Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Enter the Automotive Service Field as a Chrysler Technician in Just Two Years

Have you always had an interest in fixing cars? Do the inner workings of a car fascinate you? Do you love cars such as the Dodge Challenger or the Chrysler 300? Do jobs like automotive service technician, service writer/advisor, service manager, instructor/professor and auto company representative sound like they may appeal to you? Have you completed at least an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or General Educational Development (GED) or equivalent? If you answered yes to these questions, you may have what it takes to apply for the Chrysler Apprenticeship (officially known as Automotive Service Technician Co-op Apprenticeship – Partnered with Chrysler Canada Inc.) at Centennial College.

Now is a great time to obtain Chrysler apprenticeship training as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job growth in Automotive Service Technology to grow by 14 percent from 2006 through 2016. When applying to Centennial College’s offering, please note that you may also be required to present a resume and transcript for faculty review. In addition, future Chrysler technicians may be required to fill out a questionnaire and attend an interview. Note that English proficiency and satisfactory results in a program admission session will also be considered during the admissions process.

Once students are accepted into the Chrysler Technician undertaking, they experience both in-school sessions and on the job training at a Chrysler dealership. This works by seeing students spend the first eight months of the program in school, eight months in co-op as a registered apprentice and a final eight months in school. Altering between on-campus and off-campus learning ensures that students are well prepared for the field and its challenges. By spending the first eight months at Ashtonbee Campus, the province’s largest transportation training centre, students are able to apply the skills they have learned during their employer session. By coming back to the school after their employer training is over, they are able to apply what they have learned in the field to the second portion of their program. It’s an ideal combination.

As part of the in-school curriculum, students train on automobile assemblies in fully-equipped campus automotive labs. They focus on Chrysler product component design and repair, as it applies to the apprenticeship curriculum. In addition, they take courses in automotive trade business, English and general education that will help prepare them for employment opportunities in a dealership administrative role. Specific courses included in the Chrysler apprenticeship, include: Work Place Practices & Procedures, Engine Systems, Drive Train Systems, Suspension/Steering & Brakes, Electrical/Electronics & Emissions, Occupational Health & Safety; College Communications; Autobody Estimating and more.

Once students graduate, they can take on a number of roles that include automotive service technician, service writer/advisor, service manager, instructor/professor and auto company representative. As a Chrysler technician duties include: diagnosing problems using Chrysler diagnostic equipment; performing repairs and preventive maintenance on engines, transmissions, electrical systems, brakes and tires.

General Motors Technicians Elevate Their Careers at Centennial College

Are you currently working as an automotive apprentice at a General Motors of Canada dealership? Do you think you’re ready to take the next step in your career in becoming a General Motors technician ? If so, the ideal GM Technician training program awaits you at Centennial College.

This program, officially known as Automotive Service Technician General Motors of Canada ASEP (MAP 32), requires applicants to be currently employed as automotive apprentices at a General Motors of Canada dealership. In addition, they must possess at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or a GED or equivalent. Interested parties can apply directly to the College. Acceptance to the GM technician training is based on successful completion of all entry requirements and space is limited. It should be noted that if students are not currently General Motors employees, they may be selected through an interview process. Once they’ve been accepted, they are required to obtain an employer and register as a MAP apprentice with the Apprenticeship Branch of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Designed to offer hands-on practice, theory and real-life application, the GM Technician training sees students alternating between the college and their employers for a total of 64 weeks (32 weeks with each). This approach works well because students first have a chance to gain a foundation then apply what they have learned about GM vehicle systems, diagnosis and repair following recommended GM service procedures to real life situations. Additionally, because the offering is longer than traditional apprenticeships, students gain a more in-depth knowledge of General Motors vehicles and procedures.

Students have the advantage of the GM technician training being facilitated out of Centennial College's Ashtonbee Campus, which is Canada’s latest transportation centre. As such, students practice on real GM cars using tools they will find in the industry.

More specifically, while they are completing their in-school sessions, these General Motors technicians in training attend five specific courses: Motor Vehicle Gear Trains, Electrical/Electronics & Fuel Systems, Motor Vehicle Engine Systems, Applied Work Practices and Procedures, and Suspension/Steering and Brakes. These courses encompass all of the latest GM vehicle systems.

After gaining vital knowledge, students work with their employers and practice their new skills while being compensated for their work and setting themselves up for full-time hire.

