenticeship follows a 936-hour state-mandated curriculum that is divided into eight different sections. Each portion teaches participants how basic car parts such as the engine, transmission, suspension and brakes work.
After completing each competency, the apprentices take a test to receive certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
Graduates of the program also receive a national credential certification from the Florida Department of Education and have the option to continue working at the Warren Henry Auto Group as an automotive service technician.
“This is a stepping stone for them to get in their career,” said David Rich, the program’s only technician apprenticeship instructor.
To apply for the next cohort, visit https://bit.ly/3z5hx0d. Applicants have to be 18 years or older, be eligible to work in the United States and undergo an interview process with the Warren Henry Auto Group.
“It’s important for us to continue to listen to the needs of our industry and our students,” Rolle said.
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