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degree program and certi cate programs that pre- pare students for certi cation in Maintenance and Light Repair, Automotive Service Technician, or Mas- ter Automobile Service Technology designations. Bill King, provost of the Technical Campus, said accreditation was an important step in the Automo- tive Technology program’s development. “This accreditation is an indicator of how seriously we take providing industry-standard training,” King said in a statement. Prior to the pandemic, it was already a tough indus- try to ll positions, said Brent Franks, president with the North Texas Automobile Dealers, which serves multiple counties, including Collin. It is a challenge that has remained constant, as workers in this indus- try are “essential,” he said. “Our communities are so spread out,” Franks said. “We need to have quali ed technicians to x our vehicles to maintain our ability to get our kids to school and to go to work,” he said. A growing problem Collin College has several industry partners for its automotive technical program, including North Texas Automobile Dealers. To earn certi cations, students must complete at least one internship in an automotive-related job, Elias said. Partners are often reaching out to the college asking if students are available for help, he said. “The demand for technicians is very high,” Alba said. “We have people that are retiring or leaving or left the workforce, so you can say our partners are kind of desperate, and they need a lot of technicians.” Data from the Texas Workforce Commission shows job postings for automotive technicians were one of the top listings in Collin County with 268 postings between January-July of this year. Only two other job post categories had more than that with retail trade at 641 postings and “other services” with 1,187 postings. The top two cities in the county posting automo- tive tech job openings were Plano and McKinney. Texas Workforce Commission data shows an entry- level position can earn a salary of $28,626 with an average wage of $50,224. Technician shortages end up costing drivers more time, data shows. According to the CCC study, from
CHARTING a course A career in auto tech can start immediately after high school and o er a multitude of opportunities.
in automotive technology Most automotive dealerships use a tiered system. Here are some basic guidelines to them. LEVELING UP
Entry level • Tasks may include basic maintenance • Estimated annual wage: $28,626
Students can choose to take some automotive courses while still in high school.
Students receive certi cations after high school. This can be done through private
or public entities.
Associated tech • In the process of completing training • Performs general maintenance and most repairs • Estimated wage: $50,224
Students receive training with an original equipment manufacturer or a dealer.
Collin College cost: $1,960
2019-21 the time between the start and completion of a repair increased 2.1 days. It is also taking longer to get an appointment to bring a vehicle in for repairs with 96% of the shops in the study reporting in 2021 they had backlogs of two weeks. “A work shortage would mean people won’t be able to get their cars xed, their re engines xed, their emergency vehicles xed,” Franks said. A changing industry Ewing Automotive Group has three dealerships in Plano, including Ewing Buick GMC on West Plano Parkway. The dealership o ers a range of service and repair options for drivers in Plano and Frisco, accord- ing to its website. Je Gaden, general manager at Ewing Buick GMC, said he believes Collin College’s Automotive Technology Program is going to bene t area dealerships and service providers. “We were very pleased to hear that they were going to be in our backyard and o er the program,” Gaden said. “I actually went out and toured the campus, and it’s a great facility.” With sta ng shortages being reported nationwide, Naeim Fard, manager of Luxur Automotive on Ohio
Specialized master • Mastered most vehicle systems and can train others • Able to accurately diagnose and repair vehicles • Mastered all vehicle systems and has leadership potential • May specialize in a certain system • Estimated wage: $61,022+
SOURCES: NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION, TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
by software as a service platform for the insurance industry CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. But with its program and its accreditation, Collin College is training up a new generation of technicians to serve Collin County and cities like Plano. “Our classes are in high demand,” said Elias Alba, Collin College’s interim director of automotive and collision technology. “Our classes lled up so quickly I had to open up a new section.” The Automotive Technology program o ers a full
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