Becoming a General Motors Technician means students enter a company that as of 2011 was considered the world’s largest automaker, by vehicle unit sales. In addition, GM employs 202,000 people and does business in some 157 countries. General Motors technicians are responsible for a variety of tasks, including: Writing vehicle damage repair estimates, repairing broken or worn mechanical components, maintaining repair and service records, installing equipment, components and systems; testing vehicles both before and after repair; and repairing electrical wiring, circuits, fixtures, brakes, transmissions, electrical systems, breaks and tires.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians Are In Demand

Did you know that as a refrigeration and air conditioning technician you will be in high demand in areas such as technical support, maintenance and installation, design, and sales and service? With today's residential central air conditioning systems up to 35 per cent more energy-efficient than those that were typically installed in the 1990s, the skills needed to fulfill these positions are evolving, as is the training one must undertake to be successful. At Centennial College, students can complete the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician offering, which takes two years to complete.

These Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning technicians are first and foremost responsible for making, installing, repairing and servicing residential, commercial and industrial cooling and heating systems. As part of their job, refrigeration and air conditioning technicians measure, cut and connect piping using welding and brazing equipment; recharge systems with refrigerant gases as required; connect rooftop units to gas, test and balance systems and connect electrical systems; adjust computerized controls; use computer software to calculate loads, and work on large machines. Some work in building maintenance, others specialize in repairing small, portable refrigeration and freezing units.

All of these skills are acquired through Centennial College's Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning courses, which result in an Ontario College Diploma credential. The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning courses are facilitated from Progress Campus, where students partake in courses such as Ethics in Technology and Environment; Acts, Regulations and Procedures; Electrical Fundamentals; Mechanical Cooling Cycle; Pipe Joining & Installation for Cooling; Systems Design and Installation; Air Conditioning and Distribution Systems and many mothers. In addition, a Capstone Project rounds out in-class training. This final project encompasses elements of everything the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning technician students have learned throughout their time in the program. A faculty member supervises this project.

As a result of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning courses, students develop skills in: maintaining, sizing and selecting equipment for air conditioning and refrigeration application; the development of refrigerants; development of equipment to meet the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) standards; efficiency standards for heating equipment; installation and service techniques; among others. Upon graduation from Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician program, students may obtain employment as heating technicians or through affiliated trade apprenticeships in plumbing, pipefitting, electrical, sheet metal or refrigeration. Apprenticeship is required after graduation, for those who wish to become tradespersons.

Applicants interested in attending Centennial College's Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Courses, are required to complete an application process. As part of this process, applicants must have at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older). In addition, they must have completed English 12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent; and Math 11M or U, or 12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent.

Reliable Continuing Education Options at Centennial College

Sometimes, numbers tell the strongest story. That is the case with Centennial College's School of Continuing Education. Consider that nearly every year, 22,000 students attend the School's 160 programs that feature 1,200 courses. Among these 22,000 students, there is a 97 per cent learner satisfaction. This high rate of satisfaction is thanks to a variety of reasons.

First and foremost, Centennial College's Continuing Education option includes part-time, evening, weekend, online and alternative format courses — all of which are designed to help students improve their skills, further their education and pursue a variety of interests. Secondly, the school carters to a wide range of people — from those who have taken a break to education to professionals looking to upgrade their skills to keep up with technology. Thirdly, all course and programs foster a mature learning environment with instructors who are well equipped to relate to students and ensure that they are being respected in every step of their college education journey.

Among the specific Continuing Education areas of study are: Part-time Health Studies, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Early Childhood Education, Engineering Technology, Media and Design, Retirement Communities Management/Long Term Care Management, Food Service Worker, Addiction Studies, Transportation, and more.

As previously mentioned, there are both in-school and Distance Learning options. The more traditional Continuing Education option is to attend classes on campus. This works well for students who enjoy class discussions, projects and do better learning what face-to-face interaction with an instructor. These students attend courses a few times a week, often during the evenings.

Meanwhile, independent learners who excel from studying alone may prefer the Distance Learning option of Centennial College's School of Continuing Education. Under this umbrella, there are two choices. The first is taking Print Based Course, which usually take six months to complete. A print-based course offered through Continuing Education consists of lessons, written assignments, exams and the various tools for success. Upon registration, participants will receive a Registration Confirmation Letter, Proctor Information Form, Student Guide and all of the educational materials required to complete the course. A more modern Distance Learning option consists of online courses, which is a form of instructor-led study enabling students to work through course material and assignments in their own time and space, with 24- hour access to the online classroom. In most cases, both delivery methods require students to attend the campus towards the end of their class to write a continuing education final exam.

