Austin Community College District (ACC) announces its newest partnership with Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). The Technician Training & Education Network (T-TEN) will provide a pipeline for students to train and apply for careers with Toyota and Lexus upon completion.
“ACC is excited to partner with Toyota. Our students will be working in state-of-the-art facilities with the right training to be successful,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC chancellor. “Community colleges remain at the forefront of higher education. These partnerships offer our students an affordable pathway to work directly with industry professionals to connect them to a promising career in a high-demand industry.”
ACC will be the only T-TEN program in Central Texas. The program offers different programs, degree, and certificate programs, including an associate’s degree, National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications, and Toyota and Lexus technician training certifications. Most programs are typically two years long.
“Auto technicians are in high demand with an estimated 624,000 roles to be filled over the next four years,” says Joseph Myers, technician development manager for the T-TEN program, TMNA “We are proud to partner with ACC to expand this program and provide stable jobs and career security in the Austin community. Together, we’re helping to build the next-generation workforce that will be skilled and certified to work on the modern technologies of today’s vehicles.”
Upon completion, graduates can apply for open service technician positions at Toyota or Lexus dealerships, or any automotive service operation, including independent service and repair shops.
“Over the next year we’ll be working closely with Toyota and the T-TEN network to develop a custom curriculum that will not only give students the certifications and degrees needed for their career, but also in-dealership training to prepare them to immediately enter the workforce,” says Brandon Whatley, ACC Design, Manufacturing, Construction & Applied Technologies dean.
There are currently 35 locations offering the T-TEN program across the U.S. Since its inception in 1986, nearly 12,000 students have graduated.
ACC’s T-TEN program will train out of the Round Rock Campus. It launches fall 2022.
To learn more about T-TEN, visit t-ten.com.
For more information on ACC’s Automotive Technology program, visit austincc.edu/autotech.