Moraine Valley Community College’s Automotive Technology Program prepares students to diagnose, repair and maintain today’s vehicles. Having achieved Master Automobile Service Technology accreditation by the ASE Education Foundation, the Automotive Technology Program offers impactful training through hands-on instruction from ASE-certified and experienced educators.
“Our Automotive Technology Program prepares students as entry-level technicians at automotive repair facilities and dealerships,” said Ira Siegel, professor and Automotive Technology Program coordinator. “We offer short course certificates that take as little as one semester to complete and a two-year program that’s offered as a certificate or an associate degree.”
A program like Automotive Technology is helping fill a growing employment gap in the automotive industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 66,000 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics projected each year, on average, through 2035. Several factors, including an exiting labor force, the number of vehicles on the road and advancements in automotive technology, are increasing the need for more trained technicians.
Siegel has bolstered the program with industry standard diagnostic equipment, training aids and gas, hybrid and electric vehicles. Siegel also helped create the Mopar Career Automotive Program (Mopar CAP), which provides valuable internship experience and manufacturer-specific training for students. Moraine Valley is the only institution in Illinois to offer this program.
“When I started at Moraine Valley in 2002, we only had one lab and eight vehicles in our fleet. Today, we now have two big labs and 57 vehicles,” shared Siegel. “We’re currently offering as many as three automotive classes at a given time. If we had more lab space, we could offer additional classes.”
For Siegel, creating a strong Automotive Technology Program is a service to the community. As manufacturers incorporate more advanced systems, communities need trained, reliable technicians who can diagnose and repair their vehicles.
“In addition to keeping pace with updated technologies, our instructors know there is no replacement for human judgment, hands-on lab training with real vehicles and person-to-person communication of system issues – qualities that cannot be replaced with AI,” continued Siegel. “While AI can enhance the diagnostic process, it can’t replace the technicians actually making the repairs.”
To learn more about Moraine Valley’s Automotive Technology Program, visit morainevalley.edu/automotive-technology.
For news media inquiries, contact Joshua Lahey, Moraine Valley communications specialist, at (708) 974-5652 or laheyj5@morainevalley.edu.