Those interested in attending a Continuing Education program or course should be advised that each undertaking has its own prerequisites and it's best to check each individual program's page to ensure that students have the necessary requirements to apply. Within certain programs there might be qualification requirements and costs for external accreditations, designations, certifications or recognitions. These are set by the granting bodies and not by Centennial College. In order to qualify for any of those external accreditations, designations, certification or recognition, students and graduates will need to follow the processes and meet the applicable requirements listed on the websites and materials of those external bodies.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Heavy Equipment Courses Take Two Years To Complete

Did you know that you can become a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician in just two years? It is possible with the Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (Co-Op Apprenticeship) at Centennial College, which not only prepares you for the field but also results in an Ontario College Diploma. The best part is that all you need to be considered for acceptance is the possession of at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or General Educational Development (GED) or equivalent; satisfactory results in a program admission session; experience and mechanical aptitude; a resume and English proficiency.

The Heavy Duty Equipment Technician program is presented as having the ideal balance between practical application and theory thanks to its combination of on-the-job, co-op training at a heavy equipment work place and in-school curriculum.

As such, during the first eight months of the offering, students study at Centennial College’s Ashtonbee Campus. Here, they attend specific Heavy Equipment courses such as Trade Practices, Engine Systems, Drive Train Systems, Brake Systems, Electrical Systems, Fuel Systems, Fluid Power Systems. As you can see, Heavy Duty Equipment courses focus on applied mechanics, vehicle dynamics as well as component design and repair, as it applies to the apprenticeship curriculum. In addition, students take courses in advanced electrical/ electronics, logistics, plus hoisting and rigging that is only available at Centennial. To off-set the Heavy Equipment courses, students also experience business and professionalism courses such as:  Occupation Health and Safety, College Communications, Organizational Behaviour, Global Citizenship, Fixed Operations Management and more. Because the Heavy Duty Equipment Technician program is offered out of Ashtonbee Campus, Ontario’s largest transportation training centre, students get to learn by fixing actual heavy duty equipment vehicles using tools that are used in the field.

After their eight months on campus, students of the Heavy Duty Equipment Technician program spend eight months at a heavy equipment facility. During this time, they apply their knowledge, network and get to know professionals in the field. After completing their eight on-the-job months, students return to the college to complete their entire Ontario apprenticeship in-school curriculum.

Many students of the Heavy Equipment Courses offering end up staying on as full-time employees at their co-op placement upon graduation as they enter the apprenticeship aspect of their careers. Among the responsibilities of these professionals are: checking bulldozers, cranes, graders and other heavy construction, agricultural, logging and mining equipment for proper performance and inspect equipment to detect faults and malfunctions; adjusting equipment and repairing or replacing defective parts, components or systems; testing repaired equipment for proper performance and to ensure that work meets manufacturers’ specifications; and much more.

From Theory to Practical Application - Food Service Program at Centennial College

An arranged field placement, food safety certification, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training, practical food lab practice, and a Ontario College Certificate in just one semester: These are the most important aspects of the Food Service program at Centennial College.

But there are also many other benefits if you undertake this “fast-track” offering, which was developed to meet the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Standards and Criteria, with input from professional organizations and healthcare employers. In fact, this certificate is a requirement to work as a dietary aide in long-term care. In addition, graduates of this program obtain the TrainCan Basics Food Safety Certificate, which is accepted by Toronto Public Health as an equivalent to their Food Handlers Certificate.

As previously mentioned, one of the standout features is an arranged work experience field placement in a health care facility, providing you with hands-on experience, which allows you to apply classroom learning to real work situations. To be sent out on placement, you must have a mandatory two-step mantoux test (TB skin test) within 12 months of starting the program, even if you have had BCG, as well as influenza immunization and a vulnerable persons’ police check. Before placement is offered, you will spend time learning the skills needed to be successful in the Food and Nutrition Management industry. Courses are scheduled for three days per week to accommodate your existing commitments and work schedules. The food service program incorporates classroom lectures and hands-on practice by way of topics such as practical aspects of quantity food preparation, meal service, basic therapeutic diets and nutrition, proper sanitation practices, effective communication and quality customer service.

