Training Technicians: Recruiting for Tomorrow
Lu Baker
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If your local high school community collage has a collision repair training program, there is no shortage of reasons why it makes sense for you to play a role, however small in helping, these program 
s continue and improve. Why?
First, the industry does so desperately needs the entry level technicians these schools train. It seems the 1-CAR Education Foundation; these schools produce more than 6,300 of the new technicians hired each year. That is about 25 percent of the technicians needed to replace those retiring, moving into non-technical positions, or leaving the industry for other reasons. The industry's technician shortage problems would only be exacerbated.
Second, improving a local training program would give it an ability to turn out "technicians" rather than just the hobbyist who may never enter the industry but might continue to practice on the vehicles at home, siphoning work that might had otherwise made it to a legitimate shop.
Third, successful training programs are able to place a high percentage of their graduates into the industry, a fact that in turn helps the programs attract and then recruit new students. Without really good schools "marketing" the industry to potential students, even fewer people will learn about the opportunities in the industry. Then lastly, getting involved with a local training program can be a smart business decision for a shop. He shops that play a role in the access to the "best and brightest," these programs are producing.
If the local collision repair training program in your area is among the best or is really struggling, getting involved in one or more of the ways can help, that program help your business and the industry:
1. Help the program become NATEF certified. Just as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifies technicians, the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), as off shoot of ASE, offers a voluntary evolution and certification for mechanical and collision repair training programs.
First, the industry does so desperately needs the entry level technicians these schools train. It seems the 1-CAR Education Foundation; these schools produce more than 6,300 of the new technicians hired each year. That is about 25 percent of the technicians needed to replace those retiring, moving into non-technical positions, or leaving the industry for other reasons. The industry's technician shortage problems would only be exacerbated.
Second, improving a local training program would give it an ability to turn out "technicians" rather than just the hobbyist who may never enter the industry but might continue to practice on the vehicles at home, siphoning work that might had otherwise made it to a legitimate shop.
Third, successful training programs are able to place a high percentage of their graduates into the industry, a fact that in turn helps the programs attract and then recruit new students. Without really good schools "marketing" the industry to potential students, even fewer people will learn about the opportunities in the industry. Then lastly, getting involved with a local training program can be a smart business decision for a shop. He shops that play a role in the access to the "best and brightest," these programs are producing.
If the local collision repair training program in your area is among the best or is really struggling, getting involved in one or more of the ways can help, that program help your business and the industry:
1. Help the program become NATEF certified. Just as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifies technicians, the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), as off shoot of ASE, offers a voluntary evolution and certification for mechanical and collision repair training programs.