Motorcycle Technician Training Puts You In The Fast Lane to a Successful Career

If you’ve ever driven a motorcycle or been a passenger on the back of one, you’ll know the free feeling as the motorcycle cruises effortlessly down the highway or the adrenaline when it gains speed. You’ll also know the importance of ensuring that the motorbike has been properly inspected for any electronic or electrical problems. Professionals who have obtained motorcycle technician training are responsible for working on everything from electric mopeds and motor scooters to dirt bikes and cruisers. Overall, they must: diagnose, repair and service electronic and electrical systems of these vehicles. More specifically, motorcycle technicians are responsible for: repairing or replacing parts, rewiring ignition systems, realigning breaks and replacing shock absorbers, mending a damaged body or fender. These people work at automotive or motorcycle repair shops, service stations, motorcycle manufacturing companies or dealers. And, with 100,000 motorbikes registered in the province of Ontario alone, there is a need for trained professionals. In fact, motorcycles are part of a growing trend in North America that is seeing an increased number of them on the road.

At Centennial College, students can undertake the Motorcycle Technician program, which is under the School of Transportation umbrella. This means that it is housed in Ashtonbee Campus, the province’s largest transportation training centre. The training centre includes fully equipped labs in which students work on actual motorcycles during the two eight-week college sessions. Also during the on-campus sessions of the motorcycle technician training, students attend lectures and are guided by experienced professionals who have worked many years in the motorcycle technician field. Topics include: engines, power trains, electrical systems, fuel systems and more. In addition, during the in-school motorcycle technician training, students may be able to qualify for income support through Employment Insurance Canada benefits or a training allowance. Once in-school sessions and on the job requirements are completed, students write a certificate to become a licensed motorcycle technician.

To apply for the undertaking, one must have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, which is actually required for all apprenticeship programs. He or she must also be employed as an apprentice. However, it is not possible to apply directly to the college or ontariocolleges.ca for admission to this apprenticeship program. For general information about apprenticeship registration, please contact the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Roy King, an instructor in the program, explains how registration works: “In order to enter the program, you must have a job at a motorcycle dealer. It is a restricted trade in the sense that in order to work on the products, you have to be licensed or be a registered apprentice. You’ll go through a certain amount of time (roughly three years) for an apprenticeship. And within that apprenticeship, on the job you’ll then be scheduled in by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities into one of our two sessions of the in-school portion of your apprenticeship.” For more information on the motorcycle technician school application process, check out the admission webpage on Centennial College’s site.