Students in the food and nutrition management may also use the knowledge and skills they gain to transfer into the two-year Food and Nutrition Management diploma program if desired.

Upon graduation from the food service program students are able to: communicate the role of nutrition and apply the principles of human nutrition to food production in the health care food service environment; discuss the standards and principles of diet therapy relating to a variety of illnesses and diseases and apply these principles to the assembly of therapeutic meals in the health care food service environment; provide a safe and health dietary environment, including food that is free from bacteria and other harmful contaminants; carry out cost control techniques in the preparation of foodservice in the healthcare environment; implement cooking principles and techniques in the preparation of large quantities of various foods for the healthcare environment; and more. As such, you may go on to become an effective member of an interprofessional health care team in food and nutrition management, the food service industry, and work in places like long-term care facilities, hospitals, and with food service contractors.

If you are interested in applying for the Food Service Worker program, you must have completed at least an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or be19 years of age or older. In addition, you must have the English Grade 12 C or U (minimum grade required) or equivalent, or skills assessment.

Developmental Services Workers Are at the Forefront of Community Inclusiveness

Do you believe that individuals who have intellectual disabilities should be supported in their homes, at work and school, and in leisure roles in the community? Are you interested in helping to build natural community supports, networks and valued social roles for individuals with intellectual disabilities? Have you completed at minimum an Ontario College Diploma or equivalent or are 19 years of age or older? In addition, have you taken English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent? If you answered yes to these questions, the field of developmental services workers by way of Centennial College may be for you.

The two-year Developmental Services Worker program is highly regarded by established professionals, graduates, families and agencies as its curriculum reflects current issues and developments. Emphasis is placed on in-depth analysis and critical thinking, managing and affecting change, interpersonal communication and leadership skills as well as clarification of values. Helping people to fill valued social roles, teaching and the provision of personal support are some of the skills developed within this curriculum. Course work includes: projects, seminars, community observations, Internet searches, teamwork and electronic communication. Specific courses within the program for developmental services workers include: Health Promotion and Personal Well-Being (actions that contribute to optimal quality living are discussed along with the importance of health and well-being for all Canadians, especially those with intellectual and/or physical disabilities, students and support workers); Policy and Social Welfare Systems (in particular, social policy, legislation and the models of service delivery that affects persons who have intellectual disability in Ontario are explored); Introduction to Disability (terms and assumptions underlying models of care and supports and services for every day life challenges for individuals with disabilities are explored. Social issues of poverty, abuse, discrimination, oppression and social justice are studied for their impact on people with a disability); and more.

Students of the Developmental Services Worker program are also exposed to a wide variety of field placement opportunities, which is an integral part of the program. In semesters three and four, students participate in two placements to gain applied experiences supporting people who have intellectual disabilities within different contexts. Students have the opportunity to take the responsibility for designing and implementing plans or strategies to teach and support individuals and/or work with communities. Facilitation and leadership skills, community development and, positive imagining and competencies for holistic the personal well-being and community inclusion for individuals whom students support are some of the areas they pursue in the placements. Some field placement agencies may require a criminal reference check prior to student placement. Certain criminal convictions may disallow placement in these agencies and program completion may not be possible.

Lastly, students of the Development Services Worker undertaking will develop a portfolio documenting their engagement with the College’s signature Institute of Global Citizenship and Equity. The Institute will bring together research and activities related to global citizenship and social justice education at the College. It will provide leadership in facilitating engagement by faculty, students and staff.

Upon graduation, students obtain titles such as educational assistant, support worker, residential support worker and employment supporter.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Centennial College's Tourism and Travel Courses Prepare You For the Field in Three Semesters

"After as long road of deciding what I wanted to do, travel always seemed to spark my interest," says Lisa Martel, a students of Centennial College's Tourism and Travel program. "And what better way to do it than through Travel and Tourism at Centennial College? It's really helpful being certified here in the program. We took an exam, which certifies us to sell cruises, and these types of certifications really help us [in the field]. I'm confident that with what I'm learning here, I'll get the job that I'm looking for."

While Lisa does a great job of describing why the program is helpful, let's take a closer look at more specific details. First and foremost, if you're interested in taking the tourism and travel courses Centennial College has to offer, you must complete an application process. Applicants must present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. In addition, students should have completed the compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment or equivalent. Please note that possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.

Once accepted, students take three semesters worth of tourism and travel courses that are part of a curriculum endorsed by the Canadian Institute of Travel Counselors. This includes in-depth knowledge of airline tariffs and ticketing, accommodation and ground transportation and the cruise industry. Through the Travel And Tourism Programs, students also receive extensive world destination knowledge, including culture and heritage training, passport and visa requirements, travel security, customer sales and service, and much more. Specific tourism and travel courses include: World Geography for Tourism, Introduction to Hospitality Accounting, Selling Cruises, Industry Automation – Apollo, Introduction to Computing, Sales & Marketing for Travel Industry, Airline Automation – Sabre, Travel Agency Operations and more. The CITC knowledge exam and Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) minimum standards exam are included as part of the program.

To round out in-school tourism and travel courses, students also participate in a three-days-a-week internship. This opportunity is offered to students in the third and final semester of the program. It is a time for students to apply skills learned in-class, interact with professionals and network. In addition, the program offers its students an international trip that provides practical exposure to all aspects of travel.

Companies who have hired students of the tourism and travel programs include Marlin Travel, Sears Travel, Thomas Cook Group, Carlson Wagonlit, Air Transat/Nolitours, Goway, Sunwing, Travel Corporation and Kensington Tours. If however, qualified graduates want to pursue further education, they may do so by participating in an articulated program with selected universities, institutes and professional associations. These partnerships allow graduates to apply academic credit towards further study. The partner of the Tourism and Travel program is University of New Brunswick.

Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship Prepares Students For Automotive Industry

Did you know that both employers and students benefit from the Canadian Tire-sponsored Automotive Service Technician training at Centennial College? For students, it is an opportunity to learn new skills and move up on the automotive industry. Meanwhile, John Morin, Service Manager from a Canadian Tire store explains how this undertaking benefits employers. "The benefits from an employer's standpoint are that all the classroom training is complete," he says. "We have a technician who is far more advanced in theory, more confident in his or her abilities and now just requires practical experience. We are able to adapt our manpower situation where we do not have a need to hire additional staff for an eight-week period (and possibly have to lay them off when the student returns to work). We have the benefit of having additional staff for the busy summer months and the new hire can attend school in the fall. This gives us a crop of well-prepared people who can advance quickly to a licensed technician."

But how are all of the benefits actually applied with the Automotive Service Technician apprenticeship? First and foremost, the training provided is more in-depth and in-school sessions are longer than that of traditional apprenticeships. As such, students are taught by spending 32 weeks partaking in in-school training and then heading to on-the-job experience at one of Ontario's over 190 Canadian Tire stores, for four weeks. That means that by the time students reach their employer sessions, they will already have knowledge of the field thanks to the combination of theory and practical skills they are taught at Centennial College's Ashtonbee Campus. This location is the largest transportation training centre in the province and includes tools, real cars and a lab environment. The generic tools on which students practice are supplied by Canadian Tire to ensure confidence and comfort once they graduate and become employed.

In addition, while in school, Automotive Service Technician Training students attend courses that are part of a provincial automotive curriculum and satisfy the knowledge necessary to become a licensed technician. These courses are: Drivetrian Sytems, Electrical/Electronic & Emmission Systems, Engine Systems, Work Practices and Procedures, Suspension/Steering and Brake Systems.

To apply for this Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship, students are required to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or GED or equivalent. They should also be employed by a Canadian Tire dealership or selected through an interview process. For this modified apprenticeship, candidates may apply directly to Centennial College. As space in the undertaking is limited, acceptance is based on successful completion of all entry requirements. Successful applicants must obtain an employer and then register as a MAP apprentice with the Apprenticeship Branch of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Completion of the Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship will see graduations comfortable with: maintaining and repairing cars, vans and pickup trucks by fixing engines, changing brakes, checking windshield wipers and fluid levels, and replacing mufflers, hoses, belts and plugs, you may want to consider.

Honda Technician Training Offers Specialized Knowledge

Did you know that you can learn all about Honda products and, therefore, fixing Honda vehicles by attending the Honda technician training at Centennial College? Officially known as Automotive Service Technician Honda AHAP MAP 32, this training gives students the knowledge to maintain and repair cars, vans and pickup trucks by fixing engines, changing brakes, checking windshield wipers and fluid levels, and replacing mufflers, hoses, belts and plugs.

Those interested in applying to the Honda technician training must possess at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or a GED or equivalent. They are also required to be employed by a Honda dealership or be selected through an interview process. If students are not employed at a Honda dealership, they are required to find a sponsor for the hands-on portion of their training to begin classes. Canvassing local dealers for employment and eventually sponsorship would be a great place to start.

Candidates for the Honda technician training may apply directly to Centennial College, with successful applicants (who aren't employed) obtaining an employer and registering as a MAP apprentice with the Apprenticeship Branch of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Acceptance to Honda technician training is based on successful completion of all entry requirements and space is limited. Some students within the Honda technician training at Centennial College may be eligible for Employment Insurance during the in-class aspect.

Once accepted, students of Honda technician training spend 64 weeks alternating between their Acura/Honda apprenticeship employer sessions and on-campus learning for a total of 32 weeks with each. This process allows students to first train at state-of-the-art facilities at Canada's transportation training hub, Ashtonbee Campus, then apply what they have learned with their employer and then come back for more in-school knowledge.

Thanks to this structure, students first grasp basic concepts through a traditional apprenticeship curriculum, as well as additional training on Acura/Honda product description, operation, diagnostics and repair. Topics include: Honda's latest technology, with an emphasis on electronics and the diagnosing of mechanical systems as well as factory training, advanced diagnostics and hybrid/alternate fuels training. Overall, students train on Acura/Honda products and over 100 on-line Honda training modules, making them productive immediately. Additionally, in-school Honda technician training covers eight weeks more material in greater depth than the traditional apprenticeship curriculum. Specific courses within this curriculum include: Applied Work Practices and Procedures, Motor Vehicle Engine Systems, Steering, Suspension and Brakes; Electrical Electronics and Fuels, Motor Vehicle Gear Trains, and more.

Apprentices of Honda technician training are currently eligible for up to $4,000 in various grants and tax incentives. Meanwhile, employers are eligible for up to $45,000 over four years in various federal and provincial tax incentives.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Take Your First Career Step With Automotive Pre-Apprenticeship Training

Within the automotive industry, especially the automotive service technician sector, hands-on training is essential to obtaining a job. Employers want you to come to work with some sort of previous experience, which is where apprenticeships come in. Apprenticeships are a system of learning by doing. They consist of on-the-job training with an employer and related class studies in automotive schools. Apprenticeships vary in length, depending on the trade. However, sometimes even the competition for apprenticeships can be tough. That’s why Centennial College has developed its Automotive Pre-Apprenticeship Training.

The focus of the undertaking is to help you to improve your chances at being a top candidate to obtain an apprenticeship position. It is ideal for a few different categories of people and is offered at no cost. For example, anyone wishing to improve his or her skills and gain insight into the automotive industry may find this automotive training beneficial. In addition, if someone is unemployed and looking to return to the workforce, has left school early or is new to Canada, this program may be for them.

To apply for this training in Centennial's automotive school, you must possess an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent and be employed as an apprentice. However, you cannot apply directly to the college or ontariocolleges.ca for admission. For general information about apprenticeship registration, please contact the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Check out the contact information by visiting Centennial College’s Automotive Pre-Apprenticeship Training admissions page.

The automotive training last 36 weeks, during which you will gain knowledge of automotive and truck/coach technology in a modern lab setting and have help obtaining a 12-week job placement. During your in-school session, you will also update your English and math/computer and job-readiness skills (such as resume writing and interview techniques). Meanwhile, your field experience will see you working in a repair garage, car dealership or truck operation.

Once you complete the Automotive Pre-Apprenticeship undertaking, you will be ready to partake in an apprenticeship program. These programs are a major employment growth area because of the number of skilled workers who are set to retire. Therefore, the government continuously offers tax credits, scholarships and signing bonuses to encourage the hiring of apprentices for skills training. Also, graduates of the Automotive Pre-Apprenticeship training will receive credit for Truck and Coach Technician Level 1 or Automotive Service Technician Level one. This credit exempts them from some of the classes in the traditional apprenticeship program. It is the door you need to open to move up and begin a long-lasting career.

In 2008, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities also selected Centennial to offer the Pre-Apprenticeship program in Truck and Coach Technician. Ever since, these programs have been helping students to gain apprenticeships in many areas of the automotive